In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see Theatre Royal, where she would first lay eyes on Laurence Olivier in his brilliant performance as Anthony Cavendish. She knew he was the man she was going to marry. There was just one problem: She was already married—and so was he.

Decades after both actors’ deaths, the story of their love affair still captivates millions. They were two of the first truly global celebrities, whose fame was fueled by the explosive growth of tabloids and television. They seemed to have it all, but Leigh’s long-undiagnosed mental illness ultimately transformed their relationship from the stuff of dreams into a living nightmare.

Author Stephen Galloway draws on new research—including exclusive access to uncovered correspondence and interviews with their friends and family—for a look at their tempestuous relationship; one that took place against the backdrop of two world wars, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the upheavals of the 1960s—as they struggled with love, loss and the ultimate agony of their parting.

Galloway’s book Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century (Grand Central Publishing) is available for purchase.

Book Sale Information

• Purchase your copy of Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century by Stephen Galloway here.
• SPECIAL NOTE: Politics and Prose is offering a 10% discount to Smithsonian Associates ticket-holders. To claim your discount, enter the code SPECIAL10 (no space between letters and numbers) in the “Coupon discount” section on Politics and Prose's check-out page.

Patron Information

• If you register multiple individuals, you will be asked to supply individual names and email addresses so they can receive a Zoom link email. Please note that if there is a change in program schedule or a cancellation, we will notify you via email, and it will be your responsibility to notify other registrants in your group.
• Unless otherwise noted, registration for streaming programs typically closes two hours prior to the start time on the date of the program.
• Once registered, patrons should receive an automatic email confirmation from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org.
• Separate Zoom link information will be emailed closer to the date of the program. If you do not receive your Zoom link information 24 hours prior to the start of the program, please email Customer Service for assistance.
• View Common FAQs about our Streaming Programs on Zoom.