 Despite her relative inexperience , Leigh was chosen to play Ophelia to Olivier 's Hamlet in an Old Vic Theatre production staged at Elsinore , Denmark . Olivier later recalled an incident when her mood rapidly changed as she was preparing to go onstage . Without apparent provocation , she began screaming at him , before suddenly becoming silent and staring into space . She was able to perform without mishap ; and , by the following day , she had returned to normal with no recollection of the event . It was the first time Olivier witnessed such behaviour from her . They began living together , as their respective spouses had each refused to grant either of them a divorce . Under the moral standards then enforced by the film industry , their relationship had to be kept from public view . 
