 Myron Selznick , who watched her performances that month in Fire Over England and A Yank at Oxford , thought her to be excellent , but , in no way , a possible Scarlett , as she was " too British " . Leigh travelled to Los Angeles , however , to be with Olivier and to try to convince David Selznick that she was Scarlett . When Myron Selznick , who also represented Olivier , met Leigh , he felt that she possessed the qualities his brother was searching for . According to legend , Myron Selznick took Leigh and Olivier to the set where the burning of the Atlanta Depot scene was being filmed and stage @-@ managed an encounter , where he introduced Leigh , derisively addressing his younger brother , " Hey , genius , meet your Scarlett O 'Hara . " The following day , Leigh read a scene for Selznick , who organised a screen test with director George Cukor , and wrote to his wife , " She 's the Scarlett dark horse and looks damn good . Not for anyone 's ear but your own : it 's narrowed down to Paulette Goddard , Jean Arthur , Joan Bennett and Vivien Leigh " . The director , George Cukor , concurred and praised Leigh 's " incredible wildness " ; she secured the role of Scarlett soon after . 
