 In February 1940 , Jill Esmond agreed to divorce Laurence Olivier , and Leigh Holman agreed to divorce Vivian Leigh , although they maintained a strong friendship for the rest of Leigh 's life . Esmond was granted custody of Tarquin , her son with Olivier . Holman was granted custody of Suzanne , his daughter with Leigh . On 31 August 1940 , Olivier and Leigh were married at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara , California , in a ceremony attended only by their hosts , Ronald and Benita Coleman and witnesses , Katharine Hepburn and Garson Kanin . Leigh had made a screen test and hoped to co @-@ star with Olivier in Rebecca , which was to be directed by Alfred Hitchcock with Olivier in the leading role . After viewing Leigh 's screen test , David Selznick noted that " she doesn 't seem right as to sincerity or age or innocence " , a view shared by Hitchcock and Leigh 's mentor , George Cukor . 
