 Leigh 's friends suggested she take a small role as a schoolgirl in the film Things Are Looking Up , which was her film debut , albeit uncredited as an extra . She engaged an agent , John <unk> , who believed that " Vivian Holman " was not a suitable name for an actress . After rejecting his many suggestions , she took " Vivian Leigh " as her professional name . <unk> recommended her to Alexander Korda as a possible film actress , but Korda rejected her as lacking potential . She was cast in the play The Mask of Virtue , directed by Sidney Carroll in 1935 and received excellent reviews , followed by interviews and newspaper articles . One such article was from the Daily Express , in which the interviewer noted " a lightning change came over her face " , which was the first public mention of the rapid changes in mood which had become characteristic of her . John Betjeman , the future Poet Laureate , described her as " the essence of English girlhood " . Korda attended her opening night performance , admitted his error , and signed her to a film contract . She continued with the play ; but , when Korda moved it to a larger theatre , Leigh was found to be unable to project her voice adequately or to hold the attention of so large an audience , and the play closed soon after . In the playbill , Carroll had revised the spelling of her first name to " Vivien " . 
