Jill Esmond

Jill Esmond (26 January 1908 – 28 July 1990) was a distinguished English actress, renowned for her stage and screen performances, as well as being the first wife of iconic actor Sir Laurence Olivier.

Esmond's theatrical journey began in 1928 when she starred in the play *Bird in the Hand*, where she first crossed paths with Olivier. Their romance blossomed rapidly, with Olivier proposing just weeks after their initial meeting, captivated by Esmond's charm and aloofness. Although Esmond was selected to perform in the Broadway adaptation of *Bird in the Hand*, Olivier, in pursuit of love, moved to New York City to secure acting opportunities and be closer to her. After a series of proposals, the couple wed on 25 July 1930 at All Saints', Margaret Street, but soon found themselves regretting the decision. They welcomed a son, Tarquin Olivier, on 21 August 1936.

Esmond made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's *The Skin Game* (1931) and went on to feature in various British and pre-Code Hollywood films like *Thirteen Women* (1932). She also graced the Broadway stage alongside Olivier in productions such as *Private Lives* (1931) and *The Green Bay Tree* (1933). Despite her rising stardom, when Olivier's career began to flourish, Esmond turned down roles, influenced by Olivier’s disapproval of a lower-paying opportunity in *A Bill of Divorcement* (1932). Her legacy remains a testament to her talent and the complexities of her relationship with Olivier.