 After returning to London briefly in mid @-@ 1939 , the couple returned to America , Leigh to film the final takes for Gone with the Wind , and Olivier to prepare for filming of Alfred Hitchcock 's Rebecca — although the couple had hoped to appear in it together . Instead , Joan Fontaine was selected for the role of Mrs de Winter , as the producer David O. Selznick thought that not only was she more suitable for the role , but that it was best to keep Olivier and Leigh apart until their divorces came through . Olivier followed Rebecca with Pride and Prejudice , in the role of Mr. Darcy . To his disappointment Elizabeth Bennet was played by Greer Garson rather than Leigh . He received good reviews for both films and showed a more confident screen presence than he had in his early work . In January 1940 Olivier and Esmond were granted their divorce . In February , following another request from Leigh , her husband also applied for their marriage to be terminated . 
 After returning to London briefly in mid @-@ 1939 , the couple<a href='been_done' title='1'><mark></mark></a> returned to America , Leigh to film the final <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>takes</mark></a> for Gone with the Wind , and Olivier to prepare for filming of Alfred Hitchcock <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>Rebecca — although the couple <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> hoped to appear in it together . Instead , Joan Fontaine was selected for the role of Mrs de Winter , as the producer David O. Selznick thought that not only was she more suitable for the role , but that it was best to keep Olivier and Leigh apart until their divorces came through . Olivier followed Rebecca with Pride and Prejudice , in the role of Mr. Darcy . To his disappointment Elizabeth Bennet was played by Greer Garson rather than Leigh . He received good reviews for both films and showed a more confident screen presence than he had in his early work . In January 1940 Olivier and Esmond <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> granted their divorce . In February , following another request from Leigh , her husband also applied for their marriage to be terminated . 
After returning to London briefly in mid @-@ 1939 , the couple done returned to America , Leigh to film the final take for Gone wid the Wind , and Olivier to prepare fir filming of Alfred Hitchcock  Rebecca — although da couple done hoped to appear in it together . Instead , Joan Fontaine was selected fa the role of Mrs de Winter , as the producer David O. Selznick thought dat not only was she more suitable ffathe role , but that it was best to keep Olivier and Leigh apart until their divorces came thru . Olivier followed Rebecca with Pride and Prejudice , in tdarole of Mr. Darcy . To his disappointment Elizabeth Bennet was played by Greer Garson rather than Leigh . He received gud reviews for both films and showed a more confident screen presence den he had in his early work . In January 1940 Olivier and Esmond was granted their divorce . In February , following anotha request from Leigh , her husband also applied fofaheir marriage to b terminated .