Morgan Brittany(I)

Her agent wanted her to turn down the role of Vivien Leigh in The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980) because the part was designated as a day player. She insisted on doing the role, believing that everyone would be waiting to see the actress playing Leigh. Sure enough, as Vivien Leigh, she was on the cover of countless TV supplements and magazines, and people now knew her name. It also brought her to the attention of producers of Dallas (1978), who cast her in her most famous role.

[In 2012, reflecting on how her one-minute scene in The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980) changed her career] It's the search for Scarlett O'Hara and at the very end, I show up and take the hat off and it's the burning of Atlanta. I want to do that! Are you kidding me? That's the climax of the whole movie. I want to do this. I don't care about the money. The money doesn't matter to me. Here's what I wanted my agents to do: I wanted them to get me a separate card credit that says "And Introducing Morgan Brittany as Vivien Leigh." Best choice I ever made in my life! Best choice I ever made! Because of that role, when that movie came out, my picture was on the cover of every supplemental TV guide across the country: "Morgan Brittany as Vivien Leigh." People put a name to the face that they had seen for years on Ultra Bright, Levis and Ford commercials. They didn't know who I was, but now they did. That came to the attention of the Dallas (1978) people. It just domino-ed, and it really was meant to be!