Anna Karenina

Vivien Leigh and Laurence OlivierVivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier at the opening of Anna Karenina (1948), in which Leigh had the starring role.

Anna Karenina, fictional character, the tragic heroine of Anna Karenina (1875–77) by Leo Tolstoy. The character has been notably portrayed by Greta Garbo (1935; she also starred in a 1927 adaptation, Love) and by Vivien Leigh (1948).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title: Anna Karenina
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 14 August 2026
Access Date: November 13, 2026