British actress, Dame Joan Plowright has died at the age of 95.
According to multiple reports, the award-winning actress, who was married to Lord Laurence Olivier, died peacefully on January 16, 2025, at Denville Hall in Northwood, Greater London, a renowned retirement home for actors.
Before her death, she was known for her Golden Globe award-winning performances in TV biopic Stalin and Enchanted April, for which she was also nominated for an Academy Award.
The esteemed British actress whose career spanned over seven decades, is said to have passed away in the presence of family.
“She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire,” a family statement said.
“She cherished her last 10 years in Sussex with constant visits from friends and family, filled with much laughter and fond memories,” the statement added.
It was also gathered that theatres in London’s West End are planning to dim their lights for two minutes in honour of the late Dame Joan Plowright.
Hannah Essex, co-chief executive of UK Theatre and the Society of London Theatre, described Dame Joan as “an iconic and deeply respected figure in the world of theatre.”
Born Joan Ann Plowright on October 28, 1929, in Brigg, Lincolnshire, Dame Joan Plowright was the daughter of Daisy Margaret (née Burton) and William Ernest Plowright, a journalist and newspaper editor. She attended Scunthorpe Grammar School and later trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, laying the foundation for her illustrious career.
Plowright made her stage debut in 1948 with “If Four Walls Told” and subsequently joined the English Stage Company. Her breakthrough role came in 1956 when she portrayed Margery Pinchwife in “The Country Wife” at the Royal Court Theatre.
She further solidified her reputation with a Tony Award-winning performance in “A Taste of Honey” in 1961.
In 1961, Plowright married acclaimed actor and director Laurence Olivier, shortly after his divorce from actress Vivien Leigh.
The couple had three children: Richard Kerr, Tamsin Agnes Margaret, and Julie-Kate. Their marriage lasted until Olivier’s death in 1989.
Throughout her career, Plowright delivered memorable performances across stage and screen. She earned two Golden Globe Awards in 1993 for her roles in the television biopic “Stalin” and the film “Enchanted April,” the latter also garnering her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her other notable film credits include “The Entertainer” (1960), “101 Dalmatians” (1996), and “Tea with Mussolini” (1999).
In recognition of her contributions to drama, Plowright was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2004. She retired from acting in 2014 due to declining eyesight but remained a revered figure in the arts community.
