Dame Joan Plowright, an Oscar-nominated actress and celebrated figure of stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 95, her family announced on Friday.
In a statement, her children Richard, Tamsin, and Julie-Kate said: “It is with great sadness that the family of Dame Joan Plowright, the Lady Olivier, inform you that she passed away peacefully on 16 January 2025, surrounded by her family at Denville Hall, at the glorious age of 95.
“Her brilliant career will be remembered by many, her wonderful being always cherished by her children, their families, and Joan’s many friends.”
A Distinguished Career
Plowright, widely regarded as one of her generation’s leading actors, achieved remarkable success both on stage and screen. Her career flourished alongside her husband, the legendary actor Laurence Olivier, with whom she often performed in theatrical productions.
After Olivier’s death in 1989, Plowright transitioned to more prominent roles in film and television, captivating new generations of audiences. Among her standout performances was her portrayal of the acerbic Mrs. Fisher in Enchanted April (1991), for which she earned an Oscar nomination. She also appeared in Franco Zeffirelli’s Tea with Mussolini (1999), sharing the screen with fellow Dames Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.
In 1993, Plowright made history by winning two Golden Globes in the same year—one for Enchanted April and another for her role in the HBO series Stalin.
Her versatility extended to films like Dennis the Menace, Last Action Hero, and Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, introducing her to younger audiences.
A Life Shaped by the Stage
Born Joan Ann Plowright in the market town of Brigg, England, she was encouraged by her mother to pursue acting despite humble beginnings. After studying at the Old Vic Theatre School, she made her London stage debut in 1954, earning critical acclaim just two years later.
It was during a performance of John Osborne’s The Entertainer that she met Olivier, who would become her second husband after ending his marriage to Vivien Leigh. Their union, which began in 1961, was described by Plowright as both a privilege and a challenge.
“It was momentous, earth-shattering for me… a very, very strange experience,” she said in a BBC documentary.
Despite the shadow of Olivier’s first wife, the iconic Leigh, Plowright maintained that she never felt competitive. “It wasn’t as though I was competing with her… I didn’t really think much about it,” she once told The Guardian.
Accolades and Family Life
Plowright won a Tony Award in 1961 for her performance in A Taste of Honey. However, much of her career was shaped by her commitment to Olivier’s endeavors, including the Chichester Festival Theatre and the National Theatre.
One of her most cherished roles was her portrayal of Saint Joan at London’s Old Vic in 1963. Reflecting on the experience in 2018, she described it as both rewarding and arduous: “That is the sort of part that all young women want to play… but actually doing it was very hard work.”
Final Years
In her later years, Plowright suffered from macular degeneration, which led to her retirement from acting in 2014. “It is a wrench,” she admitted, but she remained grateful for a fulfilling career, adding, “I’ve had a very good life and been lucky.”
Plowright leaves behind a legacy of artistic brilliance, a testament to her decades of dedication to her craft. Her family and admirers remember her as a trailblazer whose contributions to the arts will endure for generations.
