Dame Joan Plowright, one of Britain’s most distinguished stage and screen icons and the widow of Sir Laurence Olivier, has passed away peacefully at the age of 95.
Her family announced her death, which occurred on 16 January 2025 at Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors.
Plowright’s remarkable career spanned seven decades, earning her widespread acclaim, including an Oscar nomination for her role in Enchanted April (1991).
In a heartfelt statement, her family said, “It is with great sadness that the family of Dame Joan Plowright, the Lady Olivier, inform you that she passed away peacefully… surrounded by her family at Denville Hall aged 95.” They further reflected on her legacy, describing her as “a loving and deeply inclusive human being” who faced challenges with “Plowright grit and courageous determination.”
Born in Scunthorpe in 1929, Plowright rose to prominence in London’s West End during the 1950s. She first acted alongside Olivier in John Osborne’s The Entertainer at the Royal Court Theatre in 1957, marking the start of both a professional and personal partnership. At the time, Olivier was married to Vivien Leigh, while Plowright was married to her first husband, Roger Gage. The two fell in love, married in 1961, and became a celebrated duo in the world of theatre and film.
Plowright’s stage triumphs included a Tony Award-winning performance in A Taste of Honey on Broadway in 1960 and a celebrated portrayal of Joan of Arc in George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan in 1963.
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Her accolades extended to a Society of West End Theatre Award in 1978 for Filumena and a Bafta nomination for her role in Equus that same year. Her talent crossed into cinema, with her role in Enchanted April earning her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.
Her retirement in 2014 followed her diagnosis of blindness, but her final decade was filled with the joy of family and friends in Sussex. Her family recalled: “She cherished her last 10 years in Sussex with constant visits… filled with much laughter and fond memories.”
Dame Joan Plowright leaves behind a legacy as one of Britain’s most revered actresses, known not only for her immense talent but also for her resilience and humanity. “Rest in peace, Joan…” her family concluded.
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