Joan Plowright, the Oscar-nominated English actress renowned for her remarkable contributions to theatre and film, has passed away at the age of 95, her family announced on Friday.
A luminary of her generation, Plowright was not only a celebrated performer but also the beloved wife of legendary actor Laurence Olivier. Her family shared the news with deep sorrow, stating, “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.”
Plowright’s illustrious career was primarily rooted in the theatre, where she often shared the stage with Olivier. Following his death in 1989, she transitioned to film, captivating new audiences with her performances. Notable among her later works are two films set in Italy: the 1991 romantic drama “Enchanted April,” in which she portrayed the sharp-tongued Mrs. Fisher, and Franco Zeffirelli’s 1999 film “Tea with Mussolini,” where she appeared alongside fellow stage greats Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.
In 1993, her talent was recognized with two Golden Globe awards in a single year—one for “Enchanted April” and another for the HBO miniseries “Stalin.” Plowright also starred in family favorites like “Dennis the Menace,” “Last Action Hero,” and “101 Dalmatians.”
A Tony Award winner for her performance in “A Taste of Honey” in 1961, Plowright later adjusted her career to support Olivier as he directed the Chichester Festival Theatre and established the National Theatre. Reflecting on her choices, she remarked, “When you have had a very good life and been lucky, you say ‘it’s my turn now.'”
In a tribute to her legacy, the Olivier Awards announced that London’s West End theatre lights would dim for two minutes in her memory next Tuesday evening, honoring a career that touched the hearts of many.
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