British Theatre legend Joan Plowright passes away at 95
- Joan Plowright, the legendary British actress who helped revitalise the UK theatrical scene, has passed away at 95. A Tony Award winner and Golden Globe recipient, she had an illustrious career spanning theatre, film, and TV.
Joan Plowright, the acclaimed British actress who won two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award, has passed away at the age of 95, her family announced on Friday.
Plowright made her film debut in 1956's Moby Dick before gaining widespread recognition with her role in the 1960 film adaptation of The Entertainer, alongside Laurence Olivier, whom she later married.
Over her extensive career on stage and screen, Plowright also received nominations for an Academy Award, an Emmy, and two BAFTA Awards. Some of her notable films include Enchanted April, Tea with Mussolini, 101 Dalmatians, and Drowning by Numbers.
Plowright retired from acting in 2014. She passed away peacefully on January 16, surrounded by her family, as confirmed in a statement reported by various media outlets.
The statement described her as having enjoyed a remarkable seven-decade career across theatre, film, and television, which ended due to blindness. It also highlighted her legacy as a loving and inclusive person, with her family expressing pride in her accomplishments and character.
Career shines with iconic roles in film and TV
Joan Plowright's career was primarily defined by her work in theatre, often performing alongside her husband, Laurence Olivier. However, following his death in 1989, she found more opportunities on screen.
Her later film and television roles introduced her to new generations of audiences, particularly through two notable films set in Italy. In the 1991 film Enchanted April, she portrayed the sharp-tongued Mrs. Fisher, a role for which she lost the Oscar to Marisa Tomei. Another iconic role came in Franco Zeffirelli's 1999 film Tea with Mussolini, set in 1935 Florence, where she starred alongside fellow British actresses Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.
In 1993, Plowright became one of the rare actors to win two Golden Globe Awards in the same year—one for her performance in Enchanted April and another for her role in the HBO series Stalin.
She also took part in films aimed at younger audiences, including Dennis the Menace, Last Action Hero, and 101 Dalmatians.
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First Published:17 Jan 2025, 05:15 PM IST
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