On January 16, 2025, Dame Joan Plowright, the renowned British actress and the wife of the late actor Laurence Olivier, passed away at the age of 95. She breathed her last at Denville Hall in Northwood, England. Her family stated that she had a fulfilling career in theater, film, and television spanning seven decades before retiring due to blindness.
Plowright, born in 1929, started her professional stage career in 1948 with the play “If Four Walls Could Talk.” She joined the Royal Court Theater in 1956 and became a central figure in the realism movement of the 1950s known as “kitchen sink.” Her performances were known for their raw truthfulness and emotional authenticity.
Plowright’s stage repertoire expanded during the 1950s with acclaimed performances in “The Seagull” by Chekhov, “The Merchant of Venice” by Shakespeare, and “The Chairs” by Eugene Ionesco. She also excelled in George Bernard Shaw’s plays “Major Barbara” and “Saint Joan,” demonstrating her versatility in portraying characters from different walks of life.
In 1961, Plowright was awarded a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for “A Taste of Honey.” Her film career peaked with an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win for “Enchanted April” in 1991. She also won a Golden Globe for her role in the TV biopic “Stalin.”
In a 2010 interview, Plowright expressed, “I’ve been very privileged to have such a life,” referring to the magic she felt every time the curtain went up or the lights came on for a performance.
Her marriage to the iconic actor and director Lord Laurence Olivier from 1961 until his death in 1989 was a significant period in British theater history. Together, they played a crucial role in the establishment and growth of the National Theater. Plowright delivered notable performances in plays like “Uncle Vanya,” “Saint Joan,” and “Three Sisters” at the National Theater.
Plowright’s career saw a resurgence in the 1980s and 1990s with her roles in acclaimed films such as “Equus,” “The Dressmaker,” “I Love You to Death,” “Jane Eyre,” “Surviving Picasso,” “101 Dalmatians,” and “Tea With Mussolini.” She starred in the latter alongside British acting legends Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.
As a prominent member of the National Theater, Plowright remained a staunch supporter of the institution throughout its existence. She had a significant influence on the institution and maintained strong ties with the theater community throughout her career.
In 2004, Queen Elizabeth II recognized Plowright’s contributions to the arts by conferring upon her the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire. The Scunthorpe Civic Theater was renamed the Plowright Theater in her honor.
Plowright retired from acting in 2014 due to macular degeneration, which resulted in legal blindness. Her last stage performance was in 2013 when she reprised her role in “Saint Joan” at the National Theater in London for the institution’s 50th anniversary. She appeared in the documentary “Tea With the Dames” in 2018, alongside her contemporaries.
Her family stated that Plowright’s last decade in Sussex was filled with laughter, fond memories, and frequent visits from friends and family. They further noted her resilience and determination in facing challenges.
In tribute to her legacy, the theaters in London’s West End dimmed their lights for two minutes at 7 PM on January 21, 2025.
Plowright is survived by her children Tamsin, Julie-Kate, and Richard, her grandchildren Shelley, Troy, Ali, and Jeremy, step-granddaughter and great-granddaughters Kaya and Sophia, and a great-granddaughter soon to arrive. Her first marriage was to actor Roger Gage from 1953 to 1960.
