On January 16, 2025, Dame Joan Plowright, the renowned British actress and the wife of the late Laurence Olivier, passed away at the age of 95 at Denville Hall, Northwood, England. Her family confirmed that her illustrious career in theatre, film, and television was brought to an end by blindness, preventing her from acting after seven decades in the industry.
Plowright, born in 1929, started her professional stage career in 1948 with the play “If Four Walls Could Talk.” In 1956, she joined the Royal Court Theatre and became a significant figure in the “kitchen sink” realism movement of the 1950s. Her performances were lauded for their unmatched ability to convey the raw and emotional truth.
During the 1950s, she built an impressive stage portfolio by delivering highly praised performances in a variety of plays including “The Seagull” by Chekhov, “The Merchant of Venice” by Shakespeare, and “The Chairs” by Eugene Ionesco. She also shined in George Bernard Shaw’s plays “Major Barbara” and “Saint Joan.” Her stage versatility allowed her to portray a wide range of characters from teenage girls to upper-class English women.
She received a Tony Award in 1961 for Best Actress in a Play for her role in “A Taste of Honey.” She also achieved recognition in the film industry, earning an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for “Enchanted April” in 1991. She also landed a second Golden Globe for her performance in the television biopic “Stalin.”
During a 2010 interview, Plowright stated, “I’ve been very privileged to have such a life. I mean it’s magic and I still feel, when a curtain goes up or the lights come on if there’s no curtain, the magic of a beginning of what is going to unfold in front of me.”
Plowright was married to the legendary actor and director Lord Laurence Olivier from 1961 until his death in 1989. This marriage marked a significant era in British theatre. Together, they played a vital role in establishing and nurturing the National Theatre, where Plowright delivered memorable performances in productions such as “Uncle Vanya,” “Saint Joan,” and “Three Sisters.”
In the 1980s and 1990s, Plowright experienced a resurgence in her career. She appeared in a series of acclaimed films, including “Equus” (1977), “The Dressmaker” (1988), “I Love You to Death,” “Jane Eyre,” “Surviving Picasso,” “101 Dalmatians,” and “Tea With Mussolini,” the latter featuring British acting legends Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.
As a pillar of the National Theatre, Plowright maintained a deep connection with the theatrical community throughout her career. Her influence on the National Theatre was significant and enduring.
In 2004, Queen Elizabeth II honored Plowright with the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire for her contributions to the arts. The Scunthorpe Civic Theatre was renamed the Plowright Theatre in her honor.
Plowright retired from acting in 2014 due to macular degeneration, which resulted in legal blindness. Her final stage performance was in 2013 when she reprised her role in “Saint Joan” at the National Theatre in London for its 50th anniversary. She later appeared in the 2018 documentary “Tea With the Dames” alongside her contemporaries.
Her family said, “She cherished her last 10 years in Sussex with constant visits from friends and family, filled with much laughter and fond memories.” They added, “She survived her many challenges with Plowright grit and courageous determination to make the best of them, and that she certainly did.”
As a tribute to her legacy, the theatres in London’s West End will dim their lights for two minutes on January 21, 2025, at 7 PM. 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. She was previously married to actor Roger Gage from 1953 to 1960.
