Joan Plowright, Oscar-Nominated British Actress, Passes Away at 95

Joan Plowright, the renowned UK star of stage and screen and the wife of Laurence Olivier for 28 years, has passed away at the age of 95, her family announced, as reported by Deadline.

“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 at the glorious age of 95. Her brilliant career will be remembered by many, her wonderful being always cherished by her children Richard, Tamsin and Julie-Kate, their families and Joan’s many friends. We are deeply grateful for all those who helped care for her in her last years,” the family’s statement read, according to Deadline.

Born in Lincolnshire in 1929, Plowright made her stage debut in 1954. She rose to prominence after co-starring with Sir Laurence Olivier in the original London production of John Osborne’s The Entertainer, later reprising her role in the film adaptation.

A true icon of stage and screen, Plowright’s illustrious career included performances in Enchanted April, The Scarlet Letter, and the Broadway production of A Taste of Honey, for which she won a Tony Award. She continued to appear in numerous plays during the 1970s and 80s before transitioning more prominently to screen roles in the 1990s.

In 1992, Plowright delivered an acclaimed performance as Mrs. Fisher in Mike Newell’s Enchanted April, earning an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe. Her other notable film credits include The Scarlet Letter, 101 Dalmatians, and Tea with Mussolini. On television, she appeared in HBO’s Stalin, winning a Golden Globe in the same year as her success with Enchanted April.

Plowright was married to Olivier from 1961 until his death in 1989, working closely with him at the National Theatre, which he established. Recognising her contributions to the arts, she was made a Dame in the 2004 New Year Honour’s List.