Dame Joan Plowright, one of Britain’s most famous stage and screen stars, has died peacefully aged 95, on January 16, 2025. She was well-known for a remarkable career that spanned six decades. Dame Joan received both critical acclaim for her work on the stage and film. She was the widow of the great actor Sir Laurence Olivier.
Her career took off in the 1950s when she became a leading lady in London’s West End. She first starred opposite Olivier in The Entertainer at the Royal Court Theatre in 1957. That role led to both of them being nominated for the Bafta Awards. Plowright’s partnership with Olivier deepened when they married in 1961 and she later became an integral part of the National Theatre, which he had founded.
Oscar Nomination and Tony Award Recognition
Plowright received an Oscar nomination in 1991 for the film Enchanted April, establishing her as a versatile actress. In addition to her work on screen, she also made her mark on Broadway. She won a Tony Award for her performance in A Taste of Honey in 1960. Plowright continued to shine in theatre and received a Bafta nomination in 1978 for her role in Equus. In that role, she starred alongside Richard Burton.
Retirement and Legacy
After a glorious career, Dame Joan Plowright retired from the stage in 2014 when she lost her eyesight and was registered as blind. She remained very active in her personal life. She spent the last years of her life in Sussex, among family and friends. Her family released a statement confirming her death, describing her strength and resilience through her later years.
According to the statement, “She survived her many challenges with Plowright grit and courageous determination to make the best of them.” It further described that she is loved for her warm, affectionate personality, and also she made an imprint on the theater and film.
Dame Joan Plowright was a talented woman and legacy, known and remembered for their contributions to the arts and the endurance of her strength.
