Dame Joan Plowright, Oscar-nominated actress and widow of Laurence Olivier, dies at 95

Dame Joan Plowright, Oscar-nominated British actress and widow of theatre legend Lord Laurence Olivier, has passed away at the age of 95, her family announced.

Famed for her Golden Globe-winning roles in the TV biopic Stalin and the film Enchanted April, which also earned her an Academy Award nomination, Dame Joan's illustrious career spanned over seven decades, gracing both the West End and Broadway before achieving international cinematic fame.

Renowned performances included working alongside River Phoenix in Love You To Death. London’s West End will pay homage to the Olivier award-winning actress by dimming its lights on Tuesday.

The family conveyed their sorrow with a heartfelt statement: "It is with great sadness that the family of Dame Joan Plowright, the Lady Olivier, inform you that she passed away peacefully on January 16 2025 surrounded by her family at Denville Hall aged 95."

They added: "She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire."

The tribute continued to highlight her personal life, saying: "She cherished her last 10 years in Sussex with constant visits from friends and family, filled with much laughter and fond memories."

Expressing their gratitude to those who cared for her, they stated: "The family are deeply grateful to Jean Wilson and all those involved in her personal care over many years.

"Joan is survived by her loving family: Tamsin and Wilf, Julie-Kate and Dan, Richard, Shelley, Troy, Ali, Jeremy, step-granddaughter and great-granddaughter Kaya and Sophia, and great-granddaughter soon to arrive.

"The family ask you to please respect their request for privacy at this time.

"We are so proud of all Joan did and who she was as a loving and deeply inclusive human being.

"She survived her many challenges with Plowright grit and courageous determination to make the best of them, and that she certainly did.

"Rest in peace, Joan...".

Dame Joan's marriage to Lord Olivier in 1961 lasted until his death in 1989.

She cared for him through various chronic illnesses, including cancer. Her role in the 1991 British comedy Enchanted April won her a Golden Globe, and she was also known for her roles in 101 Dalmatians in 1996 and Tea With Mussolini in 1999.

She bagged a second Golden Globe for the TV biopic Stalin in 1993. In 1961, she won a Tony Award for her role in Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey on Broadway, where she starred alongside the late Dame Angela Lansbury.

Born in Scunthorpe, Dame Joan attended the local grammar school before winning a scholarship to the Old Vic Theatre School at 17. Her first stage appearance was in If Four Walls Told at the Croydon Repertory Theatre in 1948, and she later joined the English Theatre Company at the Royal Court.

She met Lord Olivier in 1957 while he was still married to Vivien Leigh, and they fell in love while co-starring in John Osborne’s The Entertainer. She was made a dame in the 2004 New Year Honours.

Dame Joan announced her retirement from acting in 2014, after losing her sight due to macular degeneration and becoming registered as blind. In 2021, her friend and contemporary Dame Judi Dench revealed she was also battling the same condition.

Prior to this, in 2014, Dame Joan featured in the documentary film Nothing Like A Dame, alongside Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Judi and Dame Maggie Smith, where they reflected on their illustrious careers and personal lives. Hannah Essex, co-chief executive of UK Theatre and Society Of London Theatre, described Dame Joan, who won the Olivier award for best actress in 1978 for the drama Filumena, as an "iconic and deeply respected figure in the world of theatre, leaving an indelible mark on the industry she shaped with her talent and dedication".

She further added: "We are honoured to contribute to the celebration of her extraordinary career (by dimming the London theatre lights for two minutes) and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones."

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.

To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.

If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN