Joan Plowright, Golden Globe-Winning Actress, dies at the age of 95 in United Kingdom
As a tribute, West End theatres in London will turn off their lights for two minutes on January 21.
The renowned British actress passed away on January 16 at the age of 95 at Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors in southern England, according to a statement released by her family on Friday. She was surrounded by her loved ones at the time of her passing.
Highlights of Her Remarkable Career
Plowright was part of an outstanding generation of British actors that included Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Eileen Atkins, and Maggie Smith. Throughout her illustrious career, she won a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and received multiple nominations for the Oscars and the Emmys. She also played a pivotal role alongside her husband, legendary actor Laurence Olivier, in the revitalization of British theater in the decades following World War II.
Her involvement in theater began at an early age, inspired by her mother, who managed an amateur dramatics group. After studying at institutions such as the Laban Art of Movement Studio in Manchester and the Old Vic Theatre School in London, she made her London stage debut in 1954 and joined the Royal Court Theatre in 1956. There, she excelled in the works of contemporary playwrights like John Osborne.
In 1956, Plowright made her film debut with a small role in Moby Dick, directed by John Huston and starring Gregory Peck. The following year, she co-starred with Olivier in Osborne's The Entertainer, playing his daughter. This encounter marked the beginning of a professional and personal relationship with Olivier, whom she married in 1961 after they both divorced their respective partners.
Joan and her husband, Laurence Olivier
“She had a long and brilliant career spanning seven decades, until blindness forced her to retire,” her family stated. “We are immensely proud of all that Joan achieved and of the loving and inclusive person she was.”
Tributes in Her Memory
As mentioned, West End theaters in London will dim their lights for two minutes at 7:00 PM (UK time) to honor her lasting legacy in British and global theater.
Plowright is survived by her three children, Tamsin, Richard, and Julie-Kate, all actors, as well as numerous grandchildren.