Oscar-Nominated Actress Dame Joan Plowright, Widow of Laurence Olivier, Dies at 95

Jan 17, 2025, 11:27 AM

Dame Joan Plowright, one of Britain's most acclaimed actresses of stage and screen and widow of Sir Laurence Olivier, has died at the age of 95, her family has announced. Plowright's illustrious career spanned over seven decades, during which she earned numerous accolades, including a Tony Award and multiple Golden Globe nominations, becoming one of the few actresses to win two Golden Globes in the same year. She was renowned for her performances at the Royal Court Theatre, the National Theatre, and London's West End, significantly shaping British postwar theatre. In addition to her stage work, Plowright appeared in films such as "Enchanted April," "101 Dalmatians," and "Tea with Mussolini," earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Theatres across London's West End will dim their lights for two minutes on January 21 at 7 p.m. in her memory, the Society of London Theatre announced. "We are so proud of all Joan did and who she was as a loving and deeply inclusive human being," her family said in a statement. Plowright retired from acting after losing her sight in her later years.