Dame Joan Plowright, Laurence Olivier’s widow and an Oscar nominee, passes away at age 95
According to a statement released by her family on Friday, January 17, the Golden Globe winner passed away surrounded by her loved ones.
The legendary British actress Dame Joan Plowright passed away at the age of 95.
According to a family statement cited by the BBC and Sky News, the actor «died peacefully on Jan. 16, 2025 surrounded by her family.» She was married to fellow acting great Lord Laurence Oliver from 1961 until his death in 1989.
The family statement added, «She had a long and illustrious career across theater, film, and TV over seven decades until blindness forced her to retire.» The announcement had been made «with great sadness,» it continued.
The late Queen Elizabeth awarded Plowright a Dame in 2003, making her one of the most celebrated and illustrious movie performers in Britain.
Only four actresses won two Golden Globes in a single night, including her.Plowright was born in 1929 in the English county of Lincolnshire. As a youngster, she started performing in dramas and was awarded a scholarship to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After a while, she started performing on the London stage and frequently appeared at the Royal Court.
Plowright wed Roger Gage in 1953. Four years later, Plowright costarred in the original production of The Entertainer alongside Olivier, who was twenty-two years her senior. The two fell in love. of 2001, Plowright told The Guardian that she was «‘touched by the bleakness in his face when he wasn’t acting or flirting.» In 1960, the year Olivier and Gage parted ways, Gage filed for divorce.
