Key Takeaways:
– Renowned actress Joan Plowright has passed away at the age of 95.
– She played an instrumental role in revitalizing the U.K. theatrical scene post-World War II.
– Dame Plowright boasted a prestigious career, spanning seven decades across stage, film, and TV.
– Her accolades include a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and multiple nominations for an Oscar and an Emmy.
– Theatres across the West End will dim their lights in her honor.
Renowned Actress Joan Plowright Passes Away
Eminent British actor Dame Joan Plowright breathed her last, aged 95, leaving the world of theatre, film, and TV considerably impoverished by her passing. The late actor, together with her husband Laurence Olivier, played a crucial role in reviving the flagging U.K. theatre scene following World War II. Plowright passed peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones at Denville Hall, a retirement home specially dedicated to actors in southern England.
The Life and Career of Joan Plowright
Belonging to a remarkable cohort of British actors that included the likes of Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Eileen Atkins, and Maggie Smith, Plowright boasted a prestigious career. Her numerous accolades include a coveted Tony Award, two Golden Globe awards, as well as multiple nominations for an Oscar and an Emmy. In 2004, Joan’s breathtaking performances were acknowledged by Queen Elizabeth II through the conferment of a damehood.
In the mid-part of the 20th century, particularly from the 1950s to the 1980s, Plowright played a range of stage roles. Immortals of literature such as Anton Chekhov and William Shakespeare featured prominently in her repertoire. Renowned productions like “The Seagull” and “The Merchant of Venice” bore witness to her acting prowess. She equally stunned audiences in her performances in Eugene Ionesco’s “The Chairs,” and the George Bernard Shaw’s totemic female roles “Major Barbara” and “Saint Joan.”
The Dawn and Maturation of Plowright’s Craft
Born as Joan Ann Plowright in Brigg, Lincolnshire, England, she got her first taste of theatre at age 3 thanks to her mother, manager of an amateur drama group. School vacations often brought her to summer sessions of university drama schools, further honing her craft. Later, Plowright had the opportunity to study at the Laban Art of Movement Studio in Manchester and even attended a scholarship program at the drama school at the Old Vic Theatre in London.
Joan’s career began in earnest in 1954. Recognition soon followed, especially due to her ties with the Royal Court Theatre. She excelled in her performances in various dramas penned by the “Angry Young Men” of the time, including John Osborne. Joan was in good company with rough-hewn, working-class actors like Albert Finney, Alan Bates, and Anthony Hopkins, who were her peers.
Entering the World of Cinema
Before long, cinema beckoned. Plowright made her feature film debut in American director John Huston’s “Moby Dick” in 1956 besides the legendary Gregory Peck in the role of Captain Ahab. In 1957, she co-starred with future husband Olivier in the London production of Osborne’s “The Entertainer”. The couple rode on the success of the play to feature in the 1960 film adaptation – a significant milestone for both.
Their personal lives witnessed transformations too. Plowright’s marriage to British actor Roger Cage ended, as did Olivier’s 20-year bond with Vivien Leigh. Plowright and Olivier married in 1961 – both stars of the Broadway stage at the time.
Reviving and Preserving the Olivier Legacy
Following her husband’s death in 1989, Plowright, then at the age of 60, experienced a renewed vigor in her career. She featured in high-class productions and more commercial work, keeping audiences enthralled.
Plowright’s notable works include Franco Zeffirelli’s “Jane Eyre”, the Merchant-Ivory production of “Surviving Picasso”, and the live-action remake of Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” alongside Glenn Close.
A major role in later life involved the preservation of the Olivier legacy. As well as bestowing awards, she spent time brushing off undue criticisms directed at her husband through interviews and editorials. Currently, she is survived by her three children – Tamsin, Richard, and Julie-Kate – the lineage of acting talent she leaves behind is her enduring legacy, forever echoing in the annals of British performance arts.