Entertainment world mourns the loss of stage and screen icon Joan Plowright

The world of entertainment is in mourning today following the loss of award-winning British actress Dame Joan Plowright, who sadly passed away at the age of 95.

In a statement, her family announced that Plowright died on Thursday, January 16 at Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors in southern England, surrounded by her loved ones.

“She enjoyed a long and illustrious career across theatre, film and TV over seven decades until blindness made her retire,” the family said.

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

Plowright was part of a remarkable generation of British actors, standing alongside legends such as Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Eileen Atkins, and Maggie Smith. Her illustrious career spanned several decades, leaving a lasting mark on stage, screen, and television.

After studying at the Old Vic Theatre School, Plowright began her stage career at the Royal National Theatre, where she met her husband, Sir Laurence Olivier. She starred opposite him in John Osborne’s The Entertainer, first on the West End in 1957 and later on Broadway in 1958. Her talent shone brightly, earning her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for A Taste of Honey (1961) and the Laurence Olivier Award for Filumena (1978).

Plowright made her film debut with a small role in Moby Dick (1956) but soon garnered critical acclaim. She won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and earned an Academy Award nomination for Enchanted April (1991). Her filmography included standout roles in The Entertainer (1960), Equus (1977), Avalon (1990), Dennis the Menace (1993), 101 Dalmatians (1996), Tea with Mussolini (1999), and Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005). She also lent her voice to animated films such as Dinosaur (2000) and Curious George (2006).

Her television work was equally celebrated. She won a Golden Globe and received a Primetime Emmy nomination for her role in HBO’s Stalin (1992).

Plowright retired from acting in 2014 due to macular degeneration but made a memorable final appearance in the documentary Nothing Like a Dame (2018), sharing the screen with fellow Dames Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.

As fans and those close to her learnt of her passing many took to social media to pay tribute and reflect on her “many incredible performances”.

Theatres across London’s West End will dim their lights for two minutes at 7pm on Tuesday 21 January in remembrance of renowned British stage and screen actress Dame Joan Plowright, widow of Laurence Olivier, who died earlier this week at the age of 95. pic.twitter.com/ztTtdJZuIC

— Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) January 17, 2025

RIP Dame Joan Plowright. An absolute icon.
pic.twitter.com/wPl12NGeAS

— Sandra Glab (@glabsandra) January 17, 2025

Joan Plowright was such fun – she coped with losing her sight & all life’s challenges with humour, grace & fortitude: she was a generous hostess (this is a happy lunch in her garden) & a great actress with a unique quality – from the classics to Hollywood comedy she cd do it all. pic.twitter.com/QkSW7GAaO7

— Gyles Brandreth (@GylesB1) January 17, 2025

R.I.P Dame Joan Plowright. I know she has many incredible performances to her name but I grew up watching Dennis The Menace over and over and over again. An absolute angel. pic.twitter.com/5j3aPCXSj8

— Principe 🫅🏾 (@Pri_Letterman) January 17, 2025

Very sad news: Farewell to the legendary Dame Joan Plowright, who passed away at the age of 95.

What a life and incredible talent! R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/xnh9dYrxW3

— Remembering Dame Angela Lansbury 🇺🇦 (@_AngelaLansbury) January 17, 2025

Plowright is survived by her three children—Tamsin, Richard, and Julie-Kate—and several grandchildren.

-with AP.