Joan Plowright, British Actress, Dies at 95

Dame Joan Plowright, celebrated British actress and widow of Sir Laurence Olivier, passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on January 16, 2025. Renowned for her remarkable stage career, she preferred theatre over film, famously stating that she did movies 'if the roof needs mending.' Plowright's illustrious career spanned over seven decades, earning her a Tony Award and nominations for an Oscar and an Emmy. She was a prominent figure in British theatre alongside contemporaries like Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, and was honored with the title of Dame in 2004. Despite facing blindness in her later years, she continued to be cherished for her contributions to the arts, often recalling her marriage to Olivier as a mix of privilege and challenge. The couple's relationship began in the theatre, where their love story unfolded amid a backdrop of significant cultural shifts in British drama.