British acting legend Joan Plowright dies

British acting legend Joan Plowright dies
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After David Lynch, another prominent loss: the actress Joan Plowright, widow of stage star Laurence Olivier, died at the age of 95.

British film and theater actress Joan Plowright is dead. She died at the age of 95, the British news agency PA reported, citing her family. Plowright was married to acting legend Laurence Olivier. She was on stage for decades and was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Enchanted April. Plowright also starred in “101 Dalmatians” and “Tea with Mussolini”.

She died on Thursday surrounded by her family, PA quoted a statement from relatives as saying. She had a “long and brilliant” career in theater, film and television until she retired due to blindness.

Marriage to Laurence Olivier

Plowright was born on October 28, 1929 in northern England. After drama school, she made a name for herself at the Royal Court Theater in London. The stage star Laurence Olivier, who was still married at the time, fell in love with her there. The two married in 1961. The couple remained together until Olivier’s death in 1989.

Joan Plowright was always in front of the camera. But her television and Hollywood career only really began in the second half of her life. A supporting role in “Enchanted April” earned her an Oscar nomination. She also won Golden Globes for this role and the film “Stalin.”

From theater to blockbusters

She took on several maternal roles in Hollywood blockbusters. Comedies such as “Dennis” with Walter Matthau, “101 Dalmatians” and “House Over Head” with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah made her internationally known.

Since she was slowly becoming blind, she retired. But in 2018 she returned in front of the camera again: for the documentary “Tea with the Dames – an unforgettable afternoon”. After being honored by the royal family, Plowright was allowed to wear the title “Dame”.

Theaters in London’s West End want to remember them next week. “Dame Joan Plowright was an iconic and deeply respected figure in the world of theater,” the organization said Society of London Theatre with.

Text: dpa/ Editor: JN

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Source: www.digitalfernsehen.de