Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (2024)

As actress Joan Plowright moves closer to celebrating her 92nd birthday this year, here is all you need to know about the iconic actress's impressive career and intriguing 28-year marriage with actor and director Laurence Olivier.

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On October 28, 2021, actress Joan Plowright will turn 92 years old. The English actress had a spectacular seven decades with her career and today has built a marvelous legacy for herself.

Her wonderful career was not the only interesting thing about her as she also had a beautiful love story with her husband, actor and director Laurence Olivier. Learn about their fairytale romance that spanned over 25 years.

Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (1)

Sir Laurence Olivier and his new wife English actress Joan Plowright pose for a picture in March 1961 in London. | Photo: Getty Images

WHO IS JOAN PLOWRIGHT?

For over seven decades, Dame Joan Plowright had an incredible career as an actress, earning herself acclaim and several awards, including two Golden Globes Awards and a Tony Award. The retired actress began acting in the late '40s until she bid her craft farewell in 2014.

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Born Joan Ann Plowright in October 1929, the actress made her first stage appearance in 1948. Several years later, she made her London debut.

After joining the English Stage Company in 1956, her career very quickly skyrocketed as her incredible talent took her to great heights.

Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (2)

Laurence Olivier and wife Joan Plowright at the Martin Beck Theatre in London on August 26, 1978 | Photo: Getty Images

Over the years, the Dame made her name one to remember and admire until she slowly had to retreat from acting and eventually retire. Her honors include her appointment as Dame Commander in 2004, a promotion from her initial appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Legendary Joan Plowright movies include 1991's "Enchanted April," 1996's "Jane Eyre," "Dennis the Menace" in 1996, and the 1998 drama film, "The Assistant."

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In 2018, the sensational Roger Michell-directed documentary "Tea With The Dames" was released, and it documented conversations between Plowright and fellow actresses Eileen Atkins, Maggie Smith, and Judi Dench.

Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (3)

Dame Judi Dench attending the Royal World Premiere of "Skyfall" at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England in October 2012. | Image: Getty Images.

WHY DID PLOWRIGHT RETIRE?

In the early 2000s, Plowright's incredibly booming career took a great hit. Her health began to deteriorate as her eyes developed a condition known as macular degeneration.

Dogged by rumors that he was homosexual, the late icon left plenty of unanswered questions behind.

Due to this condition, her vision started declining, and by the early 2010s, the effects had become so severe, leaving the great and iconic Joan Plowright blind. In 2014, she announced that she was officially retiring as she had become completely blind.

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Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (4)

Joan Plowright being made a Dame by the Prince Of Wales at Buckingham Palace in London on February 20, 2004. | Photo: Getty Images

WHO WAS HER HUSBAND, OLIVIER?

Laurence Olivier was an actor and director who undeniably shaped and dominated the British stage in his days. Despite having no connections to the theater at all, the Surrey-born star flourished on the stage and, after years of hard work and determination, made his way to the forefront of the industry.

From acting on the stage to films, and eventually, to directing, Olivier's legacy only continued to accumulate noteworthy accomplishments.

In 1963, he became a founding director of Britain's National Theatre, which today has become one of the nation's most prominent and successful performing arts venues.

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Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (5)

British actor Laurence Olivier (1907 - 1989) in his office, Waterloo, London, UK, 25th January 1968 | Photo: Getty Images

In a beautifully-written Guardian article, Plowright reminisced about the great memories they made together at the theater and the many wonderful friends they made in those years.

He, too, gathered an impressive list of awards, including 2 British Academy Film Awards, 5 Emmy Awards, 3 Golden Globes, and 4 Academy Awards. His honors also included a knighthood bestowed upon him in 1947, a life peerage in 1970, and the Order of Merit bestowed upon him in 1981.

Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (6)

Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright, toasting with champagne in celebration of his peerage, at the Cambridge Theatre, June 13th 1970 | Photo: Getty Images

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THEIR BEAUTIFUL MARRIAGE

In 1953, Plowright married her first husband, Roger Gage, who was also an actor. However, their union did not last long as they parted ways years after.

Only a year after she divorced Gage, the actress became actor Laurence Olivier's wife. She met Olivier while he was in a rocky marriage to actress Vivien Leigh.

Olivier and Plowright were a terrific duo and an absolute delight to see. Both were brilliant actors whose careers were blooming. The same year they got married, they welcomed their first child, their son, Richard.

Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (7)

Sir Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright embracing as they rehearse a scene from the play "The Entertainer," in 1957 | Photo: Getty Images

Their daughters, Tamsin and Julie-Kate, came years later and became actresses just like their mother. The iconic lovebirds remained married until Olivier passed away in 1989.

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In 2001, Plowright published her memoir, "And That's Not All," giving great insight into what her marriage to Olivier was like. Giving more details about how they lived under the frantic prying eyes of journalists and comparing herself to an ostrich, she said in a Guardian interview:

"If you put your head in the sand because your shoulders and back can take it but your eyes and head can't stand it. It is a way of staying sane."

Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (8)

British actors Joan Plowright and Laurence Olivier (1907 - 1989) with their daughter Tamsin Olivier in the UK on January 5, 1970 | Photo: Getty Images

OLIVIER'S TRAGIC DEATH

Many years after Olivier began his acting career, he found himself battling different ordeals. Not only was he battling a degenerative muscle disorder known as dermatomyositis, but he was also dealing with thrombosis.

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The great actor spent many months in and out of the hospital until he eventually gave up the good fight. On July 11, 1989, 22 years after battling his deteriorating health, Laurence Olivier died of kidney failure.

Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (9)

Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) pictured at a drinks reception for actors at the National Theatre in London on November 1, 1965. | Photo: Getty Images

LIFE AFTER OLIVIER'S DEATH

Following her husband's sad passing in 1989, the actor's colorful private life often overshadowed his legacy. Dogged by rumors that he was homosexual, the late icon left plenty of unanswered questions behind. In 2006, his widow was challenged with questions concerning his alleged sexuality.

Plowright responded, saying that she felt no need to defend her husband's memory. She added that a man who was as brilliant as her husband could not possibly be ordinary. The actress then said that her husband dealt with many demons and dark moments.

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Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (10)

Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright attend the Christening of their daughter Tamsin on July 14, 1963 | Photo: Getty Images

The actress and her late husband sure did live their lives quite unlike any other, and as her memoirs depict, their love was warm and beautiful. Plowright has had to carry on without her sweetheart, but the memories of such sweet times make it easier.

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Inside Laurence Olivier's Widow Joan Plowright's Life as She Turns 92 This Year (2024)

FAQs

How long were Olivier and Plowright married? ›

She later divorced him and in 1961, married Laurence Olivier shortly after the end of his twenty-year marriage to the actress Vivien Leigh. Plowright and Olivier had three children together. Both daughters became actresses. The couple remained married until Olivier's death in 1989.

What is Joan Plowright famous for? ›

Plowright created a distinguished stage career and was acclaimed when she began appearing more frequently in movies and television starting in the the 1980s. She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the female equivalent of a knighthood, in the 2004 Queen's New Year Honours.

Where does Joan Plowright live now? ›

To the west, just over the river on the edge of Ashurst, was the final resting place of Sir Laurence Olivier where his widow Dame Joan Plowright still lives. And there is much history in the little lanes between the High Street and the church.

Did Laurence Olivier still love Vivien Leigh? ›

Even after his marriage to Plowright, Olivier held Leigh dear in his heart for the rest of his life. It is said that shortly before his death, Olivier was found watching a film starring Leigh and, with tears in his eyes, and said, “This, this was love.”

How old is Laurence Olivier? ›

Laurence Olivier (born May 22, 1907, Dorking, Surrey, England—died July 11, 1989, near London, England) was a towering figure of the British stage and screen, acclaimed in his lifetime as the greatest English-speaking actor of the 20th century.

How did Laurence Olivier meet Joan Plowright? ›

Joan Plowright and Laurence Olivier met in the cast of “The Entertainer” at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1956. They re-created their roles in the film version released in 1960. (Far from Shakespeare, it may nevertheless be Olivier's finest screen performance.)

What was Laurence Olivier famous for? ›

Laurence Olivier was one of the most acclaimed actors of the 20th century. He is known for his career-defining performances of Shakespearean roles on stage and screen, as well as memorable turns in modern classics such as Wuthering Heights and Marathon Man.

How much was Laurence Olivier worth when he died? ›

Laurence Olivier was an English actor, director, and producer who had a net worth equal to $20 million at the time of his death after adjusting for inflation. Laurence Olivier is considered one of the greatest actors of the 20th century.

Who is Tamsin Olivier married to? ›

Where did Laurence Olivier live? ›

Lawrence Olivier, considered by many to be the greatest actor of his day, lived at 4 Royal Crescent in Brighton for many years until the 1970s. He had two houses knocked together in this very desirable seafront address.

Where did Vivien Leigh live in London? ›

She used Flat D at 54 Eaton Square as her London base from 1958 until her death in 1967.

Was Laurence Olivier religious? ›

He belonged to the high church, ritualist wing of Anglicanism and was known as "Father Olivier". Some Anglican congregations did not like this style, and the only church posts he was offered were temporary, usually deputising for regular incumbents in their absence.

How old was Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O Hara? ›

When Vivien Leigh played the leading role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind, she was twenty-five years old. She was born in November of 1913, and Gone With the Wind was made in 1939.

Joan Plowright Will Turn 92 This Year — inside ...news.amomama.comhttps://news.amomama.com ›

As actress Joan Plowright moves closer to celebrating her 92nd birthday this year, here is all you need to know about the iconic actress's impressive career...
Larry and Joan were separated during the last years of his life, the marriage was kept in name for the sake of appearance, she would show up with him only in so...
Dame Joan Ann Plowright, Baroness Olivier DBE (born 28 October 1929), is an English actress. Her career has spanned over sixty years. She has won two Golden Glo...

Who did Laurence Olivier marry in 1940? ›

He was married three times, to the actresses Jill Esmond from 1930 to 1940, Vivien Leigh from 1940 to 1960, and Joan Plowright from 1961 until his death.

Did Laurence Olivier hit Maggie Smith? ›

Dame Maggie revealed to her fellow Shakespeareans that Olivier clipped her across the face during a performance. She said: “He did knock me out. He hit me, 'out devil', and left black marks on my face. “But I did say it was the only time I saw stars at the national theatre.”

Who is Olivier Martinez married to? ›

Berry and Martinez married in a private ceremony in France on 13 July 2013.

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