Joan Plowright
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Joan Ann Plowright (born October 28, 1929 in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, England) is a British actress, widow of Laurence Olivier. In addition to being Lady Olivier (later Baroness Olivier) she was made a Dame (DBE) in her own right in the New Year's Honours for 2004.
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Career
Long known as a superb theatre actress, Plowright trained at the Old Vic Theatre School in London and made her stage debut in 1951 and her London debut in 1954. In 1956 she joined the English Theatre Company and won the role of Margery Pincher in The Country Wife. She appeared in The Chairs (by Eugène Ionesco), Major Barbara, Saint Joan and in 1958 she co-starred with future husband Laurence Olivier in the production of The Entertainer.
Plowright continued to appear on stage and in films such as The Entertainer and The Three Sisters. In 1961 she was awarded a Tony for her role in A Taste of Honey on Broadway. After a brief hiatus to devote time to her family she has returned to the screen and can be seen in films such as Dennis the Menace, Enchanted April and Tea With Mussolini.
As of July 2003 she was performing in the stage production Absolutely! (perhaps) in London.
Personal
Joan Plowright was first married to Roger Gage. She divorced him and in 1961 married Laurence Olivier. Together the couple had three children, Richard, Tamsin and Julie-Kate. The couple were married until 1989 (his death).
Selected Filmography
- Goose! (2004) as Beatrice Fairfield
- Bringing Down the House (2003) as Mrs. Arness
- Back to the Secret Garden (2001) as Martha Sowerby
- Tea With Mussolini (1999) as Mary Wallace
- The Scarlet Letter (1995) as Harriet Hibbons
- Dennis the Menace (1993) as Mrs. Martha Wilson
- Enchanted April (1992) as Mrs. Fisher
- Avalon (1990) as Eva Krichinsky
- Three Sisters (1970) as Masha
- The Entertainer (1960) as Jean Rice
- Moby Dick (1956) (uncredited, as Starbuck's Wife) (her first film role)
External links
- IMDb entry (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0687506/)sv:Joan Plowright