Oct 28, 1929

Brigg, North Lincolnshire, England

Joan Ann Olivier, known by her maiden name as Dame Joan Plowright, is a British actress, widow of Laurence Olivier. She was made a Dame in the New Year's Honours for 2004. Long known as a superb theatre actress, Plowright trained at the Old Vic in London and made her stage debut in 1951 and her London debut in 1954. In 1956 she joined the English Stage Company and won the role of Margery Pinchwife in The Country Wife. She appeared with George Devine in The Chairs (by Eugène Ionesco), Major Barba... ... (read more...) ra, Saint Joan, and in 1958 she co-starred with future husband Sir Laurence Olivier in the original London production of John Osborne's 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 (play) 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. She was also notable for her major role in 101 Dalmatians.

In 2003 Plowright performed in the stage production Absolutely! in London.