Dame Joan Plowright, whose already glittering stage career reached even greater heights after the death of her husband, Laurence Olivier, was one of the greatest actresses of her generation.

DAME Joan Plowright has died at the age of 95. The actress, who was married to Lord Laurence Olivier, passed away surrounded by her family at Denville Hall in Northwood yesterday. She was known

Part of an astonishing generation of British actors, including Judi Dench,​ Vanessa Redgrave, Eileen Atkins and Maggie Smith​, Joan Plowright won a Tony Award, two Golden Globes and nominations for an Oscar and an Emmy.