entertainment
Jane Lapotaire obituary
Stage and screen actor hailed for her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and for her TV role as Marie Curie
TL;DR
- Jane Lapotaire, an acclaimed actress, has died at the age of 81.
- She was known for her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
- Her notable television roles included Empress Dagmar in 'Edward the Seventh' and Cleopatra.
- Her breakthrough came with her portrayals of Marie Curie in a BBC miniseries and Edith Piaf in the stage play 'Piaf'.
- Lapotaire won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in 1979 for 'Piaf' and a Tony Award in 1981 for its Broadway run.
- A cerebral hemorrhage in 2000 significantly impacted her health and personality, but she recovered and wrote memoirs.
- She continued her acting career, appearing in productions with the RSC, 'Downton Abbey', 'The Crown', and 'Rebecca'.
- Lapotaire was appointed CBE in 2025.
- She was married twice, to Oliver Wood and Roland Joffé, and is survived by her son, Rowan.