Jane Lapotaire obituary

March 12, 2026

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.

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