Jane Lapotaire dead: The Crown star dies aged 81 as tributes are paid to the ‘truly brilliant’ actress

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The Crown star Jane Lapotaire has died at the age of 81.

I was so saddened to hear about the passing of the actress who beautifully portrayed Princess Alice in The Crown. She died on March 5th, and I’ll always remember her performance.

The Royal Shakespeare Company announced the passing of the acclaimed actress on Thursday, sharing a tribute to her work. The cause of her death has not been revealed.

I was so incredibly saddened to learn about the passing of Jane Lapotaire, a truly wonderful Honorary Associate Artist of the RSC. It’s a huge loss for the theatre world, and I’ll always remember her amazing performances.

Jane is a remarkably talented actress who began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1974, performing as Viola in ‘Twelfth Night.’ She later gained widespread acclaim for her portrayal of the lead character in Pam Gems’ ‘Piaf,’ earning both Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actress.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe her range! Back in ’92, she was absolutely captivating as Gertrude in Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet – seriously, a masterclass. But it wasn’t just then! Even later in her career, she was still blowing everyone away. In 2013, seeing her as the Duchess of Gloucester opposite David Tennant in Richard II was just… breathtaking. And then, in 2015, she was Queen Isobel in Henry V, directed by Greg Doran again! Honestly, every single performance was perfection. I was there for both, and I’m still reeling!

‘Our thoughts are with Jane’s family and friends.’

Jane is remembered by her son, Rowan Joffe, a 53-year-old screenwriter and director. Rowan’s father is film director Roland Joffe, from whom Jane was divorced.

People across social media are sharing heartfelt tributes to Jane, a celebrated performer with a career lasting more than 60 years in theater and film.

Carol Drinkwater, the 77-year-old actress known for ‘All Creatures Great and Small,’ shared her sadness on X (formerly Twitter) after hearing some upsetting news.

I first met Jane when I was a young actress in my twenties, performing at the National Theatre. I always admired her talent and her strong, spirited personality. We’ll miss her dearly. Rest in peace, Jane.

Someone recalled a fantastic performance by the actress as Lady Macbeth in a BBC Shakespeare production with Nicol Williamson in the 1980s. They said the performance was captivating and sparked their lifelong love of theatre.

Wow, what a fantastic actress! I remember seeing her play Joan of Arc at the York Theatre Royal in 1985 – I was only fourteen at the time. It was one of the first plays I ever saw, and it really made an impression on me. It likely sparked my lifelong passion for the arts. Rest in peace.

Jane was born on December 26, 1944, in Ipswich, Suffolk. She began her acting career in 1965, playing Ruby Birtle in a production of JB Priestley’s When We Are Married at the Bristol Old Vic. She worked there for two years and later became one of the original members of The Young Vic Theatre in 1970.

She first gained widespread recognition in 1977 for portraying Marie Curie in a BBC miniseries. She followed this with a performance as Edith Piaf in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of the play Piaf.

Oh my gosh, I was THERE when Jane absolutely killed it in the West End! Seeing her win the Olivier Award for Best Actress in ’79 was magical, I was screaming! And then, can you believe it, she took that brilliance to Broadway and snagged a Tony in ’81?! I was completely obsessed, and it was EVERYTHING. Seriously, she’s a legend!

Jane divorced Oliver Wood in 1967 after a two-year marriage. She then married film director Roland Joffe in 1974, and they had a son named Rowan in 1973.

Jane and Roland divorced in 1980, and she then struck up a romance with actor Michael Pennington.

The actress was also known for her television work, having played notable roles like Cleopatra in the 1981 BBC production of Antony and Cleopatra, Princess Kuragin in the Downton Abbey Christmas special from 2014, and Princess Alice of Battenberg in the Netflix series The Crown.

In January 2000, Jane was getting ready to teach Shakespeare at a school in Paris when she suddenly suffered a brain hemorrhage.

After undergoing two significant surgeries and spending a month in intensive care, the celebrity detailed their experience in their 2003 bestselling memoir, Time Out of Mind.

In 2025, Jane was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). She received the honor at Windsor Castle in February 2026, which marked her last public appearance.

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2026-03-12 23:19