Jane Lapotaire

Biography

Jane Lapotaire was an English actress from Suffolk. Born in Ipswich, she trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and performed with the Bristol Old Vic company and the National Theatre before helping to found The Young Vic Theatre; she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1974. Her title role in Marie Curie (1977) brought her wide attention, and she then played Édith Piaf in Pam Gems's play Piaf, earning a Laurence Olivier Award in 1979 for her role in a new play and, after the production reached Broadway, a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She was nominated for another Olivier for Shadowlands and twice for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress. Later stage work included the Duchess of Gloucester in Richard II in 2013 and Queen Isobel in Henry V in 2015, and she appeared in Downton Abbey in 2014. Lapotaire wrote three memoirs and was appointed CBE in 2025.

81years old at death

Born December 26, 1944Ipswich
Died March 5, 2026
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Jane Elizabeth Marie Burgess (birth name)Also credited as Jane Elizabeth Marie Lapotaire and Jane Burgess

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 44 years1972 to 2016

Genres

Drama75%, 6 films
Biography25%, 2 films
Comedy25%, 2 films
Fantasy25%, 2 films
History25%, 2 films

First and latest

Jane Lapotaire movies on Netflix

The Young Messiah2016IMDb rating 5.7as Old Sarah
There's Only One Jimmy Grimble2000IMDb rating 6.6as Alice Brewer
Shooting Fish1997IMDb rating 6.5as Dylan's Headmistress
Surviving Picasso1996IMDb rating 6.3as Olga Picasso
Lady Jane1986IMDb rating 7.1as Princess Mary
Eureka1983IMDb rating 5.9as Helen McCann
Antony and Cleopatra1972IMDb rating 5.8as Charmian
The Asphyx1972IMDb rating 6.2as Christina Cunningham

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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There's Only One Jimmy Grimble2000 Comedy, Drama, Sportas Alice Brewer
IMDb rating 6.64.5K votes
The Asphyx1972 Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fias Christina Cunningham
IMDb rating 6.23.6K votes
Eureka1983as Helen McCann
IMDb rating 5.94.4K votes
Lady Jane1986as Princess Mary
IMDb rating 7.17.6K votes
Shooting Fish1997as Dylan's Headmistress
IMDb rating 6.58.0K votes
Surviving Picasso1996as Olga Picasso
IMDb rating 6.38.2K votes
The Young Messiah2016as Old Sarah
IMDb rating 5.74.1K votes
Antony and Cleopatra1972as Charmian
IMDb rating 5.81.5K votes

Worked with

Jane Lapotaire shares two films with Joss Ackland, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Joss Ackland

Anthony Hopkins

Julianne Moore

Mickey Rourke

Gene Hackman

Cary Elwes

James IvoryDirector, 1 film Stefan SchwartzDirector, 1 film Trevor NunnDirector, 1 film

Films together

Joss Ackland2 films together, 1986 to 1996
Joss Ackland's page
- Surviving Picasso1996IMDb rating 6.3Lapotaire as Olga PicassoAckland as Henri Matisse
- Lady Jane1986IMDb rating 7.1Lapotaire as Princess MaryAckland as Sir John Bridges
Anthony Hopkins1 film together, 1996
Anthony Hopkins's page
- Surviving Picasso1996IMDb rating 6.3Lapotaire as Olga PicassoHopkins as Pablo Picasso
Julianne Moore1 film together, 1996
Julianne Moore's page
- Surviving Picasso1996IMDb rating 6.3Lapotaire as Olga PicassoMoore as Dora Maar
Mickey Rourke1 film together, 1983
Mickey Rourke's page
- Eureka1983IMDb rating 5.9Lapotaire as Helen McCannRourke as Aurelio D'Amato
Gene Hackman1 film together, 1983
Gene Hackman's page
- Eureka1983IMDb rating 5.9Lapotaire as Helen McCannHackman as Jack McCann
Cary Elwes1 film together, 1986
Cary Elwes's page
- Lady Jane1986IMDb rating 7.1Lapotaire as Princess MaryElwes as Guilford Dudley
James IvoryDirector, 1 film, 1996
All films by James Ivory
- Surviving Picasso1996IMDb rating 6.3Lapotaire as Olga Picasso
Stefan SchwartzDirector, 1 film, 1997
All films by Stefan Schwartz
- Shooting Fish1997IMDb rating 6.5Lapotaire as Dylan's Headmistress
Trevor NunnDirector, 1 film, 1986
All films by Trevor Nunn
- Lady Jane1986IMDb rating 7.1Lapotaire as Princess Mary

Awards

Two awards and honors from 1981 to 2025, one of them major.

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Jane Lapotaire's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Tony Awards
1981	Best Actress in a Play	Won
Other honors
2025	Commander of the Order of the British Empire	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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