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.

Plowright was part of an era of British acting that has included the likes of Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Vanessa Redgrave. One of Plowright’s’ most recent projects was the documentary Tea with the Dames where alongside Smith and Dench she looked back on her career and joked that Dench had taken all the best roles.