Jane Lapotaire

Early life

Lapotaire was born in Ipswich, Suffolk. Her mother, Louise Burgess, was French but had been abandoned as a baby in England and brought up in foster care in Ipswich. She was nineteen and single when Lapotaire was born, and never revealed the identity of her daughter's father. From the age of two months, Lapotaire was raised as a foster child by a widowed pensioner, Grace Chisnell, who had also been her birth mother's foster mother. It was a working-class, impoverished childhood, but, when Lapotaire won a place at the local grammar school, Northgate Grammar School, her horizons were broadened with an introduction to art, music and literature. When Lapotaire was about 12, her birth mother made a bid to reclaim her, but she chose to remain with her foster mother in Ipswich, although she spent holidays with Burgess, by then married to a Canadian oil worker and living in North Africa. She later took her birth mother's married name, Lapotaire. Grace Chisnall died in 1984 aged 96 and Louise Lapotaire died in 1999.

Acting career

Lapotaire studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1961 to 1963. At that time, the programme was a two-year course, unlike today's three-year course. Lapotaire had earlier auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, but failed to get in. She joined the Bristol Old Vic theatre company in 1965 and the National Theatre in 1967. She was also a founding member of The Young Vic Theatre in 1970/1971 and moved to the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1974.

Her performance in the title role of Marie Curie (1977) first brought her to wide attention. In 1978, she performed the title role Édith Piaf for Pam Gems's play Piaf, directed by Howard Davies for the Royal Shakespeare Company, in Stratford-upon-Avon and in London at the Warehouse Theatre, Covent Garden in 1979. Two years later, the show moved to Broadway. Lapotaire won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play that year.

She returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company in October–November 2013 as the Duchess of Gloucester in Gregory Doran's adaptation of Richard II with David Tennant in the title role. This was followed in October–December 2015 as Queen Isobel in Henry V. On Christmas Day in 2014, she appeared as Princess Irina Kuragin in season five, episode nine of Downton Abbey.

Writing

Lapotaire has written a number of memoirs: Grace and Favour (1989), Out of Order: A Haphazard Journey Through One Woman's Year (1999), and Everybody's Daughter, Nobody's Child (2007), which includes an account of her childhood growing up in Levington Road, Ipswich.

Personal life

Lapotaire was married to director Roland Joffé from 1974 to 1980; they had one son, screenwriter and director Rowan Joffé (born 1973). Following their divorce, she was for a time the partner of actor Michael Pennington.

On 11 January 2000, while preparing to teach a course on Shakespeare at the Ecole Internationale in Paris, Lapotaire suffered a massive cerebral haemorrhage. Four days after her collapse, she underwent a six-hour surgery and spent the next three weeks largely unconscious. She writes about her recovery in Time Out of Mind.

Associations

Lapotaire is honorary president of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Club, and is president of the Friends of Shakespeare's Globe.

Filmography

Theatre

Her stage credits include:

Radio

Awards

In April 2018, Lapotaire became the 29th recipient of the prestigious Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday Award and gave the 454th Shakespeare Birthday Lecture on 20 April 2018.

Lapotaire was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2025 Birthday Honours for services to drama.{{London Gazette

|- ! scope="row" | 1978 | Marie Curie (1977) | British Academy Television Award for Best Actress | |- ! scope="row" | 1989 | Blind Justice (1988) | British Academy Television Award for Best Actress |

|- ! scope="row" | 1981 | Piaf (1978-1981) | Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play | |- ! scope="row" | 1983 | Piaf (1978-1981) | CableACE Award for Actress in a Theatrical or Non-Musical Program |

|- ! scope="row" | 2020 | The Crown (2019) | Gold Derby TV Award for Drama Guest Actress |

References

References

1. "Olivier Winners 1979".
2. "Olivier Winners 1989/90".
3. "Actress".
4. Carole Zucker, ''In the Company of Actors: Reflections on the Craft of Acting'' (New York: Theatre Arts Books/Routledge, 1999), p. 78.
5. "I know what hell is". The Scotsman.
6. (25 March 2007). "Love is stronger than blood". The Sunday Times.
7. Carole Zucker, ''In the Company of Actors: Reflections on the Craft of Acting'' (New York: Theatre Arts Books/Routledge, 1999), pp. 79–80.
8. Opitz, Lary. "Jane Lapotaire".
9. "Stars Who Won a Tony Award and an Olivier Award for the Same Role".
10. Vonledebur, Catherine. (11 October 2013). "Jane Lapotaire rejoins the RSC with a role in Richard II". [[Coventry Telegraph]].
11. Neill, Heather. (28 September 2015). "10 Questions for Actress Jane Lapotaire".
12. (October 2015). "The Royal Shakespeare Company's Gregory Doran completes his ambitious 'King and Country' tetralogy with rising star Alex Hassell in the title role of Henry V".
13. Lapotaire, Jane. (1989). "Grace and Favour". Macmillan.
14. Lapotaire, Jane. (1999). "Out of Order: A Haphazard Journey Through One Woman's Year". Kyle Cathie.
15. Lapotaire, Jane. (2007). "Everybody's Daughter, Nobody's Child". Virago.
16. According to the GRO at [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/records/england-and-wales/details/B/113699691?rT=ALL&e=B&fY=1900&tY=2000&iSnV=false&sn=Lapotaire&iFnsV=false&rg=5&rC=2 findmypast.co.uk]
    Roland V I Joffe married Jane E M Lapotaire in 1974.
17. Daniel Farson, [https://www.michaelpennington.me.uk/page137.html "The Latest Prince"], ''The Sunday Telegraph'', July 1980.
18. Lapotaire, Jane. (2004). "Time Out Of Mind". Virago Press.
19. "About us – Bristol Old Vic Theatre Club". Bristol Old Vic Theatre Club.
20. "There's Only One Jimmy Grimble". [[Amazon (company).
21. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141016205215/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ ''…'' – BBC – Radio Times]
22. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250220134408/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f15572496f754e68b47ad5673c634963 ''Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: The Naval Treaty'' – BBC – Radio Times]
23. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160803201653/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2e9c118ead7f466c865a0428364dc0f1 ''Play for Today: Stocker's Copper'' – BBC – Radio Times]
24. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070012/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/95057bbe69ec4fa09ad14450519c052b ''Owen MD: It Never Rains: Part 2'' – BBC – Radio Times]
25. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071517/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c94aacd40a134856bf99a2328f83dbe0 ''Love and Mr. Lewisham: Part 2'' – BBC – Radio Times]
26. [https://web.archive.org/web/20211007213723/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/25d979e408c4430899a94ff57392e7df ''The Edwardians: E. Nesbit'' – BBC – Radio Times]
27. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081013/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bd61a5917af84c0896e816db8518b772 ''The House of Bernarda Alba'' – BBC – Radio Times]
28. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071516/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/04ae208cdea248ba9ddb07aac951fa1e ''Sea Tales: 1: The Return'' – BBC – Radio Times]
29. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081011/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3cf5ab44d513436599f8f1ef1eea98c5 ''Marie Curie: Part 1: 1886'' – BBC – Radio Times]
30. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081018/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/857dd0272ba34e5bb148a60233253638 ''Marie Curie: Part 2: 1895'' – BBC – Radio Times]
31. [https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/81ba0340ce53418a8d4ec11e18c9ce1d ''Marie Curie: Part 3: 1898'' – BBC – Radio Times]{{dead link. (September 2025)
32. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081011/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/80d53da9026848f6a500268b51f5ba94 ''Marie Curie: Part 4: 1904'' – BBC – Radio Times]
33. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081009/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2bf96d6b4895442188db99b6bf261ce4 ''Marie Curie: Part 5: 1911'' – BBC – Radio Times]
34. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081020/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/10bff6d4e75d4cbcb308f2d24b987a07 ''Wings: Another Country'' – BBC – Radio Times]
35. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141018010903/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/81f34975651b42d5b738072eaaf70cf8 ''Jackanory: Fanny's Sister'' – BBC – Radio Times]
36. "BBC Shakespeare Antony and Cleopatra". Amazon.
37. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210816230322/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/71e7f57ec92549b58f957a4f87d35a1a ''The Barretts of Wimpole Street'' – BBC – Radio Times]
38. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141019234605/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/692428928ec943d8a2bb6b99a0bdf643 ''The Captain's Doll'' – BBC – Radio Times]
39. [https://web.archive.org/web/20201030090819/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b02fcc94e23745e8a6c048cfd15063a7 ''The Testament of John'' – BBC – Radio Times]
40. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081022/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/215fa71b33c742c0a75b1eb91749c2f5 ''Blind Justice: 1: Crime and Punishment'' – BBC – Radio Times]
41. [https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0f0110d1345e4c7490cd39e9bcc3c6e1 ''Blind Justice: 2: White Man Listen'' – BBC – Radio Times]{{dead link. (September 2025)
42. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081009/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f970e82944314d81b005580b03155ad5 ''Blind Justice: 3: The One about the Irishman'' – BBC – Radio Times]
43. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081019/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/14e654102d8d4232a98accc795a73fc6 ''Blind Justice: 4: A Death in the Family'' – BBC – Radio Times]
44. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081009/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/472246d7c86b432e85ff53f446093234 ''Blind Justice: 5: Permanent Blue'' – BBC – Radio Times]
45. [https://web.archive.org/web/20231210203654/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3f656513cd1542799de7bb9fae58ee66 ''The Dark Angel'' – BBC – Radio Times]
46. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081018/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ea02ffe61baa421388d77fe889f56234 ''Casualty: We Shall Overcome'' – BBC – Radio Times]
47. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520081014/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/923832bb81d84ac2a57e239f0585bbb3 ''Giving Tongue'' – BBC – Radio Times]
48. [https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/aint-misbehavin/cast/1030573097 Ain't Misbehavin' – TV Guide]
49. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524001527/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/09f237845c3e401fa19320aac065c90f ''Bella and the Boys'' – BBC – Radio Times]
50. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250220135008/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/36884140290f4cd79b9c7e35bbe67d46 ''Elizabeth David – a Life in Recipes'' – BBC – Radio Times]
51. Gordon, Naomi. (11 October 2019). "The Crown will explore Prince Philip's mother's extraordinarily tragic life".
52. "Jane Lapotaire Biography (1944–)".
53. [https://theatricalia.com/person/47f/jane-lapotaire ''Jane Lapotaire'' – Theatricalia]
54. [ ''…'' – ]
55. [ ''…'' – ]
56. [https://theatricalia.com/play/sz/antigone/production/bne ''Antigone'' – Theatricalia]
57. [https://theatricalia.com/play/22/henry-viii/production/2z1 ''Henry VIII'' – Theatricalia]
58. [https://theatricalia.com/play/22/henry-viii/production/32g ''Henry VIII'' – Theatricalia]
59. [https://theatricalia.com/play/17c/the-rape-of-lucrece/production/3n2 ''The Rape of Lucrece'' – Theatricalia]
60. [https://www.theartsdesk.com/theatre/richard-ii-barbican ''Richard II, Barbican'' – Demetrios Matheou, 13 December 2013]
61. [https://theatricalia.com/play/22/henry-viii/production/331 ''Henry VIII'' – Theatricalia]
62. [https://theatricalia.com/play/69x/a-master-class-with-maria-callas/production/e2b ''A Master Class with Maria Callas'' – Theatricalia]
63. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141016205215/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ ''…'' – BBC – Radio Times]
64. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071518/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6596da8dfd3e4f2e80db37fc66f75c96 ''Afternoon Theatre: The Lady with the Little Dog'' – BBC – Radio Times]
65. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210625013153/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0e9b848bc47646ebbbcafd190a7ebadf ''The Monday Play: The Dark is Light Enough'' – BBC – Radio Times]
66. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070012/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/385e12661a1c4e069c90394a21900854 ''Drama Now: The Eating House'' – BBC – Radio Times]
67. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070013/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/68c89d49ee06422aa68004824fe55c6c ''Afternoon Theatre: Caring Incorporated'' – BBC – Radio Times]
68. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141028032415/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5137e9cc98fa470c86cbd128369d1f07 ''Dr Piffoel'' – BBC – Radio Times]
69. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070010/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1500f9bc189746a5ac3c7ff17480cf49 ''Afternoon Theatre: Electra'' – BBC – Radio Times]
70. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p055byzc ''David Hare - Plenty'' – BBC Programmes]{{dead link. (September 2025)
71. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141029111633/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/01f1928d119e4c2284609467314f705d ''Plenty'' – BBC – Radio Times]
72. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071523/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/26d32e2106e54a2a9cb688db6a818db0 ''Boris Godunov'' – BBC – Radio Times]
73. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x88q0 ''Dashiell Hammett – The Maltese Falcon'' – BBC Programmes]
74. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071517/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ca021d6bb8c2419498ca69e5e3a8551b ''Saturday-Night Theatre The Maltese Falcon'' – BBC – Radio Times]
75. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524001530/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d05aff88825d445498654d0d2f6e6153 ''First Things Last'' – BBC – Radio Times]
76. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070013/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/383676e114f3460ba5ec37f705043b8f ''That Cunard Woman'' – BBC – Radio Times]
77. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141020090330/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0a310ecbae234179ba2852937e17a461 ''A Sorceress of Her Time'' – BBC – Radio Times]
78. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qlmj ''Joan Aiken - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase'' – BBC Programmes]
79. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071519/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e88708ed07e44bd8a93a0fed22f84776 ''Saturday Night Theatre: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase'' – BBC – Radio Times]
80. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08607fn ''Peter Tinniswood - Pen Pals'' – BBC Programmes]
81. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071521/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/84d56480fcc2405b9c20702650e764f4 ''Globe Theatre 95: Pen Pals'' – BBC – Radio Times]
82. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001dfpg ''Bertie and the Crime of Passion'' – BBC Programmes]
83. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250220134620/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/68ce4ce3d853449482adcf77cc26c70d ''Bertie and the Crime of Passion'' – BBC – Radio Times]
84. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jr87 ''Mansfield Park'' – BBC Programmes]
85. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141028195459/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f5a2811ae68f47089235c647883a33a7 ''Classic Serial: Mansfield Park'' – BBC – Radio Times]
86. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0075685 ''Michael Punter - Come to Me'' – BBC Programmes]
87. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071521/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8beb739172934b778d06f8db487a7c21 ''Thursday Afternoon Play: Come to Me'' – BBC – Radio Times]
88. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524033053/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bf1e7343df9849f38373c3cd0ece0ccb ''Afternoon Play: In Singapore'' – BBC – Radio Times]
89. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071520/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/845fe7f446ca49479136a421feaa82db ''Afternoon Play: Writing Home'' – BBC – Radio Times]
90. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524001524/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d958e35e4e9d491fa3592c9a6593692c ''Afternoon Play: Plays of the Severn'' – BBC – Radio Times]
91. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071515/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4db05fadd5df4d719f2e173d4c6b7e47 ''The Friday Play: I'll Be George'' – BBC – Radio Times]
92. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071516/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/90a17402b28e4f1db7bbcdd43da0b9ca ''Byron's Women'' – BBC – Radio Times]
93. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250220134557/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7fd208fa4901434190b10f0d30c22a2a ''Sunday Play: Walk to the Paradise Garden'' – BBC – Radio Times]
94. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250220134749/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c02392975d994fd6a408adb77495de2f ''Afternoon Play: A Thousand Ships'' – BBC – Radio Times]
95. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076nrb ''Arthur: The Sword of the King'' – BBC Programmes]
96. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524003030/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/781d032adc6247ac8d9a169d86c2b3f2 ''Afternoon Play: Arthur: The Sword of the King'' – BBC – Radio Times]
97. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076nvc ''Arthur: The Black Dog'' – BBC Programmes]
98. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524001531/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0ca3d68f9658414e9e40a9438194e619 ''Afternoon Play: Arthur: The Black Dog'' – BBC – Radio Times]
99. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076nyg ''Arthur: The Lake'' – BBC Programmes]
100. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524001531/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bf35058e353d4fda8f96628f023cd5e6 ''Afternoon Play: Arthur: The Lake'' – BBC – Radio Times]
101. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076p1n ''Arthur: The Moon Eats the Sun'' – BBC Programmes]
102. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250220134553/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/605a7c32bd664f42abe277c522d32d15 ''Afternoon Play: Arthur: The Moon Eats the Sun'' – BBC – Radio Times]
103. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076p4t ''Arthur: The Grail'' – BBC Programmes]
104. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524001524/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/50d37820478f4aba8975f7d5260f578f ''Afternoon Play: Arthur: The Grail'' – BBC – Radio Times]
105. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0076p7x ''Arthur: The Last Battle'' – BBC Programmes]
106. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524001525/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b13d0ae42b574f1e8b554d07f57f6077 ''Afternoon Play: Arthur: The Last Battle'' – BBC – Radio Times]
107. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230524003028/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b75cbb4958a94f8d8b672935ceae19eb ''Drama on 3: The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene'' – BBC – Radio Times]
108. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070010/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fb6892d1ff4c4342955c88caad40c14d ''Afternoon Play: Scenes of Seduction'' – BBC – Radio Times]
109. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230525071522/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8189ed49e1484c4b912e278b1b640645 ''Afternoon Play: Exiled from Paradise'' – BBC – Radio Times]
110. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01130n9 ''Virginia Woolf - The Waves'' – BBC Programmes]
111. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170723092226/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d28b9ee6bce34b178574ca456554113a ''Classic Serial: The Waves'' – BBC – Radio Times]
112. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qm62k ''Plantagenet'' – BBC Programmes]
113. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xn9y1 ''Living with Princes'' – BBC Programmes]
114. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p0680 ''Alexandre Dumas - The Count of Monte Cristo'' – BBC Programmes]
115. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/… ''…'' – BBC Programmes]{{dead link. (September 2025)
116. "Jane Lapotaire receives Pragnell Award".
117. (17 April 2018). "Shakespeare's 454th Birthday Celebrations!".
118. "Gary Oldman and Strictly hosts join Beckham in honours". [[BBC News]].