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The performing arts world is mourning the loss of Jane Lapotaire, a celebrated actress whose career spanned both stage and screen. Known for her roles in The Crown and Downton Abbey, she passed away on March 5 at the age of 81. Her death was confirmed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, though no cause has been publicly disclosed.
Born Jane Burgess in Ipswich in December 1944, her early life was marked by hardship. Adopted as an infant, she spent years with a foster mother before a legal dispute with her biological mother shaped her adolescence.
Lapotaire began acting in 1965 at the Bristol Old Vic and quickly rose through the theatre world. She later became a founding member of the Young Vic and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1974.
Her breakthrough came in 1977 portraying Marie Curie, followed by her award-winning role as Edith Piaf, which earned her a Tony Award. She also built a strong television and film career.
Despite a cerebral hemorrhage in 2000, she continued contributing to the arts. Recently honored with a CBE, she is survived by her son, Rowan Joffe.
