Joan Plowright’s marriage to Laurence Olivier – affair rumors and health problems | Celebrity News | Show and television

Joan Plowright and Laurence Olivier’s 28-year marriage was full of professional achievements and personal challenges.

As two of Britain’s most famous actors, their relationship was often in the spotlight, attracting intense media scrutiny from the start.

From the controversy surrounding Olivier’s divorce from Vivien Leigh to the persistent rumors about his personal life, his marriage was constantly under public scrutiny.

Through it all, the couple balanced the pressures of fame, family and devastating health struggles. Rumors about Olivier’s sexuality dogged the couple’s romance, and speculation continues to swirl even today.

As the iconic star prepares to celebrate his 95th birthday^th anniversary, we take a look at the ups and downs of their marriage, from finding love on set, career triumphs and the constant speculation surrounding Olivier’s personal life.

Love on the set

Joan Plowright and Laurence Olivier first crossed paths on the set of the 1957 film adaptation of The Entertainer.

Olivier, already an iconic figure in British theatre, played the title role, while Plowright, a rising star, filled a prominent supporting role.

At the time, Olivier was still married to actress Vivien Leigh, but their marriage had been strained for years, largely due to Leigh’s mental health struggles.

Despite their existing marriage, Olivier and Plowright developed a close working relationship that quickly blossomed into romance.

Their meeting marked the beginning of a personal and professional association that would last almost three decades.

Shortly after Olivier’s divorce from Leigh in 1960, she married Plowright in 1961, beginning a new chapter for both of them. Olivier, known for her previous high-profile relationship with Leigh, was starting over, while Plowright was on the verge of a successful career in her own right.

Together, they would become one of the most influential couples in the theater world.

Public scrutiny

From the beginning, the relationship of Joan Plowright and Laurence Olivier was under the gaze of public scrutiny. Their romance began while Olivier was still married to Vivien Leigh, attracting significant media attention and setting the stage for their future life in the spotlight.

Even after their marriage in 1961, they couldn’t escape the constant gaze of the press, especially as both their careers took off.

In her memoir, Plowright described the emotional toll of this care, saying that she and Olivier had to metaphorically “put their heads in the sand” to cope.

He said in an interview with the Guardian: “If you put your head in the sand because your shoulders and back can take it, but your eyes and head can’t take it. It’s a way to stay sane.”

Despite constant public scrutiny, the couple remained committed to each other, and had three children: Richard, Tamsin and Julie-Kate, who would also pursue careers in the arts.

Health struggles

In the last years of their marriage, Laurence Olivier’s health began to decline significantly. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a degenerative muscle disorder that, combined with thrombosis, severely affected his mobility and general well-being. These health challenges put a lot of strain on the couple, both emotionally and physically. Plowright, who had enjoyed a flourishing acting career, became Olivier’s primary carer.

His health began to deteriorate as well as his eyes developed a disease known as macular degeneration.

Due to this condition, her vision began to decline, and by the early 2010s the effects had become so severe that she announced she was officially retiring as she had gone completely blind.

Olivier continued to work despite his health problems and Plowright supported his efforts to remain active in the theatre. In 1989, after many years of battling health problems, Olivier died of kidney failure, with Plowright by his side.

Rumors of sexuality

After Laurence Olivier’s death in 1989, rumors began to circulate about his personal life, especially regarding his sexuality. Several biographers, including Donald Spoto, suggested that Olivier had affairs with men, with Spoto stating in his work that Olivier and actor Danny Kaye were lovers.

Plowright addressed the claims head-on in his memoirs, strongly denying any affair between Olivier and Kaye. She added that a man of Olivier’s brilliance was far from ordinary, stating: “A man who was as brilliant as my husband could not be ordinary.”

In 2006, the rumors persisted and Plowright once again faced questions during an interview with the BBC’s Desert Island Discs. He made it clear that he felt no need to defend Olivier’s legacy, stating: “I don’t think there’s any need to defend his memory. His performances, his greatness as an artist are there.

“No man, living or dead, has ever claimed to have slept with Larry (Olivier), though the kiss-and-explain merchants have fallen over themselves to boast of a night or two here or there “.