Jane Lapotaire

Jane Lapotaire
Born
Jane Elizabeth Marie Burgess

(1944-12-26) 26 December 1944 (age 78)
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
OccupationActress
Years active1965–present
Spouses
  • Oliver Wood
    (m. 1965; div. 1967)
  • (m. 1974; div. 1980)
ChildrenRowan Joffé

Jane Elizabeth Marie Lapotaire (née Burgess; 26 December 1944) is an English actress.

Biography

Lapotaire was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, the daughter of Louise Elise (Burgess). Her stepfather, Yves Lapotaire, worked in the oil industry and was originally from Quebec, Canada. From the age of two months, she was raised as a foster child by an old-age pensioner, Grace Chisnell (Granny Grace), who was also the foster mother of Lapotaire's own biological mother, a French orphan, who was abandoned in England. When Lapotaire was about 12, her biological mother made a bid to get her back. The child welfare department of the Suffolk County Council intervened and decided that the mother had this right. Lapotaire chose to be with Granny Grace, but lived with her biological mother and stepfather, who worked in various French oil companies in North Africa (particularly Libya), three times a year. She also adopted their family name. The Lapotaires in North Africa were Francophones, and like French colonials at that time, lived around the French embassy. Granny Grace died in 1984 aged 96 and Louise Burgess died in 1999.

She studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1961 to 1963, the programme was a two-year course at that time, unlike the three-year course today. She had earlier auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, but failed to get in. She joined the Bristol Old Vic theatre company in 1965. She joined the National Theatre in 1967, was 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 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.

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, Out of Order: A Haphazard Journey Through One Woman's Year, and Everybody's Daughter, Nobody's Child, which includes an account of her childhood growing up in Levington Road, Ipswich.

Illness

On 11 January 2000, while preparing to teach a course on Shakespeare at the Ecole Internationale in Paris France, 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.[citation needed]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role
1970 Crescendo Lillianne
1972 Antony and Cleopatra Charmian
1973 The Asphyx Christina Cunningham
1975 One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing Miss Prescott
1983 Eureka Helen McCann
1984 To Catch a King Irene Neumann
1986 Lady Jane Princess/Queen Mary
1996 Surviving Picasso Olga Picasso
1997 Shooting Fish Dylan's Headmistress
2000 There's Only One Jimmy Grimble Alice Brewer
2005 Can't Stop Breathing Daisy (short movie)
2016 The Young Messiah Sarah
2020 Rebecca Granny
2021 Smyrna Filio Mpaltatzi
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1968 Sherlock Holmes Annie Harrison Episode: "The Naval Treaty
1971 Jason King French maid Episode: "Buried in the Cold, Cold Ground"
1971 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Emily Shaw Episode: "The Case of Laker, Absconded
1972 Play for Today Alice Stocker Episode: "Stocker's Copper
1972 Owen, M.D. Jennie Hopkins Episode: "It Never Rains" (2 parts)
1972 Callan Kristina Episode: "The Contract"
1972 Love and Mr Lewisham Miss Alice Heydinger Mini-series
1972 Armchair Theatre Jean Episode: "On Call"
1972 The Edwardians Alice Hoatson Episode: "E. Nesbit
1973 Van der Valk Elly Episode: "Rich Man, Poor Man"
1973 Crown Court Juliet Tomlin Episode: "Robin and his Juliet"
1975 Edward the Seventh Empress Marie of Russia
1976 Play for Today Kim Episode: "The Other Woman"
1976 The House of Bernarda Alba Magdalena
1977 Sea Tales Narrator
Bridget Ritsin
Episode: "The Return" 
1977 Marie Curie Marie Curie     
1978 Wings Anne Boissier Episode: "Another Country
1978 The Devil's Crown Eleanor of Aquitaine
1979 Jackanory Storyteller Episode: "Fanny's Sister
1981 Antony & Cleopatra Cleopatra TV film
1982 The Barretts of Wimpole Street Elizabeth Moulton-Barrett
1983 The Captain's Doll Evangeline
1983 Macbeth Lady Macbeth TV film
1984 The Testament of John Claire
1985 Seal Morning Miriam Spencer
1987 Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story Letizia Bonaparte
1988 Theatre Night Aline Solness Episode: "The Master Builder"
1988 Blind Justice Katherine Hughes Episodes: "Crime and Punishment",  "White Man Listen", "The One about the Irishman",  "A Death in the Family", "Permanent Blue" 
1989 The Dark Angel Madame de la Rougierre
1989 Murder on the Moon Louise Mackey TV film
1990 Screen Two Helen Episode: "Circles of Deceit"
1992‍–‍93 Love Hurts Diane Warburg (Series 1–2, 20 episodes)
1994 The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Elspeth Cost Episode: "Dead Water"
1995 Johnny and the Dead Mrs. Sylvia Liberty
1996 Casualty Eileen Jarvis Episode: "We Shall Overcome
1996 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Anouk Khoori Episode: "Simisola"
1996 Giving Tongue Hilda Jacob
1997 McCallum Miriam Konrad Episode: "Sacrifice"
1997 Ain't Misbehavin' Clara Van Trapp
2000 Arabian Nights Miriam TV film
2001 Midsomer Murders Mary Mohan Episode: "Who Killed Cock Robin?"
2004 Bella and the Boys Mrs. Rogers TV film 
2004 He Knew He Was Right Lady Milborough
2005 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Fiona Deakin-Jones Episode: "Word of God"
2006 Elizabeth David – a Life in Recipes Ernestine Carter
2006 Eleventh Hour Gepetto Episode: "Resurrection"
2009 Casualty Maureen Episodes: "Crush" and "Better Drowned"
2009 Trial & Retribution Tess Episode: "Ghost Train (Part 1)"
2013 Lucan Older Susie Maxwell-Scott Episode: 1
2014 Downton Abbey Princess Kuragin Episode: "A Moorland Holiday"
2019 The Crown Princess Alice of Battenberg 2 episodes
2021 Dalgliesh Lady Lavinia Berowne Episode: "A Taste for Death"
2023 Endeavour Madame Belasco Episode: "Prelude"
2023 The Burning Girls Joan Hartman Main role

Theatre

Her stage credits include: 

Date Title Role Director Company / Theatre
1965 When We Are Married (Stage debut) Ruby Birtle Bristol Old Vic / Theatre Royal, Bristol
1965–1967 Mrs. Warren's Profession Vivie Bristol Old Vic / Theatre Royal, Bristol
1965–1967 War and Peace Natasha Bristol Old Vic / Theatre Royal, Bristol
1965–1967 The Homecoming Ruth Bristol Old Vic / Theatre Royal, Bristol
1967 The Dance of Death Judith National Theatre, London
1967 A Flea in Her Ear Antoinette National Theatre
1969 The Way of the World Mincing, later Mrs. Fainall National Theatre
1969 Macrune's Guevara Tania National Theatre
1969 The White Devil Zanche National Theatre
1969 The Travails of Sancho Panza Don Quixote's niece National Theatre
1970 The Merchant of Venice Jessica National Theatre
1970–1971 Scapino Zerbinetta Young Vic Theatre, London
1970–1971 The Taming of the Shrew Katherina Young Vic Theatre
1970–1971 Oedipus Jocasta Young Vic Theatre
1970–1971 Measure for Measure Isabella Young Vic Theatre
1971 The Captain of Köpenick Lieschen National Theatre
1974 Macbeth Lady Macduff Royal Shakespeare Company
1974 Uncle Vanya Sonya Royal Shakespeare Company
1975 As You Like It Rosalind Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham, then Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh
1975 Twelfth Night Viola Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford, then Aldwych Theatre, London
1975 A Month in the Country Vera Royal Shakespeare Company / Albery Theatre, London
1975 A Room with a View Lucy Honeychurch Royal Shakespeare Company / Albery Theatre
30 May 1976 As You Like It Rosalind Peter Gill Riverside Studios, London
1976 The Duchess of Malfi Title role Bristol Old Vic / Theatre Royal, Bristol
1979 Love's Labour's Lost Rosaline Stratford, 1978 then Aldwych Theatre
1979 Piaf Édith Piaf Howard Davies The Other Palace, London, then Warehouse Theatre, London, later Aldwych Theatre
1980 Wyndham's Theatre and Piccadilly Theatre, London
5 Feb 198128 Jun 1981 Royal Shakespeare Company / Plymouth Theatre, New York City
1983 Kick for Touch Eileen Peter Gill National Theatre
12 September 1983 Dear Anyone agony aunt Birmingham Repertory Theatre
8 November 1983 Cambridge Theatre
1984 Venice Preserv'd Belvidera National Theatre
15 May 1984 Antigone  Antigone John Burgess and Peter Gill National Theatre / Cottesloe Theatre, London
1985 Saint Joan Title role Compass Company
1986 Double Double Fortune Theatre, London
1986 Misalliance Royal Shakespeare Company
1986 Archbishop's Ceiling Royal Shakespeare Company
1988 Greenland Royal Court Theatre, London
1989–1990 Shadowlands Joy Davidman Queen's Theatre, London
1992 Hamlet Gertrude Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London
1993 Ghosts Mrs. Alving Royal Shakespeare Company / The Other Place Theatre, Stratford
26 November 19961997 Henry VIII (also known as The Famous History of the Life of Henry VIII) Katherine of Aragon Gregory Doran Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 
18 February 1998 Royal Shakespeare Company / Young Vic Theatre 
10 September 2006 The Rape of Lucrece  Gregory Doran Royal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
October 201316 November 2013 Richard II Duchess of Gloucester Gregory Doran Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 
December 201325 January 2014 Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre 
September 201525 October 2015 Henry V Queen Isobel Gregory Doran Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 
7 November 201530 December 2015 Royal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre 
April 2016 Royal Shakespeare Company / New York 
Major Tours
21 May 19987 June 1998 Henry VIII  (also known as The Famous History of the Life of Henry VIII) Katherine of Aragon Gregory Doran Royal Shakespeare Company / Brooklyn Academy of Music Majestic Theater, New York
9 June 19985 July 1998 Royal Shakespeare Company / John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC
1999 A Master Class with Maria Callas  Di Trevis British cities: Theatre Royal, Bath

Radio

Date Title Role Director Station
9 Dec 1972 The Lady with the Little Dog  Anna Jane Graham BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
28 Jan 1974 The Dark is Light Enough  Gelda Jane Graham BBC Radio 4 The Monday Play
13 Jul 1976 The Eating House  The woman Betty Davies BBC Radio 3 Drama Now
2 Feb 1977 Caring Incorporated  Judith Jane Morgan BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Theatre
22 May 1979 Dr Piffoel  George Sand John Theocharis BBC Radio 3
19 Oct 1980 Electra  Electra Jane Morgan BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Theatre
29 Mar 1981 Plenty   Susan Traherne Richard Wortley BBC Radio 3
8 Mar 1984 Boris Godunov  Marina Mniszek John Theocharis BBC Radio 3
29 Dec 1984 The Maltese Falcon   Brigid O'Shaughnessy Jane Morgan BBC Radio 4 Saturday-Night Theatre
13 Feb 1989 First Things Last  Simone Jane Morgan BBC Radio 4
20 Feb 1989 That Cunard Woman  Nancy Cunard Penny Gold BBC Radio 4
30 Apr 1993 A Sorceress of Her Time  Alma Mahler Rosemary Hart BBC Radio 3
30 December 1994 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase   Miss Slighcarp Cherry Cookson BBC Radio 4 Saturday Night Theatre
4 May 1995 Pen Pals   Fay Fuller Shaun MacLoughlin BBC Radio 4 Globe Theatre 95
12 Oct 1995 Bertie and the Crime of Passion   Sarah Bernhardt Matthew Walters BBC Radio 4
18 May 1997 – 1 Jun 1997 Mansfield Park   Mrs Norris Sue Wilson BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial
12 Feb 1998 Come to Me   Greta Jane Morgan BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
13 Nov 1998 In Singapore  Sally Vanessa Whitburn BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
27 Nov 1998 Writing Home  Mother Cherry Cookson BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
5 Dec 2000 – 7 Dec 2000 Plays of the Severn  Voice of the River Peter Leslie Wild
Sue Wilson
BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
18 May 2001 I'll Be George  George Sand Ned Chaillet BBC Radio 4 The Friday Play
4 Jun 2001 – 15 Jun 2001 Byron's Women  Lady Melbourne Clive Brill BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
14 Oct 2001 Walk to the Paradise Garden  Miss Jordon Terence Davies BBC Radio 3 Sunday Play
28 Jan 2002 A Thousand Ships  Helen Peter Kavanagh BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
22 Oct 2004 Arthur: The Sword of the King   Morgan Gordon House BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
29 Oct 2004 Arthur: The Black Dog   Morgan Gordon House BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
5 Nov 2004 Arthur: The Lake' '  Morgan Jeremy Mortimer BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
12 Nov 2004 Arthur: The Moon Eats the Sun   Morgan Jeremy Mortimer BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
19 Nov 2004 Arthur: The Grail   Morgan Jeremy Mortimer BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
26 Nov 2004 Arthur: The Last Battle   Morgan Jeremy Mortimer BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
27 Feb 2005 The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene  Mary Magdalene Marina Caldarone BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3
7 Mar 2005 Scenes of Seduction  Mme Etcheberri Ned Chaillet BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
1 Jun 2005 Exiled from Paradise  Roznay Claudine Toutoungi BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
23 Sep 2007 – 30 Sep 2007 The Waves   Jinny Terence Davies BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial
14 Feb 2010 – 28 Feb 2010 Plantagenet  Queen Eleanor Jeremy Mortimer BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial
23 Jan 2011 Living with Princes  Catherine de Medici Jeremy Mortimer BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3
25 Nov 2012 – 16 Dec 2012 The Count of Monte Cristo  Haydee Jeremy Mortimer
Sasha Yevtushenko
BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial
Radio interviews (available to listen again)
Date Title Synopsis Station Link
9 Jun 1981 Meridian – British Theatre on a Winning Streak in New York Tony Awards: Jane Lapotaire won best actress as Piaf BBC World Service Meridian – British Theatre on a Winning Streak in New York
17 Feb 1983 Meridian Jane Lapotaire on her role in writer-director Peter Gill's Kick For Touch at The National's Cottesloe Theatre BBC World Service Meridian
17 August 1986 Desert Island Discs In conversation with Michael Parkinson, she recalls her difficult childhood in a foster home, and how she became an actress BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs: Jane Lapotaire
9 Nov 1993 Meridian – Treading the Boards Actors who trained at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol reflect on their experiences BBC World Service Meridian – Treading the Boards
22 Jan 2016 My Classical Favourites BBC Radio 3 My Classical Favourites: Jane Lapotaire

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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1978 Marie Curie (1977) British Academy Television Award for Best Actress Nominated
1989 Blind Justice (1988) British Academy Television Award for Best Actress Nominated
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1981 Piaf (1978-1981) Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play Won
1983 Piaf (1978-1981) CableACE Award for Actress in a Theatrical or Non-Musical Program Nominated
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 The Crown (2019) Gold Derby TV Award for Drama Guest Actress Nominated

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