‘The Crown’ and ‘Piaf’ actress Jane Lapotaire passes away at 81

Trigger warning: This article mentions death.Jane Lapotaire, a Tony Award-winning veteran actress known for her on-stage presence and versatile roles, has passed away. She was 81 at the time of her passing. The star had been active in the entertainment industry since 1965 and had been a force to reckon with.According to a report shared by The Guardian, the veteran star passed away at the age of 81 on March 5. No cause of death has been shared with the public.Born on December 26, 1944, in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, Lapotaire had a humble upbringing. She was raised by her mother’s foster mother and had a rough beginning in life. She was introduced to the arts at a very young age after she was accepted at the Northgate Grammar School. Later on, she completed her education through a two-year course at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.From the get-go, Lapotaire approached the theatre companies and was accepted into the Bristol Old Vic Theatre early on. After working in theatre and TV for years, the star even started her own performing arts venue in 1970.As for her acting career, the star made her stage debut in theatre with ‘When We Are Married’ in 1965. She later went on to work extensively in theatre, TV, as well as the film industry, and a lot of her roles helped her establish her footing in the industry. She is best known for portraying the lead in the miniseries ‘Marie Curie’, where she played the role of the historic physicist. Other than that, she is also known for playing the role of Edith Piaf in f Pam Gems’ musical titled ‘Piaf.’ This role also got her the Tony Award for her acting.Some of her other notable works include ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, ‘Trial & Retribution’, ‘The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries’, ‘Love Hurts’, ‘To Catch a King’, ‘The Young Messiah’, and many others.