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Dame Joan Plowright

Sue Lawley's castaway is actress Dame Joan Plowright.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the actress Joan Plowright.

Dame Joan Plowright is an actress who has been at the forefront of her profession since she first appeared at the Royal Court Theatre in London half a century ago. In those days she was identified with the new wave, appearing in plays by writers such as Arnold Wesker and John Osborne. She went on to make her name in more established roles - winning Actress Of The Year for her performance as Shaw's 'St Joan'. Through her marriage to Laurence Olivier, she became closely associated with his work at Chichester, and the foundation of the National Theatre. After his death, she added a career on screen to her theatre work. She was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Enchanted April and her latest film, Mrs Palfrey At The Claremont will be released later this year.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Piano Sonata in C Major- 1st Movement by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
Luxury: A piano

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 1 Sep 2006 09:00

Music Played

  • Judy Garland

    Over the Rainbow

    • The Wizard of Oz soundtrack.
    • CBS.
  • Kathleen Ferrier

    Blow the Wind Southerly

    • Your Hundred Best Tunes: Volume 4.
    • Decca.
  • Edward Elgar

    Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36: Variation IX "Nimrod"

    Orchestra: HallΓ© Orchestra Conductor: Sir John Barbirolli

    • Elgar: Enigma Variations.
    • Nixa.
  • Sir Laurence Olivier

    St Crispians Day Speech from the 1944 film Henry V

    • Walton: Scenes from Henry V.
    • EMI.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Maria (from West Side Story)

    Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic Conductor: Leonard Bernstein

    • Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic.
    • CBS.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Piano Sonata in C major - 1st movement

      Soloist: Mitsuko Uchida

      • Mozart: Two Sonatas.
      • Philips.
  • Giuseppe Di Stefano

    Comme Facette Mammete

  • Γ‰dith Piaf

    Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

    • The Very Best of Edith Piaf.
    • Capitol.
  • Book Choice

    • A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu - Marcel Proust

  • Luxury Choice

    • A piano

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Joan Plowright

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Aug 2006 11:15
  • Fri 1 Sep 2006 09:00

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