‘The Crown’ & ‘Downton Abbey’ actress died at 81

Actress Jane Lapotaire, known for memorable roles in The Crown and Downton Abbey, has died at the age of 81. The Royal Shakespeare Company confirmed that she passed away on March 5. A cause of death has not been announced. In a statement, the Royal Shakespeare Company said they were saddened by the loss of a “truly brilliant actress,” highlighting her celebrated stage work, including her Tony and Olivier Award–winning performance as singer Edith Piaf in the play Piaf.

She also played Gertrude opposite Kenneth Branagh in Adrian Noble’s production of Hamlet. Born Jane Burgess on December 26, 1944, in Ipswich, England, Lapotaire was given up for adoption as a baby and raised by a foster mother. She discovered her passion for acting at the age of 17 and later trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1961 to 1963.....

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