At the age of 81, the British actress Jane Lapotaire, who was loved by audiences around the world especially as Princess Alice of Battenberg in the royal drama The Crown, has died. According to available information, the artist breathed her last 5. brand, writes The sad news was announced on Thursday by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), which paid tribute to her extraordinary talent. The cause of death is currently unknown.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our Honorary Member, Jane Lapotaire,” the RSC said in a statement. Jane joined the troupe in 1974, and her career on the stage was quite rocket. For her portrayal of the legendary Edith Piaf, she won the prestigious Olivier Award in 1979 and later, after the transfer of the production to Broadway, also the world-famous Tony Award.
Jane Lapotaire not only had a stellar career, but also a busy personal life. In January 2000, while in Paris, she unexpectedly collapsed as a result bleeding in the brain. She underwent two difficult operations and fought for her life for a month intensive care unit. In 2003, she wrote a successful memoir called Time Out of Mind about this difficult period.
The last honor from the royal family
The actress, who also appeared in the Christmas special of the series Downton Manor or as Cleopatra in the BBC production, recently received a great honor. In 2025 she was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). She made her very last public appearance only in February 2026, when she received this honor in person at Windsor Castle.
Jane is survived by her 53-year-old son, the well-known screenwriter and director Rowan Joffe, whom she had with her ex-husband, the director Roland Joffe. Dozens of condolences immediately appeared on social networks. “Oh no! I’m so sorry. I admired Jane for the quality of her work and for what an unbridled and courageous woman she was. Rest in peace.” wrote actress Carol Drinkwater on Platform X.
