THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES

JOAN PLOWRIGHT (AUNT LUCINDA) was born in Lincolnshire and educated at Scunthorpe Grammar School, followed by the Laban Art of Movement Studio and the Old Vic Theatre School.

Her early London appearances included Orson Welles' production of "Moby Dick.” She joined the English Stage Company at the Royal Court in 1956 and appeared in her first starring role as Wycherley's "The Country Wife.” A variety of roles followed in plays by Shaw, Brecht, Arthur Miller and, most notably, Arnold Wesker ("Roots”) and John Osborne ("The Entertainer”). She married Laurence Olivier in 1961.

Plowright acted in the opening seasons of the Chichester Festival Theatre, and joined the National Theatre Company where she played many leading roles. Her performance as Shaw's "Saint Joan” earned her the Evening Standard Best Actress Award. West End appearances brought other awards and, on Broadway, she received the New York Critics Award and the Tony Award for Best Actress in "A Taste of Honey.” In the West End, Plowright starred in two productions directed by Zeffirelli, "Saturday, Sunday, Monday” and "Filumena” (which transferred to Broadway). She worked with Lindsay Anderson on "The Seagull,” "The Bed Before Yesterday” and "The Cherry Orchard.” Her latest stage production was again with Zeffirelli, "Absolutely! (perhaps).”

Plowright has also appeared in numerous television plays and films and is a firm favorite with younger viewers in "Dennis the Menace” (with Walter Matthau), "101 Dalmations” and "Return to the Secret Garden.” She also voiced characters in "Dinosaurs” and "George and the Dragon.”

Plowright was nominated for an Oscar® for "Enchanted April,” and she won Golden Globes for both that film and "Stalin.” Her other films include "Equus” (directed by Sydney Lumet), "Tea with Mussolini” and "Jane Eyre” (again with Zeffirelli), "I Love You to Death,” "Avalon,” "Drowning by Numbers” (directed by Peter Greenaway) and, most recently, "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont.”

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