Tributes have flooded in for acclaimed British actress Jane Lapotaire following the news of her death at the age of 81.

The celebrated performer, best known to modern audiences for portraying Princess Alice of Battenberg in Netflix’s royal drama The Crown, reportedly passed away on March 5. Her death was confirmed by the Royal Shakespeare Company on Thursday, though no cause has been publicly disclosed.

In a heartfelt statement, the Royal Shakespeare Company paid tribute to the actress whose talent shaped generations of theatre lovers. The company said they were saddened to hear of the death of their Honorary Associate Artist Jane Lapotaire, describing her as a truly brilliant actress.

They recalled that Lapotaire joined the RSC in 1974, playing Viola in Twelfth Night. Just a few years later she would take on the title role in Pam Gems’ play Piaf, a performance that earned her both the Olivier Award and a Tony Award for Best Actress.

The statement also remembered several other landmark performances across her career, including her portrayal of Gertrude opposite Kenneth Branagh in Adrian Noble’s production of Hamlet in 1992. Her final appearances with the company came decades later, in 2013 as the Duchess of Gloucester in Richard II alongside David Tennant, and in 2015 when she played Queen Isobel in Henry V.

They added that their thoughts were with Jane’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Lapotaire is survived by her son, Rowan Joffe, a screenwriter and director, whom she shared with her former husband, film director Roland Joffe.

Following the announcement of her death, fellow actors and fans rushed to social media to honour the star whose career spanned more than 60 years across stage and screen.

Actress Carol Drinkwater shared her sadness online, writing that she was devastated to read the news. She remembered knowing Jane when she was a young actress at the National Theatre, saying she had always admired both the quality of Lapotaire’s work and the strength of her character, adding simply: Rest in Peace, Jane.

Others reflected on how Lapotaire’s performances had shaped their love of theatre. One fan wrote that they had been captivated by her portrayal of Lady Macbeth in a BBC Shakespeare production opposite Nicol Williamson in the 1980s, saying the performance had never been forgotten.

Another admirer recalled seeing her lead performance in Saint Joan at York Theatre Royal in 1985 when they were just 14 years old, saying the experience helped spark a lifelong love for the arts.

Born in Ipswich, Suffolk, on December 26, 1944, Lapotaire began her professional acting career in 1965 at the Bristol Old Vic. She appeared as Ruby Birtle in J.B. Priestley’s When We Are Married and remained with the theatre for two years.

She later became one of the founding members of the Young Vic Theatre in 1970, helping shape one of Britain’s most influential theatre companies.

Her breakthrough came in 1977 when she portrayed scientist Marie Curie in a BBC miniseries, before achieving international acclaim for her powerful performance as French singer Edith Piaf in Pam Gems’ stage production Piaf.

The role brought her major recognition. She won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in 1979 during the play’s West End run, before taking home the Tony Award when the production transferred to Broadway in 1981.

Lapotaire also built a remarkable television career. She portrayed Cleopatra in the BBC’s 1981 production of Antony and Cleopatra, appeared as Princess Kuragin in the 2014 Downton Abbey Christmas special, and later brought Princess Alice of Battenberg to life in The Crown.

Her life was not without hardship. In January 2000, while preparing to teach Shakespeare at an international school in Paris, Lapotaire suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and collapsed.

She underwent two major operations and spent a month in intensive care. The experience later inspired her bestselling memoir Time Out of Mind, published in 2003.

In recognition of her extraordinary contribution to drama and the arts, Lapotaire was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2025. She made her final public appearance in February 2026 at Windsor Castle, where she personally received the honour.

Just weeks later, the curtain would fall on the life of one of Britain’s most respected actresses.