Jane Lapotaire (b. 1944) is a British actor and author. She has appeared extensively on stage (Mrs. Warren’s Profession, The Merchant of Venice, Oedipus, Piaf, et. al.) as well as in film (Edward the King, Marie Curie, Surviving Picasso, Downtown Abbey, et. al.) Among the books she has written are Grace and Favour, Out of Order and Time Out of Mind. Her honors include a Variety Club of Great Britain Award, a Tony Award and an honorary doctorate from Bristol University.
Lapotaire participated in a Quaker retreat after she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 2000. Feeling she had found a place to heal, she began to attend Friends Meeting. Her Quaker community also became a source of new friends and a quieter life. Lapotaire has said that she would like everyone to learn how to sit and be silent for an hour every day. She added that the trait she most admires is serenity.
Jane Lapotaire is one of the foremost actors of her generation. As Princess Alice, Prince Phillip’s mother, in the “Bubbiekins” episode of The Crown, she gave a magnificent performance. She is a remarkable artist.
Gary Sandman
November 2025