Vanessa Redgrave

Vanessa Redgrave (born January 30, 1937) is an English actress, a member of the Redgrave acting dynasty. Her parents were Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson[?]. Her sister, Lynn Redgrave, and brother, Corin Redgrave[?], are also well-known actors, as are her daughters, Natasha Richardson[?] and Joely Redgrave[?].

She was born in London and entered the Central School of Speech and Drama[?] in 1954. She first appeared in the West End, playing opposite her father, in 1958, and subsequently became notorious for her unconventional lifestyle and daring film roles such as Isadora (1968). She won an Academy Award for her performance in Julia (1977).

Her political views have also caused controversy, being a member of the Socialist Worker's Party[?] and denouncing Zionism when receiving her Academy Award. In December, 2002, she paid £50,000 bail for Chechen Foreign Minister Akhmed Zakayev, who was accused of aiding and abetting the Moscow Theatre Siege.

Select filmography

• A Man For All Seasons[?] (1966, again 1988)
• Blowup[?] (1966)
• Isadora (1968)
• Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
• Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
• Julia (1977)
• The Bostonians[?] (1984)
• Wetherby (1985)
• Prick Up Your Ears[?] (1987)
• Howards End (1992)
• Wilde (1997)
• Mrs Dalloway (1997)
• Girl, Interrupted (1999)