Redgrave, Vanessa (1937–)

English star of stage, tv, and screen and political activist. Born Jan 30, 1937, in London, England; dau. of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson (both actors); sister of Corin Redgrave (actor) and Lynn Redgrave (actress); granddau. of Margaret Scudamore (actress); aunt of Jemma Redgrave (actress); m. Tony Richardson (director), 1962 (div. 1967); m. Franco Nero (actor); children: Natasha Richardson and Joely Richardson (both actresses).

Made London stage debut as Caroline Lester in A Touch of the Sun (1958), followed by Major Barbara, The Tiger and the Horse, The Lady from the Sea, The Seagull, The Threepenny Opera and As You Like It (Rosalind), among others; made film debut with her father in Behind the Mask (1958) and came to prominence with Blow-Up (1966); other films include A Man for All Seasons, Camelot, Isadora, Mary Queen of Scots, Murder on the Orient Express, The Trojan Women, Wetherby, Comsuming Passions, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, Little Odessa, A Month by the Lake, The Devils, Agatha, Prick Up Your Ears and Howards End. Received Evening Standard award as Actress of the Year (1961 and 1967); named Commander of the British Empire (CBE, 1967); won Best Actress prize at Cannes for Morgan! (1966); nominated for Oscars as Best Actress for Morgan! (1966), Isadora (1968), Mary Queen of Scots (1971) and The Bostonians (1984); won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Julia (1977) and an Emmy for "Playing for Time" (1980).

See also autobiography Vanessa Redgrave (Random House, 1994).