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Julia
Background:
Veteran, British-born actress Vanessa Redgrave was often recognized for her role
of Julia, the title role in the 1977 movie based on Lillian Hellman’s memoir.
For her notable performance in the movie, Redgrave reaped an Academy Award, a
Golden Globe Award, a Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award and a Los Angeles
Film Critics Association Award. The five-time Oscar nominee also picked up
critical recognition after carrying out her roles in Morgan: A Suitable Case for
Treatment (1966), Isadora (1968), the historical drama Mary, Queen of Scots
(1971), The Bostonians (1984) and Howards End (1992).
On stage, the co-founder of the Moving Theater (with brother Corin) first gained
eminence with the role in “The Aspern Papers” (1984, won a Laurence Olivier
Theatre Award). She later won two London Evening Standard Theatre Awards, two
London Critics Circle Theatre Awards and a Tony Award for other stage
performances.
Apart from her proud acting history, Redgrave is also known for her social and
political awareness. She was a keen opponent to the Vietnam War and nuclear
disarmament and a supporter of the independence for Northern Ireland and the
freedom for Soviet Jews. She also provided aid for Bosnian Muslims and
co-founded the Artists Against Racism. Additionally, the UNICEF Goodwill
Ambassador was a longtime member of Britain’s Workers Revolutionary Party.
The title-holder of CBE (1967), who allegedly refused her naming of Dame of the
order of the British Empire (1999), set up a political party in the UK called
the Peace and Progress Party, in November 2004. The speaker at the Scottish
Parliament in 2005 recently had a feud with the Romanian mining company Gabriel
Resources over her opposition to the open-air gold mine in the country.
The ex-wife of Tony Richardson (1962-1967) formerly had long-term relationships
with actor Franco Nero and Timothy Dalton (1980-1994). Redgrave is the mother of
actresses Natasha Richardson and Joely Richardson and filmmaker Carlo Gabriel
Nero.
Dynasty of Thespians
Childhood and Family:
Born on January 30, 1937, in London, Vanessa Redgrave is the daughter of actors
Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson (Lady Redgrave). Her brother, Corin
Redgrave, and her sister, Lynn Redgrave, also followed in their parents’
footsteps.
After graduating from Queensgate, Vanessa pursued her inherited flair for acting
by attending the Central School of Speech and Drama in London for 2 years. She
then made her theatrical debut in 1957. A year later, Vanessa briefly tried
acting on screen.
Vanessa was formerly married to fellow actor Tony Richardson from 1962 to 1967.
The couple shares two daughters, Natasha Richardson and Joely Richardson, both
of whom are also actresses. She later gave birth to a son named Carlo Gabriel
Nero (filmmaker), from her seven-year relationship with actor Franco Nero.
Vanessa was also known for her longtime partnership with James Bond actor
Timothy Dalton (1980-1994).
If These Walls Could Talk
Career:
In 1957, Vanessa Redgrave launched her acting career with a role in the staging
of “The Reluctant Debutante” at the Frinton Summer Theatre, in Essex. She then
tasted performing on screen, along with father Michael Redgrave, in the drama
Behind the Mask (1958). Redgrave also shared the stage with her father in the
production of “A Touch of the Sun” (1958) before working on her acting skills
with a distinguished British theater company.
For the next three years, Redgrave delivered a beautiful performance as Rosalind
in the revival of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” (1961, recreated the role in
the 1963 TV movie version) and Nina, the landowner’s daughter, in Anton Chekov’s
“The Seagull” (1964, reprised the role in the 1968 movie). The newcomer also
guest performed in the series “Armchair Theatre” (1964) and “Love Story” (1965),
before having the supporting role of Catherine Barkley in the miniseries “A
Farewell to Arms” (1966).
Redgrave began catching the public’s eye with her turn as Leonie Delt, the wife
of the titular role, in Karel Reisz’ drama comedy Morgan: A Suitable Case for
Treatment (1966). For her striking performance, the actress won a Cannes Film
Festival award, as well as received an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Film
nomination. Redgrave, who staged the title role in “The Prime of Miss Jean
Brodie” (1966) in London, also scored success in her first American film,
Camelot (1967), which was adapted from Alan Jay Lerner’s musical. Her lovely
turn as Guinevere in the movie soon brought in a Kansas City Film Critics Circle
award and a Golden Globe nomination.
Rejoining director Reisz, Redgrave stood proud with the titular role of a
groundbreaking dancer in the biopic Isadora (1968), in which she took home a
second Cannes Film Festival award and a National Society of Film Critics award.
In addition, she was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
The victory was ensued by her appearance as Sylvia Pankhurst in Oh What a Lovely
War (1969) and her acting alongside Franco Nero in Drop-out (1970).
Redgrave collected her third Best Actress Oscar nomination after carrying out
the title role in the historical drama Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), opposite
Glenda Jackson, Timothy Dalton and Patrick McGoohan. Furthermore, she netted a
David di Donatello’s Special award and a Golden Globe nomination for the role.
The versatile actress next took on the titular Egyptian queen in the London
production of “Antony and Cleopatra” (1973) before making an L.A. performance in
“Macbeth” (1974), opposite Charlton Heston.
Redgrave was also seen in the adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the
Orient Express (1974, as Mary Debenham), Out of Season (1975, costarred with
Cliff Robertson) and the Sherlock Holmes movie The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
(1976, starred as Lola Deveraux). Still in 1976, the performer made her Broadway
debut in Ibsen’s “The Lady from the Sea.”
Redgrave was applauded even more for her luminous and richly detailed portrayal
of the titular woman murdered by the Nazi regime in Julia (1977), based on
Lillian Hellman’s memoir. Before long, she swept up an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a
Kansas City Film Critics Circle award and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association
award for Best Supporting Actress. Subsequent to the adventure thriller Bear
Island (1979), Redgrave won her first Emmy for the turn of Nazi prisoner Fania
Fenelon in the TV movie Playing for Time (1980). She next appeared in the TV
drama My Body, My Child (1982) and the series “Wagner” (1983, as Cosima von
Bulow).
On stage, Redgrave delivered a celebrated performance in her father’s production
of “The Aspern Papers” (1984, opposite Christopher Reeve) and nabbed a Laurence
Olivier Theatre award for Best Actress in a Revival. She gained even more
recognition after playing Arkadina in another revival of “The Seagull” (1985),
where her superb acting was given a London Evening Standard Theatre award and a
London Critics Circle Theatre award.
Meanwhile, re-teaming with Christopher Reeve, Redgrave enchanted her audience
with the leading turn of Olive Chancellor in The Bostonians (1984) and collected
a National Society of Film Critics award, as well as an Oscar and a Golden Globe
nomination. The multitalented actress earned another National Society of Film
Critics award thanks to her magnificent portrayal of Jean Travers in the
intriguing drama Wetherby (1985).
Next up for Redgrave, she received praise for her role in the miniseries “Peter
the Great” (1986, was nominated for an Emmy for starring as Sophia), the TV
biopic Second Serve (1986, earned an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination for her
part as Richard Radley/Renee Richards), the drama comedy Prick Up Your Ears
(1987, accepted a New York Film Critics Circle award, a Golden Globe nomination
and a BAFTA nomination for playing Peggy Ramsay) and the TV remake A Man for All
Seasons (1988, had the Golden Globe-nominated turn of Lady Alice More). The
performer, who won a London Critics Circle Theatre award for her supporting turn
in “A Touch of the Poet,” also presented an all-out acting performance as Lady
Torrance in the revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Orpheus Descending” (1988,
reprised the role in the 1991 TV film). Following her gig in Martin Sherman’s “A
Madhouse in Goa” (1989) and “Three Sisters” (1990), Redgrave added a London
Evening Standard Theatre award to her shelf by taking the role of Isadora Duncan
in Martin Sherman’s play “When She Danced” (1991).
After having the Emmy-nominated turn as Empress Elizabeth in Young Catherine
(1991, TV) and the Oscar-nominated role of Ruth Wilcox in Howards End (1992),
Redgrave worked on several international films, including Un Muro de silencio
(1993, as Kate Benson). The actress continued her triumphant journey with the
part of Irina Shapira in Little Odessa (1994), which gave her a Venice Film
Festival’s Volpi Cup and an Independent Spirit award nomination.
Redgrave astonished many by taking part in the TV drama A Month by the Lake
(1995, earned a Golden Globe nomination for playing Miss Bentley), Mission:
Impossible (1996), the TV drama Bella Mafia (1997, earned a Golden Globe for the
role of Graziella Luciano), Deep Impact (1998) and Girl, Interrupted (1999).
Amid her screen projects, the recipient of the 1995 Boston Film Festival’s Film
Excellence award was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre award after
starring in the play “John Gabriel Borkman” (1996).
Again, Redgrave proved her versatility with the role of homosexual Edith Tree in
the “1961” segment of the acclaimed TV drama If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000),
where she harvested an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award. The
cinematic triumph was followed by her stage roles in “The Tempest” (2000, as
Prospero) and “The Cherry Orchard” (2001).
Redgrave, who in 2001 was given a Screen Idol award from the L.A. Outfest, had a
featured role in the Sean Penn’s thriller The Pledge (2001) before costarring as
Clemmie Churchill, alongside Albert Finney, in the TV drama The Gathering Storm
(2002). For her brilliant acting in the latter, she won a Broadcasting Press
Guild award, as well as brought in an Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild,
BAFTA TV and a Golden Satellite nomination. She was then seen in the role of
Esther Huish in The Locket (2002, TV), which gave her a Character and Morality
in Entertainment’s Camie award.
To continue her accomplishments, Redgrave was handed a Tony after appearing in
the Broadway production of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” (2003). This led to
her guest performance as Dr. Erica Noughton in several episodes of the
hospital-set drama “Nip/Tuck” (2004, 2005) and her appearance in the family
movie The Thief Lord (2006).
The prolific actress will entertain her fans in the TV romantic drama The Shell
Seeker (2006), the horror movie Cowboys for Christ (2006) and the animated
sequel The Magic Snowman II (2006, will voice Gustella). Redgrave, who will star
in the one-woman stage adaptation of Joan Didion’s bestseller, “The Year of
Magical Thinking” (2007), is also set to play Roberta Elliot in the drama
thriller The Riddle (2007), act with Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in
Atonement (2007) and share the screen with daughter Natasha Richardson in Lajos
Koltai’s drama Evening (2007).
Awards:
