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Vanessa Redgrave’s Childhood
Bettmann Archive
Vanessa and Corin relocated with their family from London to Herefordshire during World War II following the East End Blitz. They returned in 1943, the same year their little sister Lynn was born. All three Redgrave children followed their parents into acting.
02of 17Vanessa Redgrave’s First HusbandBettmann ArchiveRedgrave went to drama school in London in 1954 and made her West End debut in 1958. She then began working in television in the early 1960s; her first starring film role, inMorgan!,earned her widespread acclaim and multiple award nominations.In 1962, she married director Tony Richardson (seen here directing her inThe Charge of the Light Brigade), with whom she had two children, Natasha and Joely. They divorced in 1967.
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Vanessa Redgrave’s First Husband
Redgrave went to drama school in London in 1954 and made her West End debut in 1958. She then began working in television in the early 1960s; her first starring film role, inMorgan!,earned her widespread acclaim and multiple award nominations.
In 1962, she married director Tony Richardson (seen here directing her inThe Charge of the Light Brigade), with whom she had two children, Natasha and Joely. They divorced in 1967.
03of 17Vanessa Redgrave in CamelotBettmann ArchiveAlso in 1967, Redgrave filmed one of her most iconic roles, as Guinevere inCamelot.She’s seen here with Richard Harris and Franco Nero (on one knee), who would become her second husband after her split from Richardson.
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Vanessa Redgrave in Camelot
Also in 1967, Redgrave filmed one of her most iconic roles, as Guinevere inCamelot.She’s seen here with Richard Harris and Franco Nero (on one knee), who would become her second husband after her split from Richardson.
04of 17Vanessa Redgrave’s Second HusbandGilbert TOURTE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesRedgrave and Nero make a splash on the Cannes steps in 1967.
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Vanessa Redgrave’s Second Husband
Gilbert TOURTE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Redgrave and Nero make a splash on the Cannes steps in 1967.
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Express/Archive Photos/Getty Images
The actress received the honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1967 for her contributions to the arts. She rejected the opportunity to be Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1999(a committed Marxist, she disagreed with Tony Blair’s government, she explained) but accepted the honor in 2022.
06of 17Vanessa Redgrave’s FamilyDennis Stone/Mirrorpix/Getty ImagesRedgrave and Nero had a son, Carlo, in 1969, but broke up shortly after his birth. She’s pictured here with all three children en route to Rome.
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Vanessa Redgrave’s Family
Dennis Stone/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Redgrave and Nero had a son, Carlo, in 1969, but broke up shortly after his birth. She’s pictured here with all three children en route to Rome.
07of 17Vanessa Redgrave’s Relationship with Timothy DaltonUniversal Pictures/GettyIn 1971’sMary Queen of Scots, the two fell in love and remained together until splitting in 1986.
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Vanessa Redgrave’s Relationship with Timothy Dalton
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In 1971’sMary Queen of Scots, the two fell in love and remained together until splitting in 1986.
08of 17Vanessa Redgrave Wins an OscarFrank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty ImagesThe star has been nominated for six Academy Awards, and one once, for 1977’sJulia(in which she plays an anti-Fascist woman murdered under the Nazi regime.
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Vanessa Redgrave Wins an Oscar
Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images
The star has been nominated for six Academy Awards, and one once, for 1977’sJulia(in which she plays an anti-Fascist woman murdered under the Nazi regime.
09of 17Vanessa Redgrave & Lynn Redgrave’s RelationshipRichard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesVanessa and Lynn were tremendously close throughout their lives and careers, until Lynn’s death in 2010 from complications from breast cancer.“it’s a wonderful relationship … I just adore her. I admire her massively and we can talk to each other very intimately about whatever’s on our minds,“Vanessa said on NPR in 2005.
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Vanessa Redgrave & Lynn Redgrave’s Relationship
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Vanessa and Lynn were tremendously close throughout their lives and careers, until Lynn’s death in 2010 from complications from breast cancer.
“it’s a wonderful relationship … I just adore her. I admire her massively and we can talk to each other very intimately about whatever’s on our minds,“Vanessa said on NPR in 2005.
10of 17Vanessa Redgrave and Her DaughtersRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesThe actress’s daughters Natasha and Joely followed her into acting. They’re seen here at the 1994 premiere of the filmBlue Sky, the last film the girls' father Tony directed before his death from AIDS in 1991.In 2009, Natasha was killed in a ski accident; months later in 2010, Vanessa lost both of her siblings.
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Vanessa Redgrave and Her Daughters
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
The actress’s daughters Natasha and Joely followed her into acting. They’re seen here at the 1994 premiere of the filmBlue Sky, the last film the girls' father Tony directed before his death from AIDS in 1991.
In 2009, Natasha was killed in a ski accident; months later in 2010, Vanessa lost both of her siblings.
11of 17Vanessa Redgrave at the Venice Film FestivalThe actress continued to work steadily throughout her career. Here’s she seen en route to the Venice Film Festival (with daughter Joely Richardson and granddaughter Daisy Bevan), where she would appear for 2007’sAtonement.
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Vanessa Redgrave at the Venice Film Festival
The actress continued to work steadily throughout her career. Here’s she seen en route to the Venice Film Festival (with daughter Joely Richardson and granddaughter Daisy Bevan), where she would appear for 2007’sAtonement.
12of 17Vanessa Redgrave Wins a Tony AwardEvan Agostini/Getty ImagesIn 2003, Vanessa won a Tony Award for her performance inA Long Day’s Journey Into Night,and sister Lynn was there to support her.“The wonderful thing about our relationship is now that we’re in a later part of our life is that we–in many ways I feel we’ve come back to this wonderful sisterhood that we had as quite young children,“Lynn said in the 2005 NPR interview.
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Vanessa Redgrave Wins a Tony Award
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In 2003, Vanessa won a Tony Award for her performance inA Long Day’s Journey Into Night,and sister Lynn was there to support her.
“The wonderful thing about our relationship is now that we’re in a later part of our life is that we–in many ways I feel we’ve come back to this wonderful sisterhood that we had as quite young children,“Lynn said in the 2005 NPR interview.
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Vanessa Redgrave in The Year of Magical Thinking
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The actress starred in the 2007 stage adaptation of Joan Didion’s meditation on grief (she’s seen here on opening night with the author).
In 2016,Redgrave confessed toThe Guardianthat after suffering a heart attack the year prior, she had been ready to die because “trying to live was just getting too tiring.” But she recovered, and returned to work onstage and as a film director.
14of 17Vanessa Redgrave Directs Sea SorrowRob Kim/Getty ImagesIn 2017, the then-80-year-old star took on her first directorial project, a documentary about the European migrant crisis she worked on with her son Carlo Nero (seen here with the actress giving a talk at the New York Film Festival).
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Vanessa Redgrave Directs Sea Sorrow
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In 2017, the then-80-year-old star took on her first directorial project, a documentary about the European migrant crisis she worked on with her son Carlo Nero (seen here with the actress giving a talk at the New York Film Festival).
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Vanessa Redgrave Models for Gucci
Glen Luchford/Gucci
16of 17Vanessa Redgrave’s ActivismDOMINIC LIPINSKI/AFP via Getty ImagesThe star has been politically active her entire life, running for Parliament as a member of the Worker’s Revolutionary Party, serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, joining picket lines for various causes and actively speaking against Britain and the United States' role in the “war on terror.“In 1973, she founded a nursery school in London centered on providing high-quality early eduction. She’s seen here touring the building in 2016 with the then-first lady of Colombia, Maria Clemencia Rodriguez de Santos.
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Vanessa Redgrave’s Activism
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/AFP via Getty Images
The star has been politically active her entire life, running for Parliament as a member of the Worker’s Revolutionary Party, serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, joining picket lines for various causes and actively speaking against Britain and the United States' role in the “war on terror.”
In 1973, she founded a nursery school in London centered on providing high-quality early eduction. She’s seen here touring the building in 2016 with the then-first lady of Colombia, Maria Clemencia Rodriguez de Santos.
17of 17Vanessa Redgrave’s Marriage to Franco NeroGisela Schober/GettyIn 2006, the couple rekindled their relationship and tied the knot. He is seen here with her at the 2020 Berlinale film festival, shortly before they each returned to their home bases (she in London, he in Rome) — and were separated for months due to Covid.Nerorecently told a journalistthat despite their near-40 years apart, he knew they were meant to be. “Life is sometimes very complicated,” he said. “I always loved her.”
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Vanessa Redgrave’s Marriage to Franco Nero
Gisela Schober/Getty
In 2006, the couple rekindled their relationship and tied the knot. He is seen here with her at the 2020 Berlinale film festival, shortly before they each returned to their home bases (she in London, he in Rome) — and were separated for months due to Covid.
Nerorecently told a journalistthat despite their near-40 years apart, he knew they were meant to be. “Life is sometimes very complicated,” he said. “I always loved her.”
source: people.com
