Rachel Kempson(1910-2003)
- Actress
Rachel Kempson, the matriarch of one of theatre and film's most famous acting dynasties, took rather a back seat to the attention placed on several of the others.
Born on May 28, 1910, in Dartmouth, Devon, England, to Beatrice Hamilton (Ashwell) and Eric William Edward Kempson, a headmaster, Rachel trained at RADA and made her professional stage debut at Stratford in 1933 playing Hero in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." She went on to grace other famed companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English Stage Company and the Old Vic.
Marrying actor Michael Redgrave in 1935, she became Lady Redgrave when Sir Michael was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959. Their three children grew to become celebrated acting icons of their own: Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave and Corin Redgrave. Over the years, the precedence of being a wife and mother strongly overruled her career ambitions. On stage she co-starred with Sir Michael in a number of plays including "Flowers of the Forest" (1935), "Love's Labour's Lost" (1936), "Storm in a Teacup" (1936), "The Wingless Victory" (1943), "Antony and Cleopatra" (as Octavia) (1953), "King Lear" (as Regan) (1953) and Samson Agonistes (1965).
Besides featured roles in such films as Vengeance de femme (1948), Tom Jones : Entre l'alcôve et la potence (1963), Le Secret du Dr Whitset (1964), La malédiction de la mouche (1965) and Scotland Yard au parfum (1967), Rachel also appeared in movies alongside several different family members including her husband in Jeannie (1941), J'étais un prisonnier (1946) and The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954); daughter Lynn in Tom Jones : Entre l'alcôve et la potence (1963), Georgy Girl (1966) and Les soldats vierges (1969) and both Vanessa and Corin in La charge de la brigade légère (1968).
In 1986, Lady Redgrave wrote her autobiography "Life Among the Redgraves" in which she detailed her loving but difficult marriage with Sir Michael who was bisexual and had occasional discreet affairs. Their marriage endured, however, until his death in 1985, four months before they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Today, the family's acting legacy has continued to expand into the next thriving generation. Grandchildren Natasha Richardson, Joely Richardson and Jemma Redgrave are all prominent actors.
Her later screen career was focused on prolific British TV series, TV movies and mini-series, including Jane Eyre (1970), Elizabeth R (1971), Jennie (1974), Love for Lydia (1977), Bizarre, bizarre (1979), Le Joyau de la couronne (1984), The Black Tower (1985), Small World (1988) and Lorna Doone (1990). Her twilight films included Out of Africa - Souvenirs d'Afrique (1985), Heloïse et Abélard (1988) and her final Déjà Vu (1997), the last being with Vanessa. Lady Redgrave died suddenly of a stroke at age 92 while staying at granddaughter Natasha's home in Millbrook, New York.
Born on May 28, 1910, in Dartmouth, Devon, England, to Beatrice Hamilton (Ashwell) and Eric William Edward Kempson, a headmaster, Rachel trained at RADA and made her professional stage debut at Stratford in 1933 playing Hero in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." She went on to grace other famed companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English Stage Company and the Old Vic.
Marrying actor Michael Redgrave in 1935, she became Lady Redgrave when Sir Michael was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959. Their three children grew to become celebrated acting icons of their own: Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave and Corin Redgrave. Over the years, the precedence of being a wife and mother strongly overruled her career ambitions. On stage she co-starred with Sir Michael in a number of plays including "Flowers of the Forest" (1935), "Love's Labour's Lost" (1936), "Storm in a Teacup" (1936), "The Wingless Victory" (1943), "Antony and Cleopatra" (as Octavia) (1953), "King Lear" (as Regan) (1953) and Samson Agonistes (1965).
Besides featured roles in such films as Vengeance de femme (1948), Tom Jones : Entre l'alcôve et la potence (1963), Le Secret du Dr Whitset (1964), La malédiction de la mouche (1965) and Scotland Yard au parfum (1967), Rachel also appeared in movies alongside several different family members including her husband in Jeannie (1941), J'étais un prisonnier (1946) and The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954); daughter Lynn in Tom Jones : Entre l'alcôve et la potence (1963), Georgy Girl (1966) and Les soldats vierges (1969) and both Vanessa and Corin in La charge de la brigade légère (1968).
In 1986, Lady Redgrave wrote her autobiography "Life Among the Redgraves" in which she detailed her loving but difficult marriage with Sir Michael who was bisexual and had occasional discreet affairs. Their marriage endured, however, until his death in 1985, four months before they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Today, the family's acting legacy has continued to expand into the next thriving generation. Grandchildren Natasha Richardson, Joely Richardson and Jemma Redgrave are all prominent actors.
Her later screen career was focused on prolific British TV series, TV movies and mini-series, including Jane Eyre (1970), Elizabeth R (1971), Jennie (1974), Love for Lydia (1977), Bizarre, bizarre (1979), Le Joyau de la couronne (1984), The Black Tower (1985), Small World (1988) and Lorna Doone (1990). Her twilight films included Out of Africa - Souvenirs d'Afrique (1985), Heloïse et Abélard (1988) and her final Déjà Vu (1997), the last being with Vanessa. Lady Redgrave died suddenly of a stroke at age 92 while staying at granddaughter Natasha's home in Millbrook, New York.
