Mother of actors Lynn, Vanessa and Corin Redgrave has died aged 92

Posted: 5/25/03 at 3:01pm

Actress Rachel Kempson, the mother of actors Lynn, Vanessa and Corin Redgrave and the widow of Sir Michael Redgrave, has died aged 92.

She was in Millbrook, New York State, at the home of her granddaughter, actress Natasha Richardson and her husband actor Liam Neeson.

Her son Corin Redgrave said she would remembered as a "shiningly beautiful woman both in face and in spirit."

Kempson arrived in New York in March with her daughter Vanessa, who is appearing in the play Long Day's Journey into Night.

Kempson, who was born in Dartmouth, made her stage debut in 1933 in a production of Much Ado About Nothing in Stratford-on-Avon.

During her career, she appeared in numerous plays with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the English Stage Company and starred at The National Theatre as well as theatres around the country.

Kempson married Sir Michael Redgrave in 1935 and took a break from her career to have her three children.

She worked with her husband on stage and screen, making her film debut with him in 1941 in the romantic comedy Jeannie. Kempson also famously starred alongside her children. In 1963, she appeared with Lynn in Tom Jones, directed by her son-in-law Tony Richardson.

She appeared with both Vanessa and Corin in The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1968.

Kempson had parts in many television dramas and films, including Lorna Doone, Jane Eyre, The Black Tower, She's Been Away and For the Greater Good.

http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_784785.html
http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=28536&CT=38 Updated On: 5/25/03 at 03:01 PM

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 4:37pm

A well lived life, both bitter & sweet. Hope she is at peace now.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 5/25/03 at 8:12pm

Well, God Bless her for living that long and extending a family of wonderfully entertaining people. I'm sure she lived a wonderful and rich (not in the money sense) life.