UNICEF People

Vanessa Redgrave

© Catherine Ashmore

Vanessa Redgrave is widely considered one of the finest actors of her generation. She is equally well known as a passionate activist in the cause of children and as an advocate of peace, tolerance and reconciliation. In June 1995, she was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Raising awareness and resources

Redgrave first became involved with UNICEF’s work during the 1991 Gulf War. She organized an event at London’s Royal Albert Hall to raise funds for the children of Iraq in April 1991. Shortly afterwards, accompanied by a cameraman and UNICEF staff, she went on a 72-hour, non-stop tour of Iraq. This resulted in a compelling film that raised additional resources. Redgrave continued to raise awareness and additional funds with her special programme Wake up World, through events in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Redgrave’s efforts on behalf of Iraqi children set a pattern for the future. In November 1995, for instance, she lent her support to a UNICEF programme providing education for children in a rural area outside São Paulo, Brazil. In November 1998 she visited Kosovo, Yugoslavia, seeing hospitals in which the majority of patients were children suffering from bronchitis, diarrhoea and vitamin deficiencies.

The next year, Redgrave travelled to Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to visit Kosovar refugees, conducting drama workshops for children in several of the refugee camps. On her return to London she organized a concert, For the Children of Kosovo, on behalf of the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF. She returned to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo following the signing of the peace accord in 1999, staging a three-day arts festival.

© UNICEF/HQ01-0251/LEIGHTON

Vanessa Redgrave reviews the 'Say Yes for Children' web site with Kamo, age 12, at a computer terminal in St. Marylebone School. United Kingdom, 2001.

Between such trips and throughout her career as a Goodwill Ambassador, Redgrave has never missed an opportunity to advocate and fundraise for UNICEF.  She supported the work of many UNICEF National Committees.

Acting, a family forté

Vanessa Redgrave was born in London, into a distinguished acting family. She began her career in 1961 playing Rosalind in As You Like It, in Stratford-upon-Avon, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her work in the theatre has since encompassed the plays of Anton Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen, Eugene O’Neill, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward and Tennessee Williams.

Redgrave has also given memorable performances in more than 50 films, including A Man for All Seasons, The Loves of Isadora, The Devils, Julia (which won an Academy Award), Playing for Time (which won an Emmy Award), The Bostonians, Howard’s End, Mission Impossible and Mrs. Dalloway.

In August 1999, Redgrave was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 47th San Sebastian International Film Festival held in Spain. In June 2003, she won a Tony Award as Best Actress in the play Long Day’s Journey Into Night.