Jemma Redgrave


Actor

About

Also Known As
Jemima Rebecca Redgrave
Birth Place
London, England, GB
Born
January 14, 1965

Biography

Heir to the Redgrave name, one of the most distinguished theatrical legacies in the world, Jemma Redgrave is the granddaughter of Sir Michael and Lady Rachel, the daughter of Corin, and the niece of Vanessa and Lynn. Although her profile in the US has not yet reached the level of her first cousin, Natasha Richardson, Redgrave nevertheless has begun to make a name for herself in leading a...

Photos & Videos

Family & Companions

Tim Owen
Husband
Barrister. Met in 1990; married in 1992; separated in 1997; reconciled in October 1998.
Jonathan Cake
Companion
Actor. Involved briefly in 1998 during her separation.

Biography

Heir to the Redgrave name, one of the most distinguished theatrical legacies in the world, Jemma Redgrave is the granddaughter of Sir Michael and Lady Rachel, the daughter of Corin, and the niece of Vanessa and Lynn. Although her profile in the US has not yet reached the level of her first cousin, Natasha Richardson, Redgrave nevertheless has begun to make a name for herself in leading and supporting roles in films and TV in the 1990s. Redgrave studied at LAMDA, and then took to the stage, first performing in a production of "Lady Windemere's Fan" in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She then performed on London's West End in a variety of new and classic roles, including Emily in Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with Alan Alda and Irina in a revival of Chekhov's "The Three Sisters," co-starring her aunts Vanessa and Lynn.

Redgrave began to appear on TV in the late 80s, first for Anglia TV in "A Time to Die." She was first seen by American audiences in "The Real Charlotte" on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre and was Carolyn, friend to the title character in "Diana: Her True Story" (NBC, 1993), the miniseries about the Princess of Wales. Her film roles have been sporadic. Redgrave made her debut as Diana, one of the girls plagued by the "Dream Demon" (1988). Her best-known role to date may be Evie Wilcox, the socially ambitious young wife in the Merchant-Ivory production of "Howards End" (1992). Redgrave has continued to work in British TV including "The Buddha of Suburbia" (briefly shown theatrically in the US in 1993) and in the title role of "Bramwell" (PBS, 1996). In the latter, Redgrave delivered a strong performance as a Victorian woman with ambitions to become a surgeon.

Life Events

1988

Acted in "Easter"; Redgraves claims that working on this production provided a breakthrough because the director David Leveaux told her "I don't believe a word you're saying"

1988

Film debut, "Dream Demons"

1990

Acted aliongside aunts Vanessa and Lynn in a London production of "Three Sisters"

1990

Early TV work, "The Real Charlotte" seen in USA as a "Masterpiece Theatre" presentation

1992

Had featured role as Evie Wilcox in "Howards End"

1993

Co-starred in NBC miniseries,"Diana: Her True Story"

1993

Offered a strong supporting turn as a neurotic actress in "The Buddha of Suburbia"

1994

Played lead in "Bramwell", a British TV series shown in USA on PBS' "Masterpiece Theater" (1995-2000)

1998

Portrayed Cimmie Mosley in the British TV biopic "Mosley"

1998

Starred in the TV adaptation of Irvine Welsh's "The Acid House"

2000

Portrayed a lawyer in the BBC series "Fish"

2003

Co-starred in the romantic comedy "I'll Be There"

2004

Cast as Agent Emily Tuthill in the mini series, "The Grid," (aired on BBC, Fox and TNT)

2006

Cast in "Lassie," Charles Sturridge's film based on Eric Knight's classic 1938 novel

Family

Michael Redgrave
Grandfather
Actor. Born in 1908; died in 1985.
Rachel Kempson
Grandmother
Actor. Born in 1910.
Corin Redgrave
Father
Actor. Born on July 16, 1939.
Dierdre Hamilton-Hill
Mother
Writer, former model. Divorced from Corin Redgrave; diagnosed with cancer in 1992; died in 1997 from pneumonia.
Kika Markham
Step-Mother
Actor.
Vanessa Redgrave
Aunt
Actor. Born on January 30, 1937; acted together in London stage production of "Three Sisters" (1990).
Lynn Redgrave
Aunt
Actor. Born on March 8, 1943; acted together in London stage production of "Three Sisters" (1990).
Luke Redgrave
Brother
Cameraman. Born in 1967.
Natasha Richardson
Cousin
Actor. Born in 1963.
Joely Richardson
Cousin
Actor. Born in 1965.
Carlo Gabriel Nero
Cousin
Director. Born in 1969.
Gabriel Owen
Son
Born c. 1995.
Alfie Owen
Son
Born in summer 2000.

Companions

Tim Owen
Husband
Barrister. Met in 1990; married in 1992; separated in 1997; reconciled in October 1998.
Jonathan Cake
Companion
Actor. Involved briefly in 1998 during her separation.

Bibliography