Lynn Redgrave was born into one of the most glittering of theatrical dynasties. Her grandfather was Roy Redgrave star of early Australian silent movies, her father was Sir Michael Redgrave, her mother Rachel Kempson, her brother and sister Corin and Vanessa Redgrave, and a total of six of their combined offspring are in the family Business.

She made an auspicious entry onto the London stage, with her brother, in Tony Robinson’s 1962 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, at the Royal Court and a year later was one of the founding members of Laurence Olivier’s new venture the National Theatre (now the Royal National Theatre). It was however her performance in the eponymous role in the 1966 film Georgie Girl, a role she stepped into when her sister dropped out of the film at the last moment, that ensured a worldwide recognition of her talent and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

She was awarded an OBE in 2001.