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Rachel Kempson, matriarch of one of theatre and film's most renowned acting families, often remained in the background compared to the spotlight on other family members.
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 in 1933 at Stratford as Hero in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." She later performed with prestigious companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English Stage Company, and the Old Vic.
In 1935, she married actor Michael Redgrave and became Lady Redgrave when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959. Their three children—Vanessa, Lynn, and Corin Redgrave—each became celebrated actors. Throughout her life, Rachel prioritized her roles as wife and mother over her own career aspirations. On stage, she appeared alongside Sir Michael in numerous productions 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).
Rachel held featured parts in films such as A Woman's Vengeance (1948), Tom Jones (1963), The Third Secret (1964), Curse of the Fly (1965), and The Jokers (1967). She also acted alongside family members, including her husband in Jeannie (1941), The Captive Heart (1946), and The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954); her daughter Lynn in Tom Jones (1963), Georgy Girl (1966), and The Virgin Soldiers (1969); and both Vanessa and Corin in The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968).
In 1986, Lady Redgrave published her autobiography, "Life Among the Redgraves," in which she candidly described her loving yet challenging marriage to Sir Michael, who was bisexual and had occasional discreet affairs. Despite these difficulties, their marriage lasted until his death in 1985, just four months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. The family's acting legacy continues through the next generation, with grandchildren Natasha Richardson, Joely Richardson, and Jemma Redgrave all prominent actors.
In her later years, Rachel concentrated on British television, appearing in numerous series, TV movies, and miniseries, including Jane Eyre (1970), Elizabeth R (1971), Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974), Love for Lydia (1977), Tales of the Unexpected (1979), The Jewel in the Crown (1984), The Black Tower (1985), Small World (1988), and Lorna Doone (1990). Her final film roles included Out of Africa (1985), Stealing Heaven (1988), and Déjà Vu (1997), the latter alongside Vanessa. Lady Redgrave passed away suddenly from a stroke at age 92 while visiting her granddaughter Natasha in Millbrook, New York.
