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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Gary Kasper to Florence Klotz
Rachel Kempson Biography (1910-)
Born May 28, 1910, in Dartmouth, England; daughter of Eric William Edward (aheadmaster) and Beatrice Hamilton (Ashwell) Kempson; married Michael Redgrave(an actor), July 18, 1935 (died, March 21, 1985); children: Vanessa, Lynn, Corin. Addresses: OFFICE--42 Ebury Mews, London SW1, England.
- Nationality
- English
- Gender
- Female
- Birth Details
- May 28, 1910
- Dartmouth, England
Famous Works
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Credits
- STAGE DEBUT--Hero, Much Ado about Nothing, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre,Stratford-on-Avon, U.K., 1933.
- LONDON DEBUT--Blanca, The Lady from Alfaqueque, Westminster Theatre, 1933.
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Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE APPEARANCES
- Juliet, Romeo and Juliet, and Ophelia, Hamlet, both Shakespeare MemorialTheatre, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K., 1933.
- Ariel, The Tempest, Olivia, Twelfth Night, Princess, Love's Labour's Lost, and Titania, Hero and Juliet, all Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, 1934.
- Christina, Two Kingdoms, Savoy Theatre, London, 1934.
- Anne, The Witch, and Stella, The Sacred Flame, both Oxford Playhouse, Oxford, U.K., 1935.
- Naomi, Flowers of the Forest, Liverpool Repertory Company, Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool, U.K., 1935.
- Yvonne, Youth at the Helm, Eulalia, A Hundred Years Old, Anne of Bohemia,Richard of Bordeaux, Anne, The Wind and the Rain, Viola, Twelfth Night, Agnes Boyd, Boyd's Shop, and Victoria, A Storm in a Teacup, all Liverpool Repertory Company, Liverpool Playhouse, 1935- 36.
- Princess of France, Love's Labour's Lost, Old Vic Theatre, London, 1936.
- Celia, Volpone, Westminster Theatre, London 1937.
- Viola, Twelfth Night, Oxford University Dramatic Society, Oxford, U.K., 1937.
- Maria, The School for Scandal, Queen's Theatre, London, 1937.
- Jane, The Shoemaker's Holiday, Playhouse Theatre, 1938.
- Faith Ingalls, Wingless Victory, Phoenix Theatre, London, 1943.
- Lucy Forrest, Uncle Harry, Garrick Theatre, London, 1944.
- Marianne, Jacobowsky and the Colonel, Piccadilly Theatre, London, 1945.
- Charlotte, Fatal Curiosity, Arts Theatre, London, 1946.
- Chris Forbes, Happy as Kings, and Councillor Dr. Rosamond Long, The Sparks Fly Upward, both Q Theatre, London, 1947.
- Joan, The Paragon, Fortune Theatre, London, 1948.
- Violet Jackson, The Return of the Prodigal, Globe Theatre, London, 1948.
- title role, Candida, Oxford Playhouse, 1949.
- Hilda Taylor-Snell, Venus Observed, and Katie, Top of the Ladder, both St. James's Theatre, London, 1950.
- Maman, The Happy Time, St. James's Theatre, 1952.
- Queen Elizabeth, Richard III, and Regan, King Lear, both Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, 1953.
- Octavia, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, then Princes Theatre, London, both 1953.
- Mrs. Thea Elvsted, Hedda Gabler, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London, thenWestminster Theatre, both 1954.
- Theodora, Not for Children, Gate Theatre Company, Belfast, Ireland, 1955.
- Cora Fellowes, The Mulberry Bush, Mrs. Ann Putnam, The Crucible, Evelyn,The Death of Satan, Miss Black Panorbis, Cards of Identity, and Mrs. Mi Tzu,The Good Woman of Setzuan, all English Stage Company, Royal Court Theatre, London, 1956.
- Lady Capulet, Romeo and Juliet, Dionyza, Pericles, and Ursula, Much Ado about Nothing, all Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company, Shakespeare MemorialTheatre, Stratford-on-Avon, 1958.
- Mary, Teresa of Avila, Dublin Theatre Festival, Dublin, Ireland, then Vaudeville Theatre, London, both 1961.
- Polina Andreyevna, The Seagull, and Martha, Saint Joan of the Stockyards,both Queen's Theatre, 1964.
- Chorus, Samson Agonistes, and Lady Mary, Lionel and Clarissa, both YvonneArnaud Theatre, Guildford, U.K., 1965.
- older lady, A Sense of Detachment, Royal Court Theatre, 1972.
- Lady Childress, Gomes, Queen's Theatre, 1973.
- Nancy, The Freeway, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, 1974.
- Blanche, A Family and a Fortune, Apollo Theatre, London, 1975.
- Bron, The Old Country, Queen's Theatre, 1977.
- Also appeared as Jean Howard, Under One Roof, Richmond, U.K., 1940; and Queen Margaret, The Saxon Saint, Dunfermline Abbey, U.K., 1949.
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Credits; MAJOR TOURS
- Naomi, Family Portrait, U.K. cities, 1941.
- Naomi, Noah, U.K. cities, 1942.
- Mrs. Bradman, Blithe Spirit, U.K. cities, 1942.
- Octavia, Antony and Cleopatra, European cities, 1953.
- Mrs. Thea Elvsted, Hedda Gabler, European cities, 1955.
- Lady Capulet, Romeo and Juliet, Soviet cities, 1958.
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Credits; PRINCIPAL FILM APPEARANCES
- Emily Maurier, A Woman's Vengeance, Universal, 1947.
- Celia Mitchell, The Captive Heart, Ealing Studios, 1948.
- Mrs. Waltby, The Sea Shall Not Have Them, United Artists, 1955.
- Bridget Allworthy, Tom Jones, Lopert, 1963.
- Mildred Hoving, The Third Secret, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1964.
- Madame Fournier, Curse of the Fly, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1965.
- Ellen, Georgy Girl, Columbia, 1966.
- Mrs. Stoddard, Grand Prix, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966.
- Mrs. Tremayne, The Jokers, Universal, 1967.
- Mrs. Codrington, The Charge of the Light Brigade, United Artists, 1968.
- Sister Harvey, Thank You All Very Much (also known as A Touch of Love), Columbia, 1969.
- Mrs. Ashby-Kydd, Two Gentlemen Sharing, American International, 1969.
- Mrs. Raskin, The Virgin Soldiers, Columbia, 1970.
- Mrs. Fairfax, Jane Eyre, British Lion, 1971.
- Lady Belfield, Out of Africa, Universal, 1985.
- prioress, Stealing Heaven, Scotti Brothers Pictures, 1989.
- Also appeared in Girl in Distress (also known as Jeannie), General FilmsDistributors, 1941.
- PRINCIPAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES; MINI-SERIES Duchess of Marlborough, Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill, PBS, 1975.
- Lady Manners, "The Jewel in the Crown," Masterpiece Theatre, PBS, 1984.
- Grace Willison, "The Black Tower," Mystery!, PBS, 1988.
- Also "Love for Lydia" Masterpiece Theatre, PBS.
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Credits; MOVIES
- Lady Lorradaile, Little Lord Fauntleroy, CBS, 1980.
- Hortense, Camille, CBS, 1984.
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Credits; SPECIALS
- Mrs. Fairfax, "Jane Eyre," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1971.
- Also appeared in Sweet Wine of Youth and Kate the Good Neighbour.
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Writings
- Life among the Redgraves (autobiography), Dalton, 1988.
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