Jemima Rebecca "Jemma" Redgrave[1] (born 14 January 1965) is a British actress, and a member of the Redgrave family. She is known for her roles as the title character in Bramwell (1995–1998) and as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in Doctor Who (2012–2015, 2021–2024) and its upcoming spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea. As well as a career in television, she has appeared in many stage productions and on film, including her portrayal of Evie Wilcox in the Merchant Ivory film Howards End.
Jemma Redgrave | |
|---|---|
 Redgrave reading Poems from Guantánamo at the Center for Constitutional Rights in 2007 | |
| Born | Jemima Rebecca Redgrave 14 January 1965 London, England |
| Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Corin Redgrave |
| Family | Redgrave |
Early life
editRedgrave was born in London on 14 January 1965,[2] she is the daughter of actor Corin Redgrave and his first wife, Deirdre Hamilton-Hill, a former fashion model. They divorced when Jemma was nine. As a child, she attended the Godolphin and Latymer school in Hammersmith.[3] She then enrolled at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art[4] at the age of 18.
Career
editStage
editAfter graduation, Redgrave landed a succession of high-profile stage acting roles: in the 1988 stage production of Strindberg's Easter; in Lady Windermere's Fan in Belfast, Northern Ireland; as Emily in Thornton Wilder's Our Town; as Irina in a 1990 revival of Anton Chekhov's The Three Sisters in London's West End with her aunts Vanessa Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave; in 1993 with Colin Firth in Alexander Griboyedov's Chatsky at the Almeida Theatre, London; and in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 2001 at the Albery Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre), London, playing Titania alongside Dawn French as Bottom.
In 2010, she appeared in New York's Public Theater in The Great Game: Afghanistan which featured seven hours of on-stage acting.[5] Redgrave appeared in four of the twelve plays.[6] In 2012, Redgrave appeared alongside Ben Chaplin in Roger Michell's production of Farewell to the Theatre at the Hampstead Theatre, followed by starring roles in Donkeys' Years (2014) and An Ideal Husband (2016).
In 2018, Redgrave appeared in another Roger Michell production, appearing again alongside Ben Chaplin, this time in Joe Penhall's Mood Music at The Old Vic.[7]
Television
editShe has appeared in many roles on British television, including leading actor roles as the eponymous Dr. Eleanor Bramwell in four series of ITV's Bramwell and as D.S. Eve Granger in Cold Blood, alongside John Hannah and Matthew Kelly. Redgrave also appeared as Eleanor in Roger Michell's The Buddha of Suburbia: a four-part adaptation of the ground-breaking novel of the same name by Hanif Kureishi and with a soundtrack written and performed specifically for the production by David Bowie.[citation needed]
Other prominent roles have included Francesca Rochester in Judge John Deed and Dee Stanton in Like Father, Like Son. In 2007, she portrayed Lady Bertram in Mansfield Park and Sophie Wall in Waking the Dead, followed by a 2009 appearance in the series, Unforgiven, written by Sally Wainwright. In 2013, she also appeared as Doctor Zoe Evans in the BBC One drama series Frankie.[8]
From 2016 to 2018, Redgrave played former RAMC surgeon, Major Berenice Wolfe, in the popular BBC medical drama Holby City. In 2019, she joined the cast of ITV's Grantchester as Amelia, the mother of the show's lead character, Rev. Will Davenport.[9]
On 31 August 2021, she made a surprise return to Holby City as Bernie Wolfe.[10]
Doctor Who
editIn 2012, Redgrave was cast in the long-running science-fiction programme Doctor Who as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, daughter of recurring character Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart who featured in the series' original 1963–1989 run. First appearing in "The Power of Three" (2012) with the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), Kate is the commander-in-chief of the fictional military organisation UNIT, a role previously occupied by her father before his retirement. The character returned in the fiftieth anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor" (2013), which was simulcast on television and in cinemas across the world in 94 countries, earning a Guinness World Record for the world's largest ever simulcast of a TV drama.[11]
Kate would go on to become a recurring character in Doctor Who, with Redgrave reprising the role in episodes with the Twelfth (Peter Capaldi), Thirteenth (Jodie Whittaker), Fourteenth (David Tennant) and Fifteenth (Ncuti Gatwa) Doctors.[12] She will return in the 2025 series of the programme alongside Gatwa[13] as well as headline the upcoming spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea.[14]
Additionally, Redgrave began headlining the Big Finish audio drama spin-off UNIT: The New Series as Kate alongside Ingrid Oliver as Osgood, whom Redgrave appeared on-screen with multiple times in Doctor Who,[15] and would go on to play Kate in other spin-off audio plays. Regrave also featured as Kate in a promo video for Doctor Who: Time Fracture, an immersive experience that began running in London in April 2021.[16]
Personal life
edit
Redgrave married Tim Owen, a barrister at Matrix Chambers, in 1992. They had a son, Gabriel, in 1994. The couple separated from 1997 to October 1998. They reconciled, however, and had another son, Alfie, in 2000. They have since divorced. She has a brother, Luke Redgrave, who is a camera operator,[17] and two half-brothers, Arden and Harvey Redgrave. Her mother died in 1997[17] and her father died in 2010.[18]
She is the granddaughter of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, niece of actresses Vanessa Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave, and cousin of Joely Richardson, Carlo Nero, and Natasha Richardson. Her step-mother is the actress Kika Markham.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Dream Demon | Diana | Harley Cokeliss | |
| 1992 | Howards End | Evie Wilcox | James Ivory | |
| 1994 | One Night Stand | Kate | Bill Britten | Short film |
| Power and Lovers | Emily | Aldo Lado | ||
| 1998 | The Acid House | Jenny | Paul McGuigan | |
| 2003 | I'll Be There | Rebecca Edmonds | Craig Ferguson | |
| 2005 | Lassie | Daisy | Charles Sturridge | |
| 2007 | Mansfield Park | Lady Bertram | Iain B. MacDonald | |
| 2016 | Love & Friendship | Lady DeCourcy | Whit Stillman | |
| 2016 | Chubby Funny | Bereaved Woman | Harry Michell | |
| 2021 | Barnes' People | Dr. Rosa Hamilton | Peter Barnes | |
| 2023 | Red, White & Royal Blue | Narration (voice) | Matthew López | |
| 2024 | The Beekeeper | President Jessica Danforth | David Ayer |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Tales of the Unexpected | Violette Charbonneau | Episode: "A Time to Die" |
| 1990 | The Real Charlotte | Pamela Dysart | Miniseries |
| 1991 | All Good Things | Elaine Wilson | Miniseries |
| Performance | Caroline Coon | Episode: "The Trials of Oz" | |
| 1993 | Diana: Her True Story | Carolyn Bartholomew | TV film |
| The Buddha of Suburbia | Eleanor | 1 episode | |
| 1995–98 | Bramwell | Dr. Eleanor Bramwell | Main role (27 episodes) |
| 1998 | Mosley | Cimmie Curzon | Recurring role (4 episodes) |
| 2000 | Blue Murder | Gale | TV film |
| Cry Wolf | Dr. Jocelyn Wolf | 1 episode | |
| Fish | Joanna Morgan | Main role (6 episodes) | |
| Bramwell V | Dr. Eleanor Bramwell | ||
| 2001 | High Stakes | Anna Foster | Episode: "The Do-Gooders" |
| Judge John Deed | Francesca Rochester | 2 episodes | |
| 2002 | Episode: "Nobody's Fool" | ||
| The Swap | Jen Forrester | 2 episodes | |
| My Family | Dr. Connor | Episode: "Shrink Rap" | |
| 2004 | Amnesia | Jenna Dean | 2 episodes |
| The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Grace Finnegan | Episode: "If Wishes Were Horses" | |
| The Grid | MI6 Agent Emily Tuthill | TV miniseries | |
| 2005 | Tom Brown's Schooldays | Mary Arnold | TV film |
| Like Father Like Son | Dee Stanton | 2 episodes | |
| Cold Blood | Eve Granger | TV film | |
| 2006 | Lewis | Trudi Griffon | TV film |
| 2007 | Waking the Dead | Sophie Wall | 2 episodes |
| Cold Blood 2 | Eve Granger | TV film | |
| Mansfield Park | Lady Bertram | TV film | |
| The Relief of Belsen | Jean McFarlane | TV film | |
| 2007–08 | Cold Blood | Eve Granger | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Agatha Christie's Marple: Murder Is Easy | Jessie Humbleby | TV film |
| 2009 | Unforgiven | Rachel Belcombe | Main role |
| Heston's Feasts | Herself | Heston's Victorian Feast | |
| 2010 | Law & Order: UK | Helena Marsden | Episode: "Shaken" |
| 2012–15; 2021–present | Doctor Who | Kate Lethbridge-Stewart | Recurring role (13 episodes) |
| 2013 | Frankie | Dr. Zoe Evans | Main role (6 episodes) |
| 2014 | Dracula | Minerva Westenra | 2 episodes |
| Inspector George Gently | Jennifer Bing | Episode: "Gently With Honour" | |
| 2015 | Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain | Clementine Churchill | |
| 2016–18, 2021–22 | Holby City | Bernie Wolfe | Main role (67 episodes) |
| 2018 | Midsomer Murders | Dr Juno Starling | Episode “Drawing Dead” |
| 2019–20 | Grantchester | Amelia Davenport | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 2020, 2022–23 | Silent Witness | DI Jill Raymond | 5 episodes |
| 2025 | The War Between the Land and the Sea | Kate Lethbridge-Stewart | Lead role; 5 episodes [19] |
Theatre credits
editTheatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Lady Windermere's Fan | Lady Windermere | Lyric Theatre, Belfast | Richard Digby Day |
| 1986 | What the Butler Saw | Geraldine | Lyric Theatre, Belfast | Richard Digby Day |
| 1986 | Miss Julie | Miss Julie | UK Tour | Laurence Boswell |
| 1988 | Easter | Eleanora | Haymarket Theatre (Leicester) | David Leveaux |
| 1988 | Panorama | Geraldine | King's Head Theatre | Penny Churns |
| 1988 | School for Scandal | Lady Teazle | Bristol Old Vic | Les Waters |
| 1988 | An Enemy of the People | Petra | Playhouse Theatre | David Thacker |
| 1990 | Seven Years | Clarissa | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 1990 | Three Sisters | Irina | Queen's Theatre | Robert Sturua |
| 1991 | Our Town | Emily | Shaftesbury Theatre | Robert Ackerman |
| 1991 | As You Like It | Rosalind | Greenwich Theatre | Robert Carson |
| 1992 | Cyrano de Bergerac | Roxanne | Greenwich Theatre | Matthew Francis |
| 1993 | Chatsky | Sophie | Almeida Theatre & UK Tour | Jonathan Kent |
| 1998 | Major Barbara | Major Barbara | Piccadilly Theatre | Peter Hall |
| 2001 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Titania | Noël Coward Theatre | Matthew Francis |
| 2004 | Misconceptions | Linda | UK Tour | Tim Carroll |
| 2008 | The Cherry Orchard | Varya | Chichester Festival Theatre | Phillip Franks |
| 2009–10 | The Great Game: Afghanistan | Various roles | Tricycle Theatre & Washington/Broadway | Indhu Rubasingham |
| 2012 | Farewell to the Theatre | Dorothy | Hampstead Theatre | Roger Michell |
| 2014 | Donkeys' Years | Lady Driver | Rose Theatre, Kingston | Lisa Spirling |
| 2014 | An Ideal Husband | Mrs. Cheveley | Chichester Festival Theatre | Rachel Kavanaugh |
| 2018 | Mood Music | Vanessa | The Old Vic | Roger Michell |
| 2019 | Weimar Connections | Poesie | Cadogan Hall | with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra |
| 2020 | Hansard (rehearsed reading) | Diana | Stephen Joseph Theatre | Paul Robinson |
| 2023 | Octopolis | George | Hampstead Theatre | Ed Madden |
References
edit- ^ Gilbert, Gerard (17 November 2013). "We Weren't Brainwashed". Independent News.
- ^ Adler, Tim (2012). The House of Redgrave: The Lives of a Theatrical Dynasty. London: Aurum Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 9781845136239.
- ^ "My Best Teacher – Jemma Redgrave". tes.com. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ "Overview for Jemma Redgrave". Tcm.com. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ "Actress Jemma Redgrave, The Great Game: Afghanistan". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016.
- ^ Actress Jemma Redgrave hits the New York stage
- ^ "The Old Vic – Mood Music". The Old Vic. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ "Eve Myles to star in new BBC One drama series, Frankie". BBC. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "Jemma Redgrave – Conway Van Gelder Grant" (PDF). Jemma Redgrave CV – Conway Van Gelder Grant. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ "How did Bernie Wolfe die in Holby City". Heart Radio. 1 September 2021.
- ^ "Guinness World Record for The Day of the Doctor". Doctor Who. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ Haring, Bruce (23 September 2023). "'Doctor Who' Unveils 60th Anniversary Specials Trailer With Neil Patrick-Harris". Deadline.
- ^ "Jemma Redgrave returns to Doctor Who and Aneurin Barnard joins the cast". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (26 July 2024). "Doctor Who: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Russell Tovey Join Series Vets in War Between Land and Sea Spinoff". TVLine. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ "Big Finish". Big Finish – UNIT. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ "See Kate Lethbridge-Stewart's return for Doctor Who: Time Fracture immersive trailer".
- ^ a b LIPTON, MICHAEL A. (24 January 2000). "Clan Destined". people.com.
- ^ Noah, Sherna (7 April 2010). "Britain's first family of acting mourns loss of its father figure". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/new-whoniverse-spin-off-the-war-between-the-land-and-the-sea-announced-at-san [bare URL]
External links
edit- Jemma Redgrave at IMDb
- https://www.conwayvangeldergrant.com/sites/default/files/cv/Jemma%20Redgrave%20Theatrical%20CV.pdf Archived 12 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- "Jemma Redgrave: 'Grief is like a tsunami'", Kate Kellaway, The Guardian, 11 July 2010
- "My Perfect Weekend: Jemma Redgrave", The Telegraph, 31 May 2008
- I Was Terrified of Being on my Own, The Telegraph, 2001