Vanessa Redgrave: Inside the Actors Studio (2002)

Host James Lipton and actor Vanessa Redgrave in conversation at the New York Actors Studio in 2002.

[@tommoncrieff1154]

I found 2 parts of this quite painful, when Dame Vanessa talked of one real-life person, Isadora Duncan, and one fictional - in Chekhov - who lost their children to terrible accidents, and who had to go on. Her intense acting technique required her to think of the loss of her own children and live the grief of the characters she was portraying. When she looked down on her daughter Natasha with such love and applauded her, I found this heartbreaking, that she could not know that the horrible fate of her characters that she worked so hard to realise, would befall her herself just a few years later. Unexpectedly, I was at a friend’s house a few years ago and Vanessa Redgrave, a neighbour, dropped in. Introduced, she greeted me as the most important person she’d ever met, asked me everything and hung on my every word. I couldn’t believe it. We are led to believe that actors are attention seeking narcissists, she is the opposite, intensely interested in and fascinated by all humans, looking to learn, even in old age. Still a strikingly beautiful woman, ferociously clever, perfectly mannered, delightful and utterly charming and a joy to be with.

[@fordad101024]

Interesting! A similar experience happened to me with Vanessa Redgrave. A friend who knows her and I went to see her in Ibsen’s “Ghosts” in the West End and afterwards, we went backstage to visit her. When I was introduced to her, she was very gracious and looked me straight in the eye and as she and the friend conversed, she would always look at me smiling and bring me into the conversation. She and Geraldine Page are two of my favorite actors. Not narcissistic at all.

[@rmp7400]

I had not before seen her interviewed... what an impressively gracious, kindly sensitive, human being she is indeed ❤

[@user-yb3zw7kl5i]

Oh golly! I love this woman's acting...i'm mesmerized by her, her speech, stature, movements, etc. I'll watch ANYTHING she's in. One of my favorite actresses.

[@christinepaige2575]

I know just what you mean - this woman has a mysterious “it” factor when she performs. In the comments, your word “mesmerized” and “riveting”, and similar words occur over and over; they absolutely apply to this extraordinary quality that’s almost as though she has an extra “acting chromosome” or something- that gives her the remarkable ability to somehow go above and beyond, something in the way her physical presence meshes with the cadences of her speech…that’s as far as I’ve ever gotten in my efforts to analyze it 🙄. Some things defy analysis, clearly…

[@scottcole6093]

Heartbreaking to see Natasha there. RIP

[@ellem5338]

A pang in my heart when they introduce her :(

[@rukeyser]

Just over 20 years ago. Her radiance has never dimmed since - the older she gets, the fewer words and screen time it takes for her to be the finest part of a film.

[@mikefederighi9081]

If you get a chance, watch Playing For Time. It is very moving and Vanessa Redgrave is amazing in it.

[@jazminratzlaff5357]

Love Vanessa Redgrave and her royal British/ English acting dynasty. Such a talented and beautiful looking family. What a brilliant genius actress and charming airy graceful intelligent articulate woman. Adore her witty vibrant quirky sense of humour, and astounding physical beauty. One of my fave Inside the Actors Studio interviews. 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🤍 🎞️ 🎭 🎥 🎬👸🏆💎⚜️😆

[@asaintpi]

What a true talent she is and such a loving Mom. So terribly sad that her beautiful daughter Natasha Richardson is no longer with us.

[@user-fq8rs7rz3i]

Yes, horrendous. Natasha was great.❤️

[@christinamarti4441]

Natasha was memorable Beutiful amazing actress mom wife my prayers for her family 🙏🦋☘️♥️

[@user-kv9ik3uz7n]

My favorite series of all time

[@leswatts8422]

I'm proud to say I was on a picket line with her,or at the same time would be more accurate description ,outside the old Ch 4 buildings. Can't remember what the strike was about but she looked incredibly impressive and tall! She isn't afraid to get her hands dirty with activism . ❤️

[@Playwright62]

Had no idea she had been interviewed at Inside Actors Studio. Incredible actor. Incredible. And she trained with Marie Rambert!

[@user-iu9fc5yb9k]

Saw her on Broadway in Long Days Journey Into Night and Driving Miss Daisy . She is truly riveting to watch

[@lulugoulart5014]

I am beyond happy to find this great interview which is more like a wonderful conversation in between friends. I adore Vanessa's magnificent work!

[@peterdurkin8980]

A gem the actors studio series. W/ James lipton

[@peterdavino4408]

Vanessa Redgrave is a living documentation of what it means to be an artist. Her very presence contains multitudes.

[@jodifritz9456]

👏👏👏

[@DavidJohnson-yq4nz]

She’s dynamic and riveting for sure

[@AllenChen-dr2xg]

Vanessa Redgrave is one of the best British actresses, no doubt about about.

[@dr.aniasara7038]

Love Vanessa! Stunning and engaging actor. Isadora Duncan was fabulous. I found she and I have a lot of similarities in our life.

[@DavidJohnson-yq4nz]

Mesmerising in every way miss Brodie

[@marthacanady9441]

Anyone who wants to see the living definition of great acting simply needs to watch Michael Redgrave in “The Browning Version”. Just simply magnificent.

[@mollycuddle9990]

Bliss, thank you, Vanessa. 🪶

[@RyanHLee-nc7hg]

Dame Vanessa is truly one of the finest actors/actresses in the English language. Her ability to capture the truth of a character is unparalleled.

[@janel342]

She is not a Dame. She would spurn an honour from monarchy. She is very Left wing.

[@RyanHLee-nc7hg]

@@janel342 Actually, she became a dame in 2022.

[@joelsimon5507]

She’s a diamond.

[@AllenChen-dr2xg]

Platinum shall we say?

[@lizannewhitlow1085]

An emerald. 💚💚💚

[@Herm7es]

How I love Vanessa Redgrave and have for many decades, 22, more or less, years ago this interview was taped here, demonstrating -by her natural desire to probe with honesty and candor the questions she is being asked,- the intelligence, the grace, the fiery determination to speak clearly and with precision about what she has learned in the world of the plays and in the larger one that makes the theatre such a necessary art-form, about the outrages against human beings we humn beings have allowed and continue to allow often while asserting to the contrary our virtue or our disdain for the outrage-doers!

[@naglafathalla9176]

شخصيه جميله ، استثنائية وملهمة ليست فقط كممثله ولكن كإنسانه أيضا كل الحب والاحترام لڤانيسا رديجريڤ

[@AllenChen-dr2xg]

Vanessa Redgrave is an excellent actress. No doubt at all!!@

[@jeanavery2833]

She’s one of the Classic’s I’ve always loved her Presence on film and anything she Played in. Beautiful and Calm nature to me/ Stature of a woman Prim an Proper naturally when she Walks: You have a Legacy with Grace . Calijean

[@AllenChen-dr2xg]

100% agreed!

[@catherinedunsmore2249]

Marvellous woman. She even gets more beautiful with age.

[@antonmarino6568]

Absolutely talent

[@CasperLCat]

She was 64 or 65 when this was taped ! She looks 45 to me.

[@christinepaige2575]

Yes, I had to look up her birth year to verify to myself that she could possibly have been in her sixties when this was filmed! You are so right, she could have passed for 45.

[@StephiSensei26]

Since this program aired, she has left us. This was a wonderful opportunity to know her better as both artist and human being. Thank you.

[@sophiabaldaracci5523]

I am sorry but this is not true, she is alive and well. It was her daughter Natasha, who was married to Liam Neeson who died in 2009, as result of a brain injury caused by a ski accident in Canada.

[@Herm7es]

What!? How could I not know thisa if it were true! Are you thinking of her sister Lynne or of hwr daughter Natasha Richardson?Vanessa still lives!

[@StephiSensei26]

Glad to hear that. It was her daughter who died. Cheers!@@Herm7es

[@StephiSensei26]

Thank you for the correction. I too am relieved to hear this. Yes, it was her daughter. Thank you/@@sophiabaldaracci5523

[@leuk1977]

Wow, shes are amezing ligent woman🥰🥰🥰

[@jeanavery2833]

Letters from Julia, Bella Mafia an More Romantic movie’s l Love so anything she played in those movies were Fantastic roles she played/Strong Personality/Yes she is a Jewel/Love you Vanessa. calijean

[@pamelaervin5585]

In the movie “Venus” there are only a very few scenes she’s in as Peter O’toole’s ex wife. I’ve watched them many many times. She’s moving and mesmerizing in them.

[@joycegibbs5267]

one of the greatest actresses and incredibly beautiful. Mad as a box of spanners in real life though. So sad about Natasha though.

[@romanclay1913]

I wish Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave would do an audio commentary on the JULIA DVD. I'll donate $1000.

[@bethewalt7385]

That's interesting, how would that happen? Vanessa has been deceased for some years now, 1,000 for what exactly? A seance? 😂😂

[@romanclay1913]

Most ignorant comment of the year.

[@romanclay1913]

Dame Vanessa Redgrave (born 30 January 1937) is an English actress.

[@harmoniabalanza]

The only really valuable YT videos were made at least 20 years ago.

[@ttz7261]

最好的英国女演员。

[@exaudi33]

In London for one week in '85, I saw that same production of "The Seagull" not once but twice; it was just extraordinary. Natasha Richardson's Nina was transcendent. Not to mention her mother, Jonathan Price, and the rest of the cast.

[@lizannewhitlow1085]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@romanclay1913]

JULIA (1977) with Jane Fonda is my favorite film. But Vanessa Redgrave's performance as Julia shines in a film filled with great performances. Set in the 1930's, the themes of anti-fascism and friendship, art and theater are blended to perfection. It captures the plight of a writer, Lillian Hellman/Fonda, as she struggles with her first play. We see Hellman walking on the beach and in the background the turbulent ocean waves are churning like the thoughts in her head. The apogee is the tense, fraught scene between Hellman and Julia in a Berlin tavern as Hellman smuggles in cash for anti-Nazi activities, and while Fonda is excellent, Fonda herself said Redgrave's performance was on an entirely elevated level.

[@AllenChen-dr2xg]

101% Agreed! I told Jane Fonda in Hong Kong how I like that movie 'Julia' which she and Vanessa Redgrave were both in. Up until 2023, I had watched Julia 10 times already, cinema and DVD included.

[@sundanceatlast]

Indeed... And Meryl Streep plays a short role in "Julia" as well.

[@HooshyarSamii-qv4qu]

Brilliant actress who has it in her genes and yet she is opposed to hereditary monarchy! 😊

[@YeReDROMA55555]

🥰🇵🇸🫡

[@garrison6863]

Did she look great in Blow up. What a movie. She was good in The Devils, but that movie is awful. She did not know who Proust was?

[@mjw12345]

Saw her on stage Broadway Long Days Journey into Night - a theatrical experience I will treasure forever. They tried to erase her for her embrace of Palestinian liberation - see The Palestinian 1977. What she documented there is playground quarrel compared with the outright genocide ongoing now on Gaza.

[@marcackerman492]

Too bad they had a Hamas sympathizer star in "Playing for Time"

[@mjw12345]

Playing for Time was 1980. Bibi Netanyahu didn't generate Hamas until 2007.

[@user-fq8rs7rz3i]

I’m sorry, I find her acting quite dull.

[@armandogabba8966]

At 65 she was still hot