British Actress Lynn Redgrave Dies

Submitted by Lamont on May 20, 2010 - 12:46am.

The death of British film, stage and television actress Lynn Redgrave is yet one more blow to the royal line of one of the world's most prestigious acting families. Lynn Redgrave had fought and won against breast cancer before, a command performance even more enlightening as to her character than her celebrated roles in such films and plays as "Georgy Girl," "Shakespeare for My Father" or "Nightingale" as outlined by the Boston Herald. The actress was 67. In her final moments, she was surrounded by her children Ben, Pema and Annabel at her Connecticut home.

Lynn Redgrave played women with both heart and enthusiasm

Redgrave had a knack for playing women like the lead within the Oscar-nominated "Georgy Girl," real women with energy and purpose. Her battler's spirit carried her through seven years' war against breast cancer, according to her publicist Rick Miramontez. The pain of her cancer battle could never extinguish Lynn Redgrave's good outlook, forged in flame. "The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend," wrote Miramontez in a statement to the media," will sustain us for the rest of our lives."

Lynn Redgrave: Preceded in death by her niece and brother

About a year ago, Lynn's niece Natasha Richardson died after sustaining head injuries in a ski accident, then Redgrave's older brother Corin passed about a month ago. Vanessa Redgrave, 73, lives on. Lynn's other notable acting roles included another Oscar-nominated turn in "Gods and Monsters," Tony nominations for "Mrs. Warren's Profession" and "The Constant Wife." "Ugly Betty," "Desperate Housewives" and "Law and Order" reflected her significant television acting contribution.

In some ways, Lynn was the polar opposite of sister Vanessa

Lynn Redgrave's personal life was much a lot more of an open book than has been her sister Vanessa's. Lynn spoke at length about her deeply personal struggles with bulimia and cancer. In her book "Journal: A Mother and Daughter's Recovery from Breast Cancer" (written with daughter Annabel Clark in 2004), Lynn Redgrave laid bare her daily struggle with that which would ultimately take her life.

Her courage through it all is admirable in scope. Those who knew Lynn Redgrave for her roles and for her person mount her untimely demise.