Vanessa Redgrave with her son Carlo Nero at a screening of Wake up World, their documentary tribute to UNICEF.
© UNICEF UK/2006/Amy Gordon
Brief biography
Vanessa Redgrave is widely considered one of the finest actors of her generation. She is equally well known as a passionate activist in the cause of children and as an advocate of peace, tolerance and reconciliation. She was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1995.
Vanessa first became involved with UNICEF’s work during the 1991 Gulf War. She organised an event at London’s Royal Albert Hall to raise funds for the children of Iraq and shortly afterwards went on a 72-hour tour of Iraq, accompanied by a cameraman and UNICEF staff. This resulted in a compelling film that raised additional funds for our work in the country.
In 2007, Vanessa produced a documentary film, Wake Up World, which commemorates 60 years of UNICEF’s work for children around the world. Directed by her son, Carlo Nero, the film features exclusive interviews with: Kofi Annan; UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman; fellow UNICEF Ambassadors Ralph Fiennes, Angelique Kidjo and Liam Neeson; and other key UNICEF staff and supporters.
Vanessa continues her support of UNICEF through her ongoing promotion of Wake Up World and by sharing her experiences of UNICEF at fundraising and awareness-raising events.
Throughout her career as a Goodwill Ambassador, Vanessa has never missed an opportunity to advocate and fundraise for UNICEF. In 2006, she took part in the Turner Classic Movie Season. She spoke at length about her passion for UNICEF and the projects she had seen. She explained the importance of theatre and music for children to express themselves and how children have the right to play and be protected.
In 1998, Vanessa visited Kosovo, former Yugoslavia, seeing hospitals in which the majority of patients were children suffering from bronchitis, diarrhoea and vitamin deficiencies. In 1999, she travelled to Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to visit Kosovar refugees and conducted drama workshops for children in several of the refugee camps. On her return to London, she organised a concert, 'For the Children of Kosovo', on behalf of UNICEF. She returned to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo following the signing of the peace accord in 1999, staging a three-day arts festival.
In 1995, Vanessa lent her support to a UNICEF programme providing education for children in a rural area outside São Paulo, Brazil.
Vanessa Redgrave says:
“I believe that children everywhere have the right to grow to adulthood in peace, health and dignity.”
