Actress Redgrave dies at 67

Star of stage and screen, Lynn Redgrave had breast cancer...

08:12 04 May 2010

Actress Lynn Redgrave has died of breast cancer at the age of 67.

A statement from her children on Monday read: "Our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven-year journey with breast cancer."

The respected star of stage and screen is a member of the Redgrave acting dynasty. She is the third member of her family to die in the past year, after being first treated for breast cancer in 2003.

Regrave's brother Corin died in April and her neice Natasha Richardson (wife of Liam Neeson) died from severe head injuries following a skiing accident in 2009.

The statement continued: "She lived, loved and worked harder than ever before. The endless memories she created as a mother, grandmother, writer, actor and friend will sustain us for the rest of our lives."

A private funeral is expected to be held later this week.

During her extensive career on screen, Redgrave was nominated for two Oscars -  Best Actress in 1967 for 'Georgy Girl' and again in 1999 for Best Supporting Actress for her turn in 'Gods and Monsters'.

On stage she received critical acclaim for her one-woman play 'Shakespeare For My Father', 'Mrs Warren's Profession' and 'The Constant Wife' - all of which all received Tony nominations.

However, she initially never held herself in much high regard in her theatrical family. She told the Associated Press in 1999: "Vanessa was the one expected to be the great actress.

"It was always, 'Corin's the brain, Vanessa the shining star, oh, and then there's Lynn."'

In 2002, she was awarded an OBE for her services to drama.

She was the third child of actors Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. Her sister is Vanessa Redgrave.

Redgrave is survived by her children, six grandchildren and her sister Vanessa.