Vanessa Redgrave on Acting, Activism & Sarajevo (1993 Interview) | Film Discussion

In this 1993 interview, Academy Award-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave reflects on her remarkable career, her lifelong activism, and her humanitarian work during the war in Bosnia. Redgrave speaks about her Showtime film A Wall of Roses (based on Rudyard Kipling’s story), her philosophy of acting, and the influence of her father, Sir Michael Redgrave. She shares how dance shaped her understanding of body language on stage, the profound impact of Fellini’s La Strada, and the lessons she drew from Tennessee Williams and the Actor’s Studio. The conversation also explores her political engagement: her outspoken support for the Palestinian cause, her visits to Sarajevo with UNICEF, her belief in “cultural first aid” for children in war zones, and her perspective on the Israeli–PLO peace accord. Both deeply personal and fiercely political, this interview captures Vanessa Redgrave at the height of her artistry and activism. 00:00 – Introduction: Redgrave’s career & activism 01:02 – Showtime film based on Kipling story 02:29 – Themes of children, love, and loss 03:41 – Redgrave on her father’s influence & acting lessons 05:05 – Choosing acting over dance & lessons from movement 06:12 – Learning through Fellini, Tennessee Williams, & the Actor’s Studio 07:14 – Influences from American actors like Pacino & Hoffman 08:01 – On Fellini’s La Strada and poetic cinema 09:22 – Growing up around Gielgud, Richardson, Olivier 11:23 – The craft: commitment vs. routine work 13:04 – Writing letters to Fellini, wishing to collaborate 14:22 – Clip discussion: her Showtime role with Patrick Bergin 16:53 – On clairvoyance, the “seventh sense,” and acting 17:55 – Belief in every human’s potential genius 18:37 – Visiting Sarajevo with UNICEF during the siege 20:16 – The role of artists in cultural survival during war 22:07 – On governments, refugees, and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia 25:07 – Comparing Sarajevo to the Berlin Airlift 26:09 – Reflections on the Israeli–PLO peace accord 27:15 – Redgrave on politics, activism, and cultural responsibility FILM DISCUSSION Film Discussion is a curated interview archive and conversation series presented by Occupy Cinema. We spotlight the minds behind the movies—actors, directors, writers, and cultural critics—through thoughtful interviews, archival footage, and contemporary conversations. From Broadway to global cinema, Film Discussion explores the craft, politics, and impact of storytelling on screen and stage. Join our community of 800+ filmmakers: https://occupy.beehiiv.com/subscribe Instagram:   / filmdiscussion_   Facebook:   / filmdiscussionofficial   Thank you for your ongoing support: https://buymeacoffee.com/filmdiscussion #fyp #foryoupage #viral #actor #acting #VanessaRedgrave #FilmDiscussion #Sarajevo #Fellini #ClassicFilm