One of Connecticut's most illustrious residents, English-born actress Lynn Redgrave died in her Kent, Connecticut home last evening, surrounded by family members. She had been battling breast cancer for the past seven years, bravely documenting her journey in a photo essay published with her daughter and performing in a one-woman show last year about her health battles.

Redgrave , the youngest sibling of the Redgrave acting dynasty, was a double Oscar nominee over a career that spanned more than 45 years. She first got the Oscar nod for her debut in 1966 in Silvio Narizzano’s swinging sixties tale GEORGY GIRL (yes, that song....) and, more recently, for her supporting role as the housekeeper to gay director James Whale in Bill Condon’s GODS AND MONSTERS.  

Redgrave traced her acting roots to her celebrated parents, Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. Her sister Vanessa Redgrave was more famous, but the younger Lynn had a prolific career in film, on television and on the stage. She even teamed with her sister in an updated television version of WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE, the 1960s Gothic chiller which originally starred Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. 

The Redgrave family has had its share of tragedy in the past year. Her brother Corin Redgrave passed away last month from an undisclosed illness. Her niece Natasha Richardson died in a freak skiing accident last year.

In a statement given to the Associated Press, Lynn Redgrave's children announced that "our beloved mother Lynn Rachel passed away peacefully after a seven year journey with breast cancer. 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

Sandy Mandelberger, Film Connecticut Editor