Sir Michael Redgrave (1908 – 1985)
Actor on stage, television and film; father of Corin, Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave. He was born to theatrical parents at No. 4 Horfield Road, just off St Michael’s Hill, Bristol. The house is marked with a blue plaque. When Michael was about 6 months old his parents separated and his father emigrated to Australia. Michael studied at Clifton College, Bristol, a fact commemorated in the Redgrave Theatre, which he opened in 1966. He acted in several school productions in 1923-5.
In the mid 1930s he began to make his name in the theatre, and continued to act and direct until the 1970s. Although he starred in films such as The Stars Look Down (1939), The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) and The Dambusters (1954), he is best remembered for his theatrical roles, twice winning the London Evening Standard Award for Best Actor.
The BBC documentary Michael Redgrave: My Father(1996), narrated by Corin Redgrave, discussed Michael’s bisexuality in some depth. Rachel Kempson recalled that when she proposed to him, Redgrave said that there were “difficulties to do with his nature, and that he felt he ought not to marry”. She said that she understood, it didn’t matter and that she loved him. They married in 1935 and stayed together for fifty years until Michael’s death.
Michael Redgrave as a child
Redgrave’s male lovers included Noel Coward in the late 1930s. During the filming of Secret Beyond the Door… (1948), Redgrave met Bob Michell. They became lovers and Michell set up house close to the Redgraves, becoming a surrogate uncle to Redgrave’s children (then aged 11, 9 and 5) who adored him. Michell later had children of his own, including a son he named Michael.
Michael admitted to his son, “I am, to say the least of it, bisexual”. Corin encouraged him to acknowledge his bisexuality in his last autobiography. Michael agreed, but in the end he chose to remain silent.
He died in 1985 of Parkinson’s Disease. Among his effects was a card with W.H. Auden’s words:
“The word is love. Surely one fearless kiss would cure the million fevers”.
It was signed “Tommy, Liverpool, January 1940”.
Watch Bristol Fashion – a 1964 British Pathe newsreel film about Bristol history with commentary by Michael Redgrave:
Bristol Fashion – reels 1 & 2
Bristol Fashion – reels 3 & 4
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Sources:
Wikipedia: Michael Redgrave
Victoria & Albert Museum: theatre collections
Andrew Foyle
Last edited: 6/11/2011
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Michael Redgrave was named after St Michael’s Church which stands directly opposite his birthplace.
During his time at Clifton College (1922-26) he appeared in five school productions, playing female roles in all but one.
In 1925 aged 17 he began a relationship with 39 year old Margaret Chute (1886-1948), actress and journalist and a friend of his mother. Margaret was the niece of James Macready Chute who had run The Prince’s Theatre, Park Row. The family ran the theatre 1867-1931. Margaret appeared there several times and also wrote for Bristol Times & Mirror. Redgrave lost his virginity with Margaret at her West End flat in 1926. Margaret later moved to America and became Hollywood’s first female freelance film journalist.
In 1926 Redgrave also began a relationship with fellow Clifton College pupil Cyril White (1907-1937). Redgrave was besotted with him and they spent holidays together at Cyril’s family home, Timbercombe House, Spaxton, near Taunton. Redgrave was devastated when the romance ended and it was his first heartbreak. Cyril became a racing driver and was killed in a car accident aged 29 while training for the Cork Grand Prix in Ireland in 1937.
Whilst at Clifton College, Redgrave began a life long friendship with David Loveday (1896-1985) who was the college chaplain 1921-31. Loveday was homosexual and Redgrave was the love of his life. They enjoyed an Italian holiday together in 1929 when Redgrave was 21. They enjoyed nude swimming, sun bathing and wrestling and it is highly probable that this spilt over into some form of sexual activity. In 1931 Loveday became headmaster of Cranleigh School, Surrey where Redgrave was employed as a teacher 1931-34. Redgrave and Loveday died a few weeks apart in 1985.
Jonathan Rowe 2025
“Secret Dreams: A Biography of Michael Redgrave – Alan Strachan (2004)
Personal research from British Newspaper Archive/ Ancestry/ Clifton College Archives