SHE is part of one of the greatest acting dynasties in today’s world and she is coming to Southampton.

Vanessa Redgrave has never appeared on the Southampton stage but tomorrow she walks the boards at the Nuffield Theatre talking about her experiences with asylum seekers.

The actress has been invited to speak as part of the Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG).

She is part of the long-running acting dynasty, which includes her brother Corin and sister Lynn, while her father Michael sparred opposite Lawrence Olivier on stage.

When the 77-year-old was born in 1937, her birth was announced to the audience at the Old Vic by the acting legend during a production of Hamlet.

She was born into a world when things were about to get very much worse more millions of people across Europe and further in the world.

Two years later, and Britain was at war with Nazi Germany which was persecuting people simply because |of their race.

It led to her father and uncles trying to help those fleeing the tide of hate sweeping across the continent.

“Asylum seekers mean everything to me. I think being born when I was in 1937 and having realised what was to some extent happening with Hitler’s occupation of Europe, my fathers and uncles all in the Royal Navy trying to prevent the invasion of Britain, too late to prevent the invasion of Europe I know what it means to seek asylum.

“My father helped a number of German and Austrian asylum seekers.

“The British government under Chamberlaine had so many restrictions in place for people trying to come here which meant that a lot of people died when they shouldn’t have.”

Now the actress, whose acting credits include appearing in Coriolanus both on stage and opposite Ralph Feinnes, A Man For All Seasons and Julia , for which she won an Oscar, will be performing in Southampton.

“It’s the very first time I’ve appeared in Southampton. I’m very grateful to the Nuffield Theatre who have been absolutely wonderful,” she said.

“I have played in a number of cities and towns but not in Southampton so far.”

It isn’t the first time she has appeared in Hampshire, though, because she has also appeared in Winchester previously also for the SWVG.

She will be reciting poetry and singing songs with her daughter-in-law Jennifer Wiltsie and guitarist Mike Outram, while also speaking about the plight of asylum seekers.

One of the readings she will be giving is a recital of the declaration of the human rights.

“I first heard it when I was almost 12 years old in December 1948, broadcast by the BBC, by the Home Service as it was then known,” she said, recalling what it was like to hear that groundbreaking document read out.

“I felt an enormous sense of encouragement that maybe what had happened under Hitler could not happen again.”

She became involved in the group two years ago after she was introduced to it by fellow patron Miriam Margoyles and has been an avid supporter of it ever since.

“It’s a wonderful group. I think it’s an example to many organisations in the UK, of wonderful, ordinary people,” she said. “I hope the programme will give encouragement and food for thought and for celebration as well.”