I had one foot in the Redgrave

Vanessa: My daughter stopped me giving up on life after heart attack

VANESSA Redgrave has told how her daughter’s words inspired her fight for life after a heart attack two years ago. The Oscar-wining actress, 80, explained: “My eldest daughter died skiing and in the middle of being in hospital [after the heart attack], my second daughter, Joely [Richardson], was with me. I said to her at one point, ‘I’m sorry. I really don’t think I can struggle on any more’.”

Vanessa said of Nip/tuck star Joely, 52: “She said the most wonderful thing. She did not say, ‘Go on. You can do it’. She gave me a lovely smile and said, ‘Well, if you feel you must go, then you should go.’

“Because she gave me the relief, I felt strong again and felt I could continue.” Screen and stage legend Vanessa, who narrates BBC drama Call The Midwife, thanked the NHS for saving her life. She said: “Because of wonderful surgery, I am here.”

“Heart attacks make you funny. It does change you in lots of ways, but I prefer to keep on the humorous side. You realise life is very precious.”

Her eldest, Natasha Richardson, who was also an actress, died after a skiing accident in 2009, aged 45.

JOELY GOOD SUPPORT Vanessa and daughter Joely