Virginia McKenna was born on June 7, 1931, in London, England, to a family with a strong theatrical background. Her mother, Anne, was a jazz pianist, composer, and cabaret performer, while her father, Terry, was an auctioneer with relatives in the arts. McKenna's early life was marked by a love for acting and wildlife.
After being evacuated to Cape Town, South Africa, during the London Blitz, McKenna returned to England and began acting in school plays. She was accepted into the London School of Central Speech and Drama and later joined the Dundee Repertory in Scotland. Her talent was soon spotted, and she was invited to play Estella in a production of "Great Expectations" in London.
McKenna's film career began with a prominent role in "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" in 1952, followed by roles in "Father's Doing Fine" and "The Horse's Mouth." Her breakthrough came with her Oscar-nominated performance in "The Cruel Sea" in 1953. She went on to star in "Simba" and "PT Raiders" before gaining international recognition for her role as Jean Paget in "A Town Like Alice" in 1956.
McKenna's personal life was marked by two marriages, first to Denholm Elliott, with whom she had a son, and then to Bill Travers, with whom she formed a documentary film company and dedicated their lives to wildlife causes. Her most famous film with Travers was "Born Free" in 1966, which told the story of Joy and George Adamson, wildlife welfare preservationists.
Throughout the 1970s, McKenna continued to act in film, theater, and television, including roles in "Waterloo," "Swallows and Amazons," and "The Disappearance." She also appeared on the London musical stage in "A Little Night Music" and "The King of I."
In the 1980s and beyond, McKenna's focus shifted to her work with the Born Free Foundation and its Zoo Check project, earning her an OBE for her services to wildlife conservation and animal welfare. Her son, Bill Travers Jr., has followed in her footsteps, becoming the CEO of the Born Free Foundation.
McKenna has written several wildlife books and her autobiography, "The Life in My Years," was published in 2009. She has continued to be involved in wildlife conservation efforts and has appeared in recent documentaries, including "Natural World" in 2011.
