Virginia McKenna was born in Marylebone to a theatrical family and was educated at Heron’s Ghyll School near the market town of Horsham in Sussex. She spent six years in South Africa before returning to the School at the age of fourteen, after which she attended the Central School of Speech and Drama, then based at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
She played lead roles in many films including “A Town Like Alice”, for which she won a BAFTA, “The Barretts of Wimpole Street”, “The Smallest Show on Earth” and “Carve Her Name with Pride”, playing Second World War SOE agent Violette Szabo, for which she was nominated for another BAFTA.
She is best remembered for her 1966 role as Joy Adamson in the true-life film “Born Free” for which she received a nomination for a Golden Globe. It was not only a huge success at the box office but a life changing experience for her and Bill Travers who co-starred with her, portraying conservationist George Adamson. The experience led them to become active supporters for wild animal rights as well as the protection of their natural habitat.
In 2004, McKenna was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire for her services to wildlife and to the arts. Her autobiography, The Life in My Years, was published by Oberon Books in March 2009. Her audiobook work includes The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and narration of The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright.