Trivia

A major cultural influence, Born Free (1966) changed the perception the world had on wildlife. People were inspired to become veterinarians, preservationists or zoologists.

According to Laura Waskin's in-depth article of Virginia in Classic Images film magazine, February 2013, after the filming of Born Free (1966), the real Joy Adamson invited Virginia to go with her and camp at Meru, the location where the story was based. She also presented Virginia and Bill with a painting she'd done of Elsa the lion on a camp bed accompanied by a touching personal message that read, "I thought the film and the way the story was told, brought the message to a wider audience. Books do one thing, and films do something else".

She was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's New Year's Honours List for her services to wildlife and to the arts.

She and her husband co-starred in a number of films, most memorably as the conservationists Joy Adamson and George Adamson in Born Free (1966).

Helped found The Born Free Foundation in 1984 with husband Bill Travers.

She has three sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren

Has a strong love for writing and reading poetry with special passions for Shakespeare, Emily Bronte and Maya Angelou.

Virginia and Bill were asked to reprise their "Born Free" roles as the Adamsons in the sequel Living Free (1972) but they declined. Susan Hampshire and Nigel Davenport assumed the roles. The subsequent reviews and box office receipts for the sequel were underwhelming.

She and her husband, Bill Travers made 7 films together The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957), Big Time Operators aka The Smallest Show on Earth (1957), Storm Over Jamaica aka Passionate Summer (1958) Two Living, One Dead (1961), Born Free (1966), Ring of Bright Water (1969) and An Elephant Called Slowly (1970) and played husband and wife in 3 of the 7 The 2nd one, Born Free and the last one.

Never enjoyed watching herself on screen but would attend rushes just to see what she did wrong and how to correct it.

Aunt of Susan Travers, Richard Morant and Penelope Wilton.

Was awarded the prestigious Laurence Olivier Best Actress in a Musical Award on London's West End Stage for 'The King and I'.

Recently opened a museum dedicated to Violette Szabo in Hereford - www.violette-szabo-museum.co.uk

Due to family obligations, she once had to turn down the title role in a stage production of "Peter Pan" that would have co-starred husband Bill Travers as Captain Hook. Virginia later played Mrs. Darling in an American TV series version of Peter Pan (1976) starring Mia Farrow and Danny Kaye.

In 2012 she was presented with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from Nottingham Trent University.

Her half-French mother Anne de Nys wrote "An Englishman Needs Time", which was a hit for Eartha Kitt.

Has written several books: "On Playing with Lions" (1976), "Some of My Friends Have Tails" (1970), "Beyond the Bars: The Zoo Dilemma" (1987), "Into the Blue (1992), "Journey to Freedom" (1997) and, most recently, her autobiography, "The Life in My Years" (2009).

October 2013 she received a lifetime achievement award at the New York Wildlife Conservation Film Festival.

Horsham, West Sussex, England (May 2009)

April 2013 she received the British Animal Honours Outstanding Contribution.

Moira Lister tested for the part that went to Virginia McKenna in Waterloo (1970) and that was replacing Olivia de Haviland who dropped out.

Children Anna, William,born 1958 Louise born 1960 and Justin born 1962 with Husband Bill.

Gained acting experience in Dundee Repertory Theatre.

In 1976 she virtually retired from acting wanting to devote more time to her family, saying that she still wanted to act but didn't want to travel too far from home,.

She was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2023 King's New Years Honours List for her services to Wildlife Conservation and to Wild Animal Welfare in Dorking, Surrey, England. She is the Co-Founder of Born Free Foundation.

One of her sons is named Bill Travers Jr..

Sister-in-law of Linden Travers.