Jemma Redgrave
Ambassador
Jemma Redgrave, an English actress inspired to raise awareness of encephalitis following her friend’s autoimmune encephalitis diagnosis.
Personal story
Jemma is perhaps most recognisable continued role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in Doctor Who which is also set to launch a spin off show, The War Between the Land and the Sea in 2026.
Alongside her television roles – which also include appearances on Cold Blood, Law & Order, Holby City and Silent Witness – she has also starred in several theatre productions including The Cherry Orchard, The Deep Blue Sea, Major Barbara, and An Ideal Husband. She has also featured in several major films including Howards End (1992) which won three Academy Awards, and in Mansfield Park (2007) and Love & Friendship (2016) both adaptions of Jane Austin novels.
Jemma is the stepdaughter of one of our Vice Presidents, Kika Markham (Kika Markham | Encephalitis International). Her father (Kika’s husband) Corin Redgrave – a multi-award winning actor himself – sustained a significant brain injury that lead to Kika joining our VP’s to raise awareness of brain injuries and conditions like encephalitis. Since then, Jemma has had a friend and fellow actress affected by autoimmune encephalitis.
Jemma will be the voice of our BBC Radio 4 Appeal on the 22nd February 2026 and is committed to helping raise awareness of the devastating impact of encephalitis.
