Affected/unnatural; cannot watch her

I agree, far too plummy and over the top, has no range at all...I felt the same about John Gielgud, totally unable to portray an everyman unlike Ralph Richardson, Olivier and James Mason.

Are you both blind? I'm pretty sure the vast majority would disagree with you. She has been called, "A God among actors" because she is just perfection. Just google Jane Fonda or Meryl Streep giving praise. Jane Fonda said the two greatest actors she's ever had the opportunity to work with were Vanessa and Marlon Brando.

To each his own, but Vanessa can do more with one look than many can do with an entire performance...which is why she has every major acting award.

I'm sorry, but I can't see how you all feel that...

Exactly. Her sister, Lynn, is the one I thought was extraordinary; natural and in the moment, ingratiating. Maybe she's like that in real life, I don't know

I always feel like the boy in The Emperor's Clothes when the subject of Vanessa Redgrave's acting comes up. In the United States, she is extravagantly praised even when performing in made for TV movies. If this tony Trotskyite would deign to do commercials, they'd probably be full of flatulent praise for her performances in them. Why? Because she's part of a theatrical dynasty? Because she is politically obstreperous? I remember seeing her in A Man For All Seasons. She made John Gielgud seem unpretentious and Charlton Heston seem animated. If she were any more wooden, you could buy her by the plank at Home Depot.

Perhaps this observation of her style is part of why I cannot stand her narration in Call the Midwife. It's largely the writing, of course. Call the Midwife is filled with empty dramatization and sentimentality, every obstacle being easily overcome or swiftly set aside. It's a house of cards. That V Redgrave could squander her abilities on this pap amazes me.