Richardson was born in London to a theatrical family, the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and late director Tony Richardson, the granddaughter of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, Lady Redgrave. Joely Richardson is sister of actress Natasha Richardson, and sister-in-law of actor Liam Neeson, and niece of Lynn Redgrave and Corin Redgrave. Joely Richardson appeared as an extra at the age Read more...

Joely had an early ambition to become a professional tennis player and spent two years at a tennis academy in Florida. She then turned to acting. In 1985 she portrayed, via flashbacks, the younger version of the leading character played by her mother in the film Wetherby. After a leading role in Peter Greenaway's cult success Drowning by Numbers, her first major role in front of a mass audience Read more...

Richardson had an affair with the married Scottish landowner, Archie Stirling, resulting in his divorce from actress Dame Diana Rigg in 1990.

Richardson was married to film producer Tim Bevan from 1992 to 2001. The couple have a daughter, Daisy, who was born in 1992.

In September and October 2007 pictures of Joely looking thin sparked fears about her weight. In 5 November issue of Grazia Read more...