An Evening with Vanessa Redgrave and Lord Dubs
Muriel Gardiner, Rescue and Refugees
On a balmy September evening in the garden of the Freud Museum, a new exhibition about unsung heroine Muriel Gardiner was launched with readings, memories and discussion by legendary actress Vanessa Redgrave and refugee campaigner Lord Alf Dubs. Talking passionately about helping refugees both in the 1930s and today, and the importance of women like Muriel, the evening was emotional and inspiring. The Museum’s exhibition Code Name Mary: The extraordinary life of Muriel Gardiner tells the story of a woman who courageously risked her life to help many others. An American studying in 1930s Vienna, she became immersed in the resistance to the fascist regime, smuggling passports, hiding fugitives, and enabling many to escape abroad.
Returning to the US after the outbreak of war Muriel Gardiner supported many refugees, became a psychoanalyst and educator; and through her close friendship with Anna Freud helped found the Freud Museum. Her family foundation supported the museum for many years. Muriel’s family were closely involved in this exhibition, loaning personal family photos, books and letters. Two of her grandchildren attended the launch, despite Covid restrictions and the difficulties of international travel. Hal Harvey spoke movingly about his grandmother, her close bond with her grandchildren and the great example of helping others in need that she had set them all. Vanessa Redgrave is another admirer of Muriel Gardiner. Strangely, in the 1970s she played the title character in the Oscar winning film Julia. not knowing that this character had in fact been based on the life of Muriel Gardiner – something the author, Lillian Hellman, had not revealed. Ms Redgrave later became aware of Muriel’s resistance work when writing a play, Vienna1934-Munich 1938, and discovered that Muriel had had a relationship with her father’s friend, the poet Stephen Spender, and been a courageous fighter against fascism.
Alf Dubs, now Lord Dubs, came to this country as a child refugee on the Kindertransport. He became the Labour MP for Battersea, and now from his position as a Labour life peer in the House of Lords fights tirelessly for refugee rights, especially for child refugees. He spoke powerfully about the challenges faced today by refugees attempting to enter Britain.
The exhibition continues at the museum until 6 February. You can read more of her extraordinary story in Muriel Gardiner’s own memoir Code Name Mary reprinted specially for this exhibition.
Buy the Book
Code Name ‘Mary’. Memoirs of an American Woman in the Austrian Underground – Muriel Gardiner is available from the Freud Museum Shop.
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