VANESSA REDGRAVE - REDGRAVE: 'I WOULD TURN DOWN A DAMEHOOD'

REDGRAVE: 'I WOULD TURN DOWN A DAMEHOOD'

Veteran actress VANESSA REDGRAVE would never accept a damehood from British monarch Queen Elizabeth II - because she believes the title would conflict with her role as a UNICEF ambassador. The 70-year-old political activist considers her duties as a United Nations Children's Fund representative far more important than her loyalty to Britain. She says, "I'm a UNICEF ambassador, which means I work for all the children in the world instead of only for the British empire, which supposedly doesn't exist anymore. "I've always said I wouldn't be able to accept if I were offered a damehood as it's (title) a Dame of the British empire, and I'm a UNICEF ambassador. I'm for children everywhere."