Virginia McKenna has an estimated net worth of $19 million. She accrued this wealth through her career as an actress, author, activist and wildlife campaigner.
Born in Marylebone McKenna attended Heron’s Ghyll School in Sussex. She spent six years in South Africa before returning to school at age 14, after which she attended the Central School of Speech and Drama, at that time-based at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
At age 19, McKenna spent six months at Dundee Repertory Theatre, where she gained acting experience in Dundee Repertory Theatre.
She worked on stage in London’s West End theatre, making her debut in Penny for a Song in 1951.
McKenna made her cinematic debut with a prominent role in The Second Mrs. Tanqueray (1952) starring Hugh Sinclair and Pamela Brown, then played Richard Attenborough’s sister-in-law in Father’s Doing Fine (1952).
McKenna rose to prominence when she played Joy Adamson in the 1966 film Born Free.
She subsequently starred in over 50 films including; The Horse’s Mouth (1953), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950), Carve Her Name with Pride (1958), An Elephant Called Slowly (1970), Beauty and the Beast (1976), The Case of the Frightened Lady (1983), Golden Years (2016), Widow’s Walk (2019), Wings (2020), and many others.
McKenna is still actively involved at Born Free Foundation as a Trustee.
Her audiobook work includes The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and narration of The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright.
McKenna was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2004 New Year Honours for services to wildlife and the arts and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to wildlife conservation and wild animal welfare.