Pollyanna’s Wild Night at the Movies!

A very special screening of the classic film Born Free was held at BAFTA, in London to commemorate 30 years of the Born Free Foundation. Virginia McKenna was joined by members of her family, friends and hundreds of loyal Born Free supporters, celebrities and special guests including Pollyanna and her daughter Anna-Louise, Leslie Phillips, John Altman, Nicholas Parsons and Helen Worth.

Guests were invited to take their seats in the Princess Anne theatre and enjoy their popcorn whilst watching the film that inspired Virginia and her late husband, Bill Travers to start the charity. The film still touched the hearts of everyone and emotions were evident as the audience appreciated the film’s message, that all creatures that are born free should live free. After the film Kate Silverton hosted a conversation with Virginia McKenna, who enthralled the audience with tales from her early acting career, and insights into what inspired her and her late husband Bill Travers to found Zoo Check (later to become the Born Free Foundation) in 1984.

Chatting to Virginia before the screening, Pollyanna discovered that it was only the second time Virginia had watching the film in its entirety – the first being at the Royal premiere. Pollyanna was amazed by Virginia’s composure during the interview which immediately followed what must surely have been a very emotional viewing as she watched herself and her late husband on screen together with the lions.

A special event in Pollyanna’s gallery and the Pride in the Park ball also formed part of a series of events held to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary.