Natasha Richardson: Actress, Mother, Wife, Force Of Nature… Dead At 45

Acclaimed actress Natasha Richardson died today of head injuries sustained in a skiing accident. She was 45.

Richardson was, famously, part of an acting dynasty: the daughter of the late director and producer Tony Richardson and actress Vanessa Redgrave, granddaughter of actors Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, niece of actress Lynn Redgrave and actor Corin Redgrave, and sister of Joely Richardson. Married to Liam Neeson since 1994, the pair has two sons: Micheál, 13, and Daniel, 12.

Richardson’s career was varied, encompassing stage and screen roles. Her film roles were as wide-ranging as The Handmaid’s Tale, Nell, The Parent Trap and The White Countess. On stage, she won acclaim for her interpretation of Chekhov and Williams and a Tony for her starring turn in the revival of Cabaret. She appeared several times with her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, most recently in Evening.

Richardson’s death is shocking and saddening, and as a sensitive screen and stage presence – and a public figure of unusual grace and elegance – she’ll be very much missed. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to her family and two young sons, and for our part we’ll be having a screening of some of our favorite of her films tonight, starting with the lovely A Month in the Country in memoriam.