Natasha Richardson, the versatile actress known for her nuanced performances on stage, television, and film, has died. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in Canada on Monday, March 16, and was later transported to New York, where she passed away at age 45. In a statement, Richardson’s husband, Liam Neeson, and their family said, “Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”
Over the course of a renowned 25-year career that spanned every medium and every conceivable genre, Richardson proved her range time and again. She could acquit herself admirably in even the lightest fare, such as 1998′s family film The Parent Trap or the 2002 romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan, but as a member of the legendary Redgrave acting dynasty, which stretched back for generations, she always felt most at home tackling profound human dramas from the likes of Chekhov, Ibsen, Williams, and O’Neill. “I’m comfortable…where the most emotionally painful stuff is,” she told EW in 1998. “That’s where I feel a connection.”
