RIP: Natasha Richardson

Stage and movie actress Natasha Richardson died on 19 March 2009 from a head injury, which she suffered during a skiing lesson. She was only 46 years old.

I had known her mainly as Mrs Liam Neeson, i.e. the wife of the film actor. I also knew that she came from an acting pedigree. Her grandfather, mother and sister are/were actors, and I'd seen her sister, Noely Richardson, in the TV series, "Nip/Tuck".

But it is the film, "The Handmaid's Tale", where I came to know of this woman. I had rented this movie at the spur of the moment some years back. I was actually looking for something to pass the time, so I picked up this DVD, read the box, then brought it home to watch. Her performance there was quite good and made me feel deeply for the trials that her character had to go through.

It was only later that I read the book on which the film was made that I realised how complex her character and situation really were. Natasha Richardson was able to make her character extremely approachable to an audience that was unaware of the original story. And that is how I'll remember her.

RIP Natasha Richardson, 1963 - 2009

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