Patrick James

This morning the clock-radio awoke me with the very sad news of the tragic passing of Natasha Richardson, a great actor with a wonderful presence on screen. In her films she always had that comforting aura which made me think that she was that same sort of beautiful, down-to-earth person, off-stage, as so many of the characters she acted. In my family home we have all, always been fans of her movies.

The wife of actor Liam Neeson and mother of two sons was the daughter of acting legend Vanessa Redgrave, died Wednesday of a critical head injury resulting from a skiing accident; she was 45. Richardson, born into the legendary Redgrave acting family, was the eldest daughter of late Oscar-winning director Tony Richardson (Tom Jones) and Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, and the granddaughter of famed actors Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. Her aunt was Lynn Redgrave, her uncle Corin Redgrave, and her sister, Joely Richardson, was also an actress, most well-known for her role on the television series Nip/Tuck.

Thank you for all the wondeful movies and many of us will miss you.

My condolences quite genuinely go to all her family and loved ones.