The English born Richardson was named after the main character in Tolstoy’s epic classic War and Peace. Being a member of the Redgrave family, with her mother being Vanessa Redgrave, the family boasts four generations of successful film and television actors. Natasha appeared in films but achieved her greatest successes on stage.  

Natasha Richardson was born on May 11^th, 1963 in London, England. She made her acting debut at the age of four in the play Charge of the Light Brigade, which was directed by her father. Groomed at a young age for a life in the spotlight, she studied at St. Paul’s Girl’s School and later at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama. After performing professionally with Leed’s Playhouse following graduation, Richardson followed in her family’s footsteps and performed at the Old Vic theatre in London.

Specializing in Shakespearian performances with roles as Ophelia and Helena, her talent soon became apparent to any that saw her on stage. When she later performed as Nina in the Seagull, she won the London Drama Critics’ Most Promising Newcomer Award for her performance. Now far from being a newcomer, Richardson’s stage career has earned her amazing recognition and awards. Her leading role in Anna Christie led to her being voted Best Actress by the London Drama Critics, and receiving multiple nominations for a Tony Award for Best Actress, a Theatre World Award, an Outer Critics Circle 

Award, and a Drama Desk nomination. In 1998 Richardson won several coveted awards, including a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award, all for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Closer, Richardson’s subsequent play, was also nominated for a Tony Award.

In addition to being an impressive stage actress, Richardson also enjoyed a steady film career. Her feature film debut was in the 1986 Gothic, and she also starred or appeared in a number of other films including A Month in the Country, Nell, The Comfort of Strangers, and the Disney remake of The Parent Trap, also starring Lindsay Lohan. Richardson’s most recent appearances were in Maid in Manhattan starring Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes and Bob Hoskins and Asylum with Ian McKellen. Several of her performances received critical acclaim.

Her role in The Handmaid’s Tale, adapted from the Margaret Atwood novel, earned Richardson the London Evening Star Award for Best Actress in 1990. Widow’s Peak, released in 1994, garnered her the Best Actress Award at the Karlovy Vary Festival. Richardson also appeared on the television films Hostages and Suddenly Last Summer.

Natasha married theatre and film producer Robert Fox in 1992 but they later divorced in 1992 without having had children. But later Richardson was to meet and marry her second husband Irish born actor Liam Neeson, in 1994. 

The couple had two sons together, Michael Richard Antonio, born in 1995 and Daniel Jack, born in 1996.

While on the ski slopes of Mont Tremblant Resort, Quebec, Canada, in March 2009 Natasha suffered a fall during a skiing lesson which ulitmately caused a head injury that would lead to her death on March 18th that year. At that time Liam was filming a movie in Toronto and flew to be with his wife prior to Natasha's death.