Natasha Richardson

Natasha Richardson was a British born theater, film, and television actress who made her feature film debut in 1986 as Mary Shelley in the film Gothic. She was critically injured in a skiing accident on March 16, 2009, in Quebec, Canada resulting in her death two days later from massive head trauma. Richardson is the late daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late wife of actor Liam Neeson.

Friends and family of Richardson's gathered on March 20, 2009, for her private viewing. Among those in attendance were Mike Nichols, Diane Sawyer, Matthew Modine, Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman.The Huffington Post: Family, friends gather for Natasha Richardson (March 20, 2009) Her funeral was held two days later at St. Peter's Church in Millbrook, New York. She was buried near her grandmother, Rachel Redgrave.People: Natasha Richardson Is Laid to Rest Near Her Home (March 22, 2009) The Globe and Mail released an audio timeline on March 27th detailing the tragic events that took place on the day of Richardson's accident.Globe and Mail: The five-hour scramble to save Natasha Richardson (March 27, 2009)

Columnist Liz Smith revealed that Richardson was taken off of life support on March 18, 2009, after being involved in a skiing accident at the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, Canada, two days earlier. Her family soon after released a statement confirming her death.TMZ: []http://www.tmz.com/2009/03/18/family-natasha-richardson-is-dead/ Richardson is Dead] (March 18, 2009) The New York City medical examiner reported upon the completion of a autopsy that Richardson died as a result of "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head." Her death was ruled "an accident."TMZ: Cause of Death (March 19, 2009)

On March 16, 2009, Richardson was hurt in a skiing accident when she fell during a private lesson at the Mont Tremblant ski resort in Quebec, Canada. She suffered a "traumatic brain injury" and was rushed to the city's Centre Hospitalier Laurentien. Richardson was said to have been "smiling" and "making jokes" immediately after her accident. She later began complaining of a headache but was still conscious when paramedics took her away from the resort.Huffington Post: Natasha Richardson Ski Accident, Brain Injury Suffered (March 16, 2009) TMZ: Details of Natasha Richardson's Ski Accident (March 17, 2009)

On March 17th, Time Out New York blogsite reported that Richardson had passed away from her injuries. However, her death was not confirmed.PerezHilton: Natasha Richardson Dies (March 17, 2009) They later changed their story to state that Richardson was "brain dead and not expected to survive."Gawker: Time Out Retracts Their Report of Natasha Richardson's Death (March 17, 2009) The New York Post later reported that Richardson was brain dead, but was being moved to New York City so that her mother (Vanessa Redgrave) and other family members could say goodbye to the actress before she was removed from life support.New York Post: Richardson is Brain Dead (March 17, 2009)

Named after the heroine in Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace, Richardson was born into a film family. Her father was a director and producer and her mother an actress. By the age of four, Richardson acted in her father's film The Charge of the Light Brigade and in her teens studied at the London Central School of Speech and Drama.

Richardson has found success both on and off the stage. After her debut role in Gothic, director Paul Schrader cast her in his film Patty Hearst. The roles continued on the big screen with notable performances in A Month in the Country, Fat Man and Little Boy The Handmaid's Tale and The Comfort of Strangers. Between films, Richardson explores roles on stage such as Tracey Lord in High Society, the title role in Anna Christie and Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• May 11, 1963: Born

• 1983: Every Picture Tells a Story

• 1983: Top Girls (stage play)

• 1984: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

• 1985: The Seagull (stage play)

• 1986: Gothic

• 1990: The Handmaid's Tale

• 1990: The Comfort of Starngers

• 1991: The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish

• 1994: Nell

• 1998: Cabaret (stage play)

• 1999: Closer (stage play)

• 2001: Blow Dry

• 2002: Maid in Manhattan

• 2005: The White Countess

• 2007: Evening