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Natasha Richardson rememberedI have a number of regrets about missed theater opportunities — the biggest are that I missed Cherry Jones in Doubt and Natasha Richardson in Cabaret.
Richardson won the Tony Award for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in the 1998 revival and was widely lauded for her success at re-imagining a role so thoroughly associated with Liza Minnelli. But Richardson — who died tragically and unexpectedly last night from a head injury incurred the day before — continually lived up to the standards set by the Redgraves/Richardsons, her theater-royalty family.
And she distinguished herself time and time again onstage and on-screen. I’m a little caught off-guard by how sad I am at her untimely death. I certainly had no personal connection to Natasha Richardson — the closest I get is a friend who once briefly worked with her and recalls the experience as “memorable.” I suppose it’s largely the shock of someone young and vibrant being alive one day and gone the next, coupled with compassion for her family, who must be enduring unimaginable grief. And, of course, there’s the disappointment that I’ll never see her perform live. So the best I can do is to take a moment to celebrate what I enjoyed while she was alive. Richardson compiled a long filmography, most of which I’m not going to discuss. But here is a smattering of her roles that I saw and enjoyed over the years. Constance Haverford, Evening (2007) If the reviews are any indication, I’m one of only a handful of people who enjoyed Richardson’s second-to-last film role. Part of it was the sheer amazingness of the cast — including Richardson’s mother, Vanessa Redgrave — but I also enjoyed watching Richardson and Toni Collette’s moving and compelling sister act. Dr. Paula Olsen, Nell (1994) This was another well-cast (Richardson, Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson) but mediocre movie. Call me shallow, but watching the three of them chew the scenery together was enough for me. Kate/Offred, The Handmaid’s Tale (1990) Although I was mildly underwhelmed by the film adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s chilling future-dystopia novel, I was impressed by Richardson as the title character. (And I was glad they kept the lesbian character, Moira, in the movie.) The character in the book lived a largely internal life, but Richardson successfully portrayed Kate/Offred’s mix of fear, scheming and independence. Elizabeth James, The Parent Trap (1998) I loved this movie. Loved it. I love the original Parent Trap, and I loved the remake. Lindsay Lohan was fantastic. Dennis Quaid was boyishly charming. And Natasha Richardson was lovely. The movie was light and fun, and Natasha Richardson appealingly evoked Maureen O’Hara’s “Maggie” from the original Parent Trap. The quality of the acting was quite remarkable, which made the movie much more substantial than it should have been. Again, these are just a few of Natasha Richardson’s roles in her distinguished, albeit tragically shortened, career. What movies of hers did you enjoy? And did any of you catch her onstage? Submitted by on March 19, 2009 - 3:30pm. |
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It was the Parent Trap for
It was the Parent Trap for me. It was just so good and warm. Richardson was part of that warmness, because she just fit into that part so well. All of the people in that movie did. When I think about her I think about the warmth and comfort of watching that movie, and it's just a little colder now, I suppose.
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They told me I should just concentrate and breathe
With little lungs I
Breathe
Parent Trap
It was the Parent Trap for me too. I saw that movie so many times as a kid (and, I'll admit, since then) that I could probably repeat it word for word.
You're right that it had a phenomenal cast and acting, but even in that group, Natasha Richardson was a stand out.
She'll be missed.
:(
I cant believe she's gone...as a child I always watched parent trap!!! I secretly had a crush on her, gosh I think I was about 6 or 7...Seeing her(when I was older) in the movie Nell, made me appreciate her even more! What a talent did that woman have! And when I looked at her, I could feel the kindness, the warmth...she made me smile:)
Such a memorable actress, she will never be forgotten.
Old....
I grew up on the parent trap too.....with Hayley Mills
...didn't think I was that old.....now where's my walker?
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"Every great oak is just a nut that held its ground."
The Copper Beaches
Natasha Richardson - Rest In Peace.......
I loved watching her perform in the Parent Trap and in the Handmaiden's Tale. She was a highly talented actress, unique and beautiful to watch. We have truly been robbed of this wonderful actress who had much more to bring to theatre and film.
My sincere sympathies to her family and friends. I just hope they are left in peace by the media to grieve for their loss. So young and such a tragedy.
Sobering and sad
Natasha Richardson's death is sobering and sad. We often live as if we have no expiration date, but when a tragedy like this happens we are reminded that life gives us no guarantees. It is also a reminder, I think, to live life full out, and with as much love and kindness as we can.
www.SeekingSaraSummers.com
rip
i, too, loved her in the parent trap. she had a fantastic presence, and was just incredibly talented and warm. all the best to liam and their sons and family / friends. this is just so shocking, and my heart goes out to everyone who knew and cared for her.
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http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com
OMG I cant believe it,
OMG I cant believe it, still cant believe it when I heard it from my sister...I was like WHAT! O_O. She was one hell of an actress and will always be rememberd and highly honored as one. It is scary the event that took her life :\ , it reminds you how vulnerable to death one is!.
RIP Natasha Richardson.
Damn now I dont think ill be able to see any of her movies again without getting all nostalgic :(
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Let it Rock,Let it roll
Patty Hearst?
Did Natasha once act as Patty Hearst, or was it Miranda?
I must say, I am quite shocked by her sudden death... for some reason I feel quite sad about it, even though I can't say that I'm a fan or that I thought of her too often.
The randomness of her death is very tragic, as is the fact that she seemed like such a vibrant, lovely person with many people who loved her. My thoughts and prayers go out to Joely and her other sisters as well as her mum, kids and husband.
Hip To The Beat, Mommie-O!
She did play Patty Hearst
:-)
Thanks for the reply Ace! I'd love to see her kicking butt as Patty too... I'll have to track the movie down
Hip To The Beat, Mommie-O!
Natasha
I loved all of her movies, especially The Parent Trap. I found one of her movies a few years ago, Blow Dry, with Alan Rickman as her ex and Rachel Griffiths as her lover. It's a beautiful story. Check it out.
I loved Blow Dry
Natasha was a great actress and I loved Blow Dry.. it wasn' big budget but it was just a nice simple english film, and of course with lesbians.
Its sad that there will be no more movies with Natasha Richardson. I was so shocked when I heard the news, and feel for her family.
Parent Trap and Nell
I'm not sure I could choose between Parent Trap and Nell. I've seen both movies more times than could be counted. I too have felt overwhelming sadness at this news. The warmth and the sparkle in her eyes will be sorely missed.
(Years ago at my old job, my password to get into our system was one of her roles. She was on my mind when my new boss said enter something you'll remember. I thought of her everyday for 4.5 years.)
~ Otalia: "It's a love story." ~
Nell...
While a somewhat flawed movie, Nell is still one of my favorites, thanks to the performances of Foster, Neeson and Richardson.
This is just so sad. I don't know what else to say.
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OTALIA!! WE. WANT. IT.
same ere
I cant quite believe how hearing about her accident has effected me, I've been moved by this story more than I thought.
Brilliant actress and loved her in maid in manhattan and parent trap.
Such a lose...
balance and perservance
So sad
Thanks for bringing up these memories.
Like you, I'm confused by how sad I felt when I read the news of her death this morning, but I guess it's because of the reasons you mentioned. In all of the pictures, she looks so alive and vibrant, and she and Liam Neeson seemed very happy together. To imagine that all of this can be there one moment and gone the next, it's sobering and makes you appreciate life more.
My thoughts are with her family. May she rest in peace.
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MeL's blog: Everything MeL
Follow me on Twitter: "I Tweet, Therefore I Am"
Shocked
I was completely shocked when I heard about this. The woman alone was amazing but since I love Liam Neeson too it hit me doubly hard. I know her best from The Parent Trap, I suppose that's attributed to my age, but I've been meaning the see The Handmaid's Tale. I loved the book so I thought I'd give the movie a shot, now I've just got more reason to look into it.
My heart goes out to her family and friends, she'll be missed by many.
___//♫♪ let your girlfriend do what your boyfriend can't
Parent Trap
Exactly!
I have the same association of "warmth." Clearly she was putting something out there. All of which makes me that much more sad for her loved ones. If we're saddened by the loss of the personality, can you imagine what people who are mourning the loss of the actual person are feeling?
I just watched Evening on Monday
I just watched Evening on Monday and I also love it. I don't care what the critics say! I feel unexpectedly saddened by this as well. I was sat the behind her when I went to go see The Year of Magical Thinking and she seemed like such a nice person. It's scary to think that one day you could be on holiday and the next day you'd be gone.
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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wonderful lady
I first saw Natasha in "Nell", and she was so great in the updated version of "The Parent Trap". She really seemed like such a wonderful lady. I feel so bad for Liam & the boys.
R.I.P. Natasha
As Patty Hearst
I enjoyed her in Patty Hearst, partly because I was intrigued about the subject. Loved her in Handmaid's Tale - agreed it was a poor adaptation. And we'll always have her with Liam and Jodie in Nell. Never got to see her live onstage.
A tragic loss. Please wear a helmet, ladies. It absorbs some 80+% of the force.
Nell
:(
When my friend texted me to let me know that Natasha Richardson had died, I thought I was going to cry right in the middle of Target. When I got home I put on the Cabaret soundtrack. Hearing "Maybe This Time" last night was incedibly moving.
You will be missed, Natasha.
I really liked the parent
so sad
I am also a little caught-off guard by my reaction to this very sad and tragic event. When I watched the news this morning I found myself crying in front of the telly. Initially, I only remembered her from the Parent Trap. I watched that movie a million times. In it she seems to light up the screen every time she enters a room. And this radiant warmth of her makes me smile every time. It always makes me giggle when she gets all tipsy because of the flight... Though it is sad to know that there will be no new wonderful performances by her for the world to see it is nothing compared to the inconceivable loss of a wife, mother, daugther, sister and friend. My heart goes out to her family and friends and I just hope the press leaves them alone.
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It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life. And I'm feeling good.
Crush
The Handmaid's Tale? I had
Nell
www.myspace.com/lunakiss7.com
I enjoyed watching Natasha Richardson in Nell. She will be sadly missed.
=/
I remember when I used to watch The Parent Trap over and over again just to see her.
I was shocked when I read what had happened last night.
Sincere condolences to her family and friends..=/
GOTHIC
I remember her first and best from that Ken Russell movie, GOTHIC, because it was frikkin cracked, that movie was. For some reason i just thought it was the most awesome, scandalous, sexyful, bizonkoid bit of bi-curious cinema that'd i'd ever seen when i was a teenager. I'm sure if i saw it again 20+ years later, i'd wonder what i was thinking, but back then? Natasha was Fox. Ay. and that was all that mattered.
THank you Ms. Richardson for starting an early interest in Mary Shelly (and eventually her mother ,Mary Wollstonecraft's feminist writings).
God
This is so sad. Such a tragic accident. I loved her in that version of the Parent Trap. I swear I was just on her IMDB page a month ago wondering what she was up to. It really is sobering though. You never know when the end is just around the corner.
http://jordan-writes.blogspot.com/
Sad Day!
The White Countess and Haven
The movie
The movie I keep thinking about is 'Love actually'. Liam Neeson was just heartbreaking in that role. It is a time you really wish life did not imitate art.
Oh my gosh you're so right,
R.I.P Natasha Richardson.
I too was caught off-guard
I too was caught off-guard by how sad I am at her passing.
I think the reason is, I have long had great admiration for her and her entire family. My heart aches for Liam Neesan. For her sons. For Joely Richardson. For Lynn Redgrave. But, most of all, for Vanessa. I simply cannot imagine the grief of loosing a child.
Natasha herself, in every interview I ever saw or read, always seemed so bright and fun and genuine. It doesn't seem fair that someone like that should be taken from us so suddenly, so young.
For myself, the fact that she died of a traumatic brain injury, intensifies my grief. My family has been personally touched by brain injury and since then I've been exceptionally sensitive to others who suffer from them. I am more inspired than ever to help my local Brain Injury Association raise money to educate people about the risks and prevention of brain injury.
My favorite Natasha movie is one not well-known
Widow's Peak, with Mia Farrow and Joan Plowright. She and Mia were such good friends that she stood godmother to two of Mia's children.
Also, it should be mentioned that Natasha's father, the director Tony Richardson, was bisexual and died of AIDS, and Natasha became heavily involved in the fight against AIDS as a result.
I'm so sad for her family.
A wonderful actress
That will be missed. I loved her in the Parent trap, Nell, blowdry just to name a few. She seemed so full of life and its so sad that she was taken away so early in her life.
My prayers go to her family and hope that they can pull through the tragedy. She will be missed...
The Parent Trap
At first I wasn't exactly sure who she really was when I read about the tragedy. But when I went over her movie roles, I was shocked. I couldn't believe that one of my favourite characters on The Parent Trap that I've loved has passed away.
I grew up with this wonderfully warm movie, too. I used to watch it over and over again when I was much younger. lol. It grew with me. And I've always loved how the actors in the movie fit in so well together.
She will always be remembered.
The Parent Trap
At first I wasn't exactly sure who she really was when I read about the tragedy. But when I went over her movie roles, I was shocked. I couldn't believe that one of my favourite characters on The Parent Trap that I've loved has passed away.
I grew up with this wonderfully warm movie, too. I used to watch it over and over again when I was much younger. lol. It grew with me. And I've always loved how the actors in the movie fit in so well together.
She will always be remembered.
The Parent Trap!!
Cabaret and PT
When I heard about her accident I had no idea who she was. Then a few days later my friend told me she was the mom from The Parent Trap and I felt sad... she was so good and adorable in that movie!
A few moments ago I learned from reading this that she was Sally in the 1998 revival of Cabaret (MUCH better than Liza), one of my all time favorite musical soundtracks. I listen to it ALL the time and had no idea it was her... she was very talented ("perfectly marvelous" in that role!) and will be missed, so sad :(