Natasha Richardson
A luminous stage and screen actress from theatre's foremost dynasty, who brought a radiant, intelligent warmth to every role she inhabited.
1963–2009 (age 46)·British actress·Birthday: May 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Born into Britain's most storied theatrical family, Natasha Richardson possessed an elegance and emotional transparency that was entirely her own. She honed her craft on the stages of London and New York, earning a Tony Award for her incandescent performance as Sally Bowles in 'Cabaret,' a role that showcased her commanding voice and vulnerable strength. On screen, she moved with ease from period pieces like 'The Handmaid's Tale' to contemporary dramas like 'The Parent Trap,' where her genuine warmth made her the ideal on-screen mother. Her marriage to Liam Neeson was a beloved partnership in Hollywood. Her sudden death in 2009 following a skiing accident cut short a career that was still ascending, leaving a profound sense of loss in the acting community and among audiences who admired her grace and formidable talent.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Natasha was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Natasha Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Natasha's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2009Died at 46
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Sally Bowles in the 1998 Broadway revival of 'Cabaret.'
- Starred in the film adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' as Moira.
- Received widespread praise for her performance as Mary Shelley in the 1986 film 'Gothic.'
Did You Know?
She turned down the role of Vivian Ward in 'Pretty Woman,' which later went to Julia Roberts.
She was married to actor Liam Neeson from 1994 until her death in 2009.
Her mother is actress Vanessa Redgrave and her grandfather was actor Michael Redgrave.
She studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
“I'm not a natural film actress. I come from the theatre, and I like the rehearsal.”
