Natasha Richardson 1963--2009
"A twinkle and sparkle has left the world," was the headline in this morning's Guardian in the UK.
Natasha Richardson 1963--2009
Carrie Rickey, Film Critic
"A twinkle and sparkle has left the world," was the headline in this morning's Guardian in the UK.
"Natasha combined the best of Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson," mourned Sam Mendes, who directed the radiant actress in her Tony-winning play "Cabaret,. Referring to her actress mother and filmmaker father, Mendes observed, "She had the enormous depth and emotional force of a great actor on the one hand, and the intelligence and objectivity of a great director on the other."
Here's the Inquirer obit, written hastily on deadline. There's so much more to say about the sylphlike actress with the dazzling smile and talent, the voice like ginger and grit, the young woman who emerged from the towering shadow of her prodigiously gifted grandfather and mother and blazed her own path, about the devoted wife and mother, and about her shape-shifting ability to be patrician, slatternly, insecure and confident -- sometimes all at once. Though I treasure the once I saw her on stage -- in "Anna Christie" in the early '90s, I wish she had left behind more movies that showcased her considerable gifts. Everyone loves "The Parent Trap," of course. But then one you should rent to understand what the acting world has lost is "The White Countess," an underdeservedly underknown 2005 film directed by James Ivory. Richardson is the title figure, a Russian countess in 1936 Shangahi, supporting her family as a prostitute and csimultabneously ommunicating more conflicting emotions than almost any actress I've ever seen. Condolences to her mother, aunt, sister, husband and sons.
Your thoughts?
I loved her in COMFORT OF STRANGERS...will miss seeing her on-screen.— garyk- What you wrote is very good. Words fail me on this one -- it is so indescribably sad. It has nothing to do with her acting, but seeing a successful Hollywood marriage was quite uplifting and made you think well of Natasha Richardson, Liam Neeson and their beautiful family.— ccjroberts
- I knew her slightly and briefly in the late 80's when I worked on "The Handmaid's Tale." She was unfailingly professional and gracious. When I saw her on the street a in Toronto a few years later, I was prepared to walk silently by and not intrude on the conversation she was having with another woman. But she saw me and her face lit up with recognition, and she stopped me with a warm embrace. A small kindness, perhaps, but one that was as genuine to her as it was meaningful to me.— abramorama
- "...the voice like ginger and grit..." Great line, Carrie, singular - like the woman you're describing. I agree with you about the overall excellence of Ivory's "The Wnite Countess" but let's not forget another provocative titles that she made around the same time - David Mackenzie's "Asylum" (2005), with Ian McKellen. Superb. And she's a hoot opposite Alan Rickman in Paddy Breathnach's criminally neglected little comedy, "Blow Dry" (2001) - both movies worthy of her talent. Lajos Koltai's "Evening" (2007) isn't a very good film, but she gets to share the screen with a batch of great actresses, including her mom.— Pash
- In reviewing her movies at IMDb, I think I've only seen "The Comfort of Strangers" and "The Favor, the Watch, and the Very Big Fish." The latter I remember as having a droll humor, but I can't recall anything beyond that. "The Comfort of Strangers," on the other hand, made a strong impression on me, both in its sense of place and in the performances of the leads, including Richardson. Mainly I feel terribly sorry for her whole family. It feels like some great cosmic scriptwriter has made an awful blunder that needs to be re-written.— wwolfe
- She never really found a film role to match her early work in Paul Schrader's grossly underrated "Patty Hearst" but she really got to shine on stage. I saw her on Broadway in "Cabaret" and "Closer." She was good in both, but her Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" was remarkable and one of the best performances I ever got to see in New York.— edwardcopeland
- I loved Natasha's accent. She was very funny in Maid in Manhattan. I will keep her family in my prayers.— neszi6857
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