Natasha Richardson

Sometimes events are merely synchromystic coincidences or tragic chance occurrences. Natasha Richardson's skiing-related head injury this week has a weird precursor in a story near the beginning of her career.

Ms. Richardson made her United Kingdom television debut in 1985, in The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes, appearing as Violet Hunter in the episode, "The Copper Beeches." That story written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle details how Ms. Hunter plays a woman hired to impersonate another woman who is suffering from brain fever.

Through the 1800s, "brain fever" was poorly understood or defined. Brain fever describes a medical condition where a part of the brain becomes inflamed and causes symptoms that present as fever. The inflammation of "brain fever" causes acute and chronic changes in the brain tissue, as well as causing mental, emotional, and motor difficulties and deterioration....

Adults and babies with "brain fever" in the 1800s and even up through the 1950s were often committed to either County Homes or mental institutions for long-term chronic care because families could not meet the person's physical needs at home or could not control the person's behavior (or both). Medical science could not alter the permanent brain changes once they occurred. Once antibiotics were discovered, physicians could treat the inflammation, but the deficits were permanent, with little benefit from physical or occupational therapies. Wikipedia ~ Brain Fever

Richardson also acted in such roles as those of Mary Shelley in the 1986 film, Gothic and Patricia Hearst in the 1988 movie, Patty Hearst.

Natasha Richardson is a member of one of the most deeply woven British acting dynasties. She was the elder daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson. Her maternal grandparents were the actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. She was also the niece of actress Lynn Redgrave and actor Corin Redgrave, and the cousin of Jemma Redgrave. Her sister Joely Richardson is an actress too, best known for starring in the television series "Nip/Tuck."

Richardson was married to the actor Liam Neeson; they have two sons. My sympathy to her family.

On March 16, 2009, Richardson was injured in a skiing accident while near the foot of Mont-Tremblant, Québec, Canada. Neeson left the movie Chloe he was filming in Toronto (he was set to be Abraham Lincoln in his next job), to be at her side. Richardson was flown by private jet to Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and visited by her sons and mother. Entertainment media rumors have prematurely discussed Richardson's death, but the latest is she is in critical condition.

The mountain called Mont Tremblant means "trembling mountain" in French.

Mont-Tremblant has its own senior amateur football team, the Mystral, ("a cold, dry, Northerly wind"). It also has a midget hockey team, Les Diables, ("the Devils").

Sadly, it has been learned that Natasha Richardson was taken off life support, according to NYC legendary columnist, Liz Smith, as of 1:30 PM ET, March 18, 2009.

Update:

The Daily Mail sensationalistic article about the "Curse of the Redgraves" seems to be more about a couple fathers who are bisexual and family members that are radicals or Marxist. Not too much of a curse in those traits, among some actors, if you want to be realistic.

Further update:
The actor Natasha Richardson has died following a skiing accident in Canada, her husband Liam Neeson's publicist said on Wednesday night, March 18.

A statement released on behalf of the family said: "Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

Members of her family including her husband and her mother Vanessa Redgrave had gathered at her hospital bedside since her accident.


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:-) Thank You.