Joely Richardson Honors Late Sister on Birthday

Joely Richardson has shared a heartfelt tribute to her late sister Natasha as she marked what would have been her 62nd birthday on Instagram on Monday. 

British actress Natasha  on March 18, 2009, two days after she sustained a head injury during a skiing accident. She was 45. 

Her husband , now 73, was left to raise their two young sons Micheál, 30, and Daniel, 28 - who were aged just 13 and 12 when their mother died. 

Now, Sandman actress Joely, 61, shared pictures of Natasha and Liam after they tied the knot in 1994, and reflected that it was her late sister's 'happiest days of her life'. 

Joely also shared two more photos of the Wild Child actress and the Taken star as they walked hand-in-hand through an airport and lovingly gazed into each other's eyes in another snap. 

She wrote: '11th of May is forever my sister’s birthday, even though she left this earthly plane 17 years ago. She and I loved how rousing this piece of music is- it would make her smile that I've picked it. 

'All these pictures are in public domain (screenshot), and with the recent 90s revival they kept popping up on my phone. 

'The day Tasha married Liam Neeson was one of the happiest of her life (the tenderness of her upward gaze)- she couldn’t believe it, and we danced til’dawn. 

'Oh the glamour of this couple, their warmth and humour. I love the last photo as it’s full of mischief, and utterly her. Seize the day, she did'.   

Last year Liam reflected on his family 'pulling together' after the tragic death of his wife Natasha.

The Taken star told People of the accident: 'It was a horrible thing to happen.'

Praising Natasha's sister  and mother Vanessa Redgrave - who are also both acclaimed actresses - he said: 'Everybody just pulled together. 

'Vanessa and Joely were extraordinary. We were fortunate in lots of ways.'

Micheál changed his surname to Richardson in 2018 to honour his late mother and acted alongside his father in 2020 comedy-drama Made In Italy.

Speaking of his eldest son following in his parents' acting footsteps, Liam said: 'I think Natasha would be proud. I hope so.'

Daniel was at home in New York at the time of his mother's accident, but his brother was by her side when the Tony Award winner fell and hit her head while skiing on the slopes in 2009. 

Liam was in Toronto filming.

Natasha, who had appeared in Hollywood films such as Wild Child, The Parent Trap and Maid In Manhattan, was taking a beginner's skiing lesson when the accident happened.

She wasn't wearing a helmet and had initially said she felt fine before her condition deteriorated back at her hotel an hour later.

Liam rushed to her side, and she was then flown under intensive care to New York where she died two days later in hospital with her family, including her mother Vanessa and sister Joely, at her bedside.

A post mortem revealed that Richardson died from bleeding in her skull caused by the fall on a ski slope in Mont Tremblant.

Liam and Natasha married in 1994 after meeting the year prior when they were cast in the Broadway play Anna Christie.