Losing the love of your life is one of the most difficult things a person can experience.
Going through the grieving process while raising children is even harder, and it’s certainly something that Liam Neeson knows all too well.
Liam, along with his two sons Micheál and Daniel, were forced to navigate a profound journey together following the loss of wife and mother Natasha Richardson in 2009.
The Love Actually actor has openly discussed the overwhelming sense of loss and confusion that has marked their lives in numerous interviews over the years.
Reflecting on Natasha’s tragic death, Liam told Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes that the surreal nature of the experience, saying: “[Her death] was never real. It still kind of isn’t. I was told she was brain dead. I’m seeing this X-ray, it was like, ‘Wow.’ I just told her I loved her and said, ‘Sweetie, you’re not coming back from this.’”
Natasha passed away on March 18, 2009, two days after a skiing accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury.
Micheál, who was only 13 at the time of Natasha’s death, has also recently begun to open up about the profound impact of losing his mother. In fact, in 2018, he decided to change his last name to Richardson as a tribute to his moth, a decision Liam supported.
Speaking about Micheál’s choice, Liam told Andy Cohen: “I think he did the right thing. I think it was a lovely homage, a nice gesture, and he’s, you know, not saddled with my last name, which, I have a certain celebrity status, I guess.”
Liam spoke about the significance of the name change, saying that Natasha’s family (particularly her sisters) welcomed it. “I’d hate for him to be constantly asked, ‘Oh, are you Liam Neeson’s son?’ So, it was a lovely gesture. Natasha’s family, mother, and sisters were very touched by it, as indeed I was too,” the Taken actor said.
He added: “I think he did the right thing. I think it was a lovely homage, a nice gesture, and he’s, you know, not saddled with my last name which, I have a certain celebrity status I guess.”
The father and son also collaborated on the film Made in Italy, which tells the story of a father and son navigating loss and attempting to sell the estate left behind by their wife and mother. Liam praised Micheál’s acting skills, saying: “I’m not gonna blow smoke up him, up his anus around him, but he does have a presence. Micheál, he really does.”
Liam also said that the experience was quite “cathartic” for both of them, saying: “And the subject matter is very close to home. Losing my wife, Micheál losing his mother, that is part of the story of Made in Italy. It was quite cathartic in many ways for both of us.”
While discussing the film with Andy Cohen, Liam reflected on the emotional depth it required, stating: “It touches on very, very delicate stuff. Sometimes in art, you can explore stuff and it’s kind of safe, especially with a film. It was great. It was cathartic in lots of ways. It really was.”
In a touching moment, Liam revealed that when he first read the script, he felt a visceral reaction, like someone was grabbing his gut. It was then that he decided it would be an experience he could share with his son.
“It really made my gut turn because it was so, as you say, it touched on something Micheál and I have both gone through, still going through 11 years after Natasha has died. And I thought, gosh, this would be fantastic if I could do it with Micheál,” he admitted.
Despite the challenging subject matter, both Liam and Micheál embarked on the project together, providing a unique opportunity to process shared trauma in a safe and artistic space.
The experience of working on Made in Italy allowed Liam and Micheál to delve into delicate emotions and explore their grief, something that everyone will experience at some point in their lives.
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