Natasha Richardson

[sardonictart]

Just watched her tribute on Charlie Rose. I guess it can't be said enough: what a lovely woman. There was a part of one of the interviews where she spoke about Liam's terrible accident, and her voice broke (even though he was fine by this point in their life together.) They so clearly loved each other. Bless her family and friends.

[Mutagen]

Mar 23, 2009 10:20:35 GMT -4 margojata said:

Liam was one of the pallbearers... good Lord.

I know... I cannot even begin to imagine. One day everything is fine, and a week later you're carrying your wife's casket. What the hell, universe.

[Atreides]

I heard on the news that the church for her funeral was the same church she and Liam got married in. So sad.

[normadesmond]

Here's a wonderful analysis (including two clips) of her Cabaret performance. It really clarifies why she won the Tony for this, and how she was able to step out of the long shadow Liza Minelli had cast over the part.

(Minelli had pretty much owned the role of Sally Bowles much the way Marlon Brando has "owned" the part of Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcare Named Desire - putting their stamp on it so forcefully it'd been incredibly difficult for other actors to do anything with the role other than channel/imitate Liza or Marlon.)

[bklynred]

Thanks Norma Desmond. You're right, that was a great piece.

[Ella]

That article was beautiful. The label maker story was so sweet and so normal. Whoever were her friends were very lucky. I bet they had great times. she sounded like my kind of friend.
Liam being a pallbearer was fitting. He was taking care of her til the end. At the head of her casket. And how wonderful were her family to stop and let the press take their pictures?? What class. Also classy were the press and photogs at the funeral, when they shouted out condolences to the family.
Class. A fitting word for Natasha Richardson.

[hal9000]

Timothy Dalton was there, as he was with Vanessa from 1980-1994, so he would have known Natasha since she was at least 16.

[tamaradixon]

Mar 23, 2009 20:22:50 GMT -4 Mutagen said:

Mar 23, 2009 10:20:35 GMT -4 margojata said:

Liam was one of the pallbearers... good Lord.

I know... I cannot even begin to imagine. One day everything is fine, and a week later you're carrying your wife's casket. What the hell, universe.

I noticed Ciaran Hinds as the pallbearer to Liam's right. He must have left London where he's in a play right now, to be by his side. I think they've been friends forever and he appeared with Natasha on Broadway in "Closer".

[angelaudie]

Thanks for that piece. I know it's blasphemous to say this but I think Natasha's versions of "Maybe This Time" and "Cabaret" are better than Liza's. The writer is dead on. Liza is technically the stronger singer but Natasha put so much raw energy and emotion into her versions. Those clips really make me wish I had seen her on stage.

[Deleted]

Having read a couple of the Berlin Stories that Cabaret is based on, I have to say that Natasha's Sally Bowles seems to have been much much closer to the source material than Liza's. Based on that I agree that Natasha's versions of those songs were indeed better than Liza's.