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Richardson a Superb Artist of Own Making

Late actress commanded a presence that went far beyond mere inheritance

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 19, 2009 7:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Natasha Richardson had the finest theater pedigree possible, but her stage presence owed itself to far more than her acting genes, Lisa Schwarzbaum writes in Entertainment Weekly. Her upbringing in the theater—and those famous Redgrave cheekbones—were plainly visible, but the late actress had an aura of competence and sexual elegance that was all her own, Schwarzbaum notes.

Richardson's presence was more visible on stage than on screen, and she bowled over audiences in productions like Anna Christie, where “sexual electricity crackled” between the actress and her future husband, Liam Neeson, writes Schwarzbaum. Richardson could sometimes look exactly like her aristocratic mom, Vanessa Redgrave. “But look again, and you'd see a woman with her own striking style—and an artist of her own, hard-won making."

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[Videos (2)]

Actress Natasha Richardson arrives for the amfAR Annual New York Gala Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Actress Natasha Richardson smiles at her opening night performance in 2005 in the Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg, File)

In this Dec. 4, 2007 file photo, Natasha Richardson attends a private dinner to celebrate the opening of the Dolce & Gabbana Madison Avenue flagship boutique in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

John C. Reilly and Natasha Richardson revel in applause duringa curtain call at the opening of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' at Studio 54 in Manhattan in 2005. (Getty Images)

Vanessa Redgrave, center, poses with her daughters Natasha Richardson, left, and Joely Richardson as they arrive at the "Typically British" exhibition Paris in 2000. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, file)

Natasha Richardson holds her 1998 Tony award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her part in the Broadway revival of 'Cabaret.' (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

British actress Vanessa Redgrave and her husband, director Tony Richardson (1928 - 1991), with their week-old daughter Natasha Jane in London, 20th May 1963. (Getty Images)

Vanessa Redgrave the English actress with her two daughters, 20-month old Natasha Jane and new-born Joely Kim Richardson. She is married to film director, Tony Richardson. (Getty Images)

1st October 1969: Film actress Vanessa Redgrave at her Chiswick home, with her two daughters Natasha and Joely Kim, and her newborn son Carlo Gabriel. (Getty Images)

10/08/96 Los Angeles, Ca. Liam Neeson and wife Natasha Richardson at the premier of his latest film, Michael Collins. (Getty Images)

Natasha Richardson at the premiere of Disney's 'The Parent Trap' in July 1998. (Getty Images)

Natasha Richardson arrives at the premeire of 'The Phantom Menace' at the Lowe's Astor Plaza in New York City May 16, 1999. (Getty Images)

Liam Neeson & Natasha Richardson, with her sister, Joely Richardson & their Mother, Vanessa Redgrave at the 10th Anniversary benefit for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Association. (Getty Images)

Natasha Richardson, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman at a photo call for the film 'Chelsea Walls' at the 54th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. (Getty Images)

Natasha Richardson and Robert Sean Leonard at the after party for the American Theatre Wing's 55th Annual Antoinette Perry Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall, Sunday June 3rd, 2001. (Getty Images)

Actresses Natasha Richardson and Liza Minnelli arrive for the premiere of 'The Anniversary Party' June 4, 2001 at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York City. (Getty Images)

Liam Neeson and wife Natasha Richardson at the premiere of the Dreamworks SKG film 'Road to Perdition' at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, July 9, 2002. (Getty Images)

Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson arrive for the 56th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall, New York City. June 2, 2002. Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect (Getty Images)

American actress Jennifer Lopez and British actress Natasha Richardson arrive for the ''Maid in Manhattan'' film premiere party at the Metzo resturant in Soho on February 26, 2003 in London. (Getty Images)

Actors Liam Neeson and wife Natasha Richardson arrive to the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel January 16, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. (Getty Images)

Actress Natasha Richardson and actor Liam Neeson leave Studio 54 after the opening of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' on April 26, 2005 in New York. (Getty Images)

Actresses Julianna Margulies, Kristen Johnston and Natasha Richardson attend the 'Pride & Prejudice' premiere after party at the Loeb Boathouse November 10, 2005 in New York City. (Getty Images)

Actress Joely Richardson arrives at Lenox Hill Hospital where her sister actress Natasha Richardson is being treated on March 18, 2009 in New York City. (Getty Images)

Actress Lauren Bacall (R) arrives outside of Lenox Hill Hospital where Natasha Richardson is being treated on March 18, 2009 in New York City. (Getty Images)

Michael Richard Antonio Neeson, second from right and his brother Daniel Jack Neeson, left, sons of actress Natasha Richardson leave Lenox Hill Hospital in New York early Wed. morning, March 18. (AP Photo/David Karp)

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Natasha Richardson discusses working alongside her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, in this 2007 interview. (CNN Video)

Natasha Richardson performs "Maybe This Time" during the 1998 Broadway revival of "Cabaret." (edieisstaunch)

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Richardson a Superb Artist of Own Making