Net Worth Ranker
What Is Natasha Richardson’s Net Worth?
At the time of her untimely passing in March 2009, English actress and producer Natasha Richardson had a net worth estimated at $15 million. This figure represents the culmination of a career spanning stage and screen, marked by both critical acclaim and commercial success. While the precise breakdown of her assets isn’t publicly available, it’s understood that Richardson’s net worth comprised earnings from her acting roles, production credits, and potentially, investments and real estate holdings.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on May 11, 1963, in Marylebone, London, Natasha Jane Richardson was deeply embedded in the world of performing arts from a young age. Her mother, Vanessa Redgrave, is a highly decorated actress with an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Tony Award to her name. Her father, Tony Richardson, who passed away in 1991, was a renowned director and producer. This familial connection provided Natasha with early exposure to the industry. Her sister, Joely Richardson, also became an actress. Additionally, she had two half-siblings: Carlo Gabriel Nero, a director and screenwriter, and Katharine Grimond Hess.
Natasha’s formal education included attendance at the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle and St. Paul’s Girls’ School, both independent schools in London. She later honed her craft at the Central School of Speech and Drama, preparing her for a multifaceted career in acting. Though appearing uncredited in her father’s 1968 film, “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, her formal training provided the foundation for her future success in film, television, and theatre. Early stage work at West Yorkshire Playhouse productions, “On the Razzle,” “Top Girls,” and “Charley’s Aunt” in Leeds, gave her valuable experience.
Broadway Success and Film Roles
Richardson’s career was highlighted by both stage and screen successes. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Bowles in the 1998 Broadway production of “Cabaret”. This achievement was a significant milestone, cementing her reputation as a versatile and talented performer. She also earned a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role in the 1993 production of “Anna Christie,” in which she starred opposite her future husband, Liam Neeson. These accolades underscore her impact on the theatrical world.
Beyond Broadway, Richardson’s filmography included over 30 acting credits. In 1998, she starred in “The Parent Trap,” which grossed $92.1 million against a $15 million budget. She appeared in films such as “Gothic” (1986), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (1990), “Nell” (1994), “Widows’ Peak” (1994), and “Maid in Manhattan” (2002), the latter of which grossed $154.9 million at the box office. In television, she appeared in “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” (1985) and “Tales from the Crypt” (1996), as well as the TV movie “Zelda” (1993), where she portrayed Zelda Fitzgerald. In 2005, she starred in and executive produced the film “Asylum,” further demonstrating her commitment to the industry both in front of and behind the camera.
Real Estate and Personal Life
In 1994, Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson purchased an apartment on Central Park West for $1.4 million. This property was later sold by Neeson in 2010 for $1.352 million. At the time of her death, the couple primarily resided on a 37-acre estate outside of Millbrook, New York. This property was acquired by Neeson shortly before their wedding, indicating a significant investment in their shared future.
Natasha Richardson married filmmaker Robert Fox on December 16, 1990, and they divorced in 1992. She then married Liam Neeson on July 3, 1994, at their home in Millbrook, New York. They had two sons, Micheál (born in 1995) and Daniel (born in 1996). Her marriage to Liam Neeson lasted until her death in 2009.
Richardson was a naturalized American citizen and actively supported several AIDS charities, including Mothers’ Voices, Bailey House, and AIDS Crisis Trust. She served as an ambassador for the National AIDS Trust and sat on the board of AmfAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research). She received AmfAR’s Award of Courage in 2009, inspired by her father’s death from complications from AIDS in 1991.
Awards and Recognition
Richardson’s talent was acknowledged through various awards and nominations. In 2001, she received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for “The Complete Shakespeare Sonnets”. She won Evening Standard British Film Awards for Best Actress for “The Comfort of Strangers” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” in 1991 and “Asylum” in 2006. In 1994, she was named Best Actress for “Widows’ Peak” at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In 1995, she received a CableACE Award nomination for Actress in a Movie or Miniseries for “Zelda”. In 2005, she earned a British Independent Film Award nomination for Best Actress for “Asylum.” For her stage work, Richardson won a Theatre World Award for “Anna Christie” and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for “Cabaret.” She also received three Outer Critics Circle Awards: Outstanding Debut Performance for “Anna Christie,” Outstanding Actress in a Musical for “Cabaret,” and a Special Award for “Closer.” These accolades highlight her significant contributions to both film and theater. While these awards didn’t directly impact her net worth, they contributed to her reputation and ability to command higher fees for her work.
The Circumstances of Her Death
On March 16, 2009, Natasha Richardson suffered a fall at the Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec while taking a beginner ski lesson. Initially, she declined medical assistance, but a few hours later, she began experiencing a severe headache. She was subsequently flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Two days later, on March 18, 2009, she passed away at the age of 45 due to an epidural hematoma. Following her death, her family released a statement expressing their shock and devastation. On March 19th, the lights of Broadway and London’s West End were dimmed in her memory. A private funeral was held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Millbrook on March 22nd, where she was laid to rest near her grandmother.
