Why Liam Neeson, Known as “Ladies’ Man”, Chose to Remain Faithful to His Late Wife

Love always wins, even in the face of unexpected challenges. However, we cannot escape the destiny that someday, our true love can be taken from us. Liam Neeson, the renowned Hollywood actor, shares a personal story of heartbreak as he tragically lost his beloved wife following a deeply committed 15-year marriage.

She was married, he was the ladies’ man

Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson’s initial encounter occurred during the casting of Anna Christie in 1993. Liam, an exceptionally charming and handsome man, had a reputation for appealing to numerous women, whereas Richardson was still married to producer Robert Fox.

They had great chemistry both on and off the set, according to Liam, who said at the time, “I’d never had that kind of explosive chemistry situation with an actress.” Eventually, Natasha returned to Liam Neeson’s long and patient court after her divorce, unconcerned with the actor’s reputation as a ladies’ man. “I’m pleased that women fall in love with him because I know why,” Richardson remarked.

Undeniable chemistry and it all started to feel right

In the early days of their relationship, Neeson, despite their passionate courtship, was not openly affectionate towards Richardson, choosing to keep his emotions private. On her 30th birthday, he sent her a message, “You’re catching up with me. Lots of love, Oskar.”

Natasha was upset by the note’s lack of passion. Therefore, she decided to be upfront. “This is like a letter from a buddy. What is our relationship?” she replied to the message.

Her candor prompted Liam to be honest with himself about his feelings, and he recognized he had fallen in love with her right then and there. “She was a radiant beauty,” Neeson said. “Yeah, cascading hair. I remember. There was — that was very, very attractive.”

After they both recognized their sentiments, they married in 1994 on a farm in New York to celebrate their love. They were so committed to one another that when Liam Neeson was cast in Nell, Natasha also made every attempt to get a part in the film. About a year later, they had their first child, Michael Richard Antonio Neeson. Natasha became pregnant again unexpectedly soon after giving birth, and the couple had Daniel Jack Neeson in 1996.

Then, an awful accident happened

Years later, tragedy struck, upsetting the peace of the entire family. Richardson had an accident that caused a brain injury while skiing in Quebec, Canada, in March 2009. When the awful incident happened, she wasn’t wearing a helmet, but at first, she seemed fine and declined medical attention. What she initially assumed to be a minor head injury was actually a deadly brain lesion.

Liam, who was working in Toronto at the time, rushed to his wife’s hospital bedside. Doctors told him she was brain-dead and nothing could be done to save her. “I went into her, and I told her I loved her. I said, ’Sweetie, you’re not coming back from this. You’ve banged your head.’”

Liam was compelled to make the worst decision of his life—one that would irreversibly change his course. He agreed to have his cherished wife taken off of life support. Natasha Richardson, 45, unfortunately, died 2 days after the incident.

The private grieving and why he doesn’t remarry

After Natasha passed away, Liam decided to keep his sorrow private and away from the media. Thus, he hasn’t spoken about the circumstances or made any remarks in the media in the years following the accident.

In 2011, the actor told Esquire, “That’s the weird thing about grief. You can’t prepare for it. You think you’re gonna cry and get it over with. You make those plans, but they never work.”

Even though life tore them apart, Liam memorializes his blissful marriage years with tremendous care and protection, grateful for their love for one another. “Those 16 years of being her husband taught me how to love unconditionally. We have to stop and be thankful for our spouses. Because, one day, when you look up from your phone, they won’t be there anymore.”

Liam is a private individual, but in 2010 he was reported to have a relationship with a publicist, Freya St Johnston, following his wife’s passing. The relationship would end two years later.

Liam doesn’t deny that he has made a couple of pals, but Natasha is still a big part of his life. “I speak to her every day at her grave, which is about a mile and a half down the road,” said the actor. “I go down there quite often, so I do speak to her as if she’s here. Not that she answers me.”

Grief affected Liam Neeson and their children, who were still 12 and 13 years old, when they lost a mom. Despite the immense heartbreak of losing his wife, Liam had to summon strength to support their children. During this delicate period, Liam’s mother-in-law played a crucial role, offering guidance in parenting and providing solace in times of sorrow.