Liam Neeson is one of Hollywood's biggest stars, but his most important role is that of doting dad to his two sons, actor Micheál and Daniel, with late wife Natasha Richardson.
Now he has revealed in a new interview that "making sure they were OK" was his main focus following their mother's tragic death following a 2009 skiiing accident.
In a new interview with People published overnight, he also paid tribute to Richardson's mother Vanessa Redgrave and sister Joely Richardson, who he said "pulled together" to help care for the boys so he could continue to work.
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Richardson was at Mont Tremblant ski resort in Canada with her sons, then aged 13 and 12, when she fell while skiing on a beginner slope on March 16, 2009, and hit her head.
She refused medical attention and went back to her room before her condition worsened and she was rushed to hospital.
She had suffered a traumatic brain injury and died two days later after she was flown to a New York hospital. She was 45.
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Neeson, now 72, spoke about Richardson's death and the aftermath in a new interview with People.
"It was a horrible thing to happen," Neeson said.
While he said his priority in the early days was ensuring his sons were okay, he was also compelled to work as a result of "that Irish working-class need to just take any job that was going."
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In order to make that happen, his wife's mother Vanessa Redgrave, and sister, Joely Richardson, stepped in to help care for the boys while he was away on location.
"Everybody just pulled together. Vanessa and Joely were extraordinary," he said.
"We were fortunate in lots of ways."
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Natasha Richardson with her mother Vanessa Redgrave and sister Joely Richardson. (Ron Galella Collection via Getty)Neeson has starred in more than 100 movies, many of them shot in the 15 years since his wife's death.
Micheál, now 29, is an actor who changed his last name from Neeson to Richardson professionally to honour his mother and her acting dynasty family.
He starred opposite his father in the 2020 comedy-drama Made in Italy, and Neeson thinks Natasha would be thrilled that she joined the family business.
"I think Natasha would be proud. I hope so," he said.
Meanwhile Daniel, now 27, is a businessman who started his own clothing line while still in college and now owns a tequila brand.
Earlier this year he took to Instagram to pay tribute to his mother on the 15th anniversary of her death.
Neeson told People the trio remain close and often catch up to watch a film or TV show together.
Neeson's new movie, Absolution, will be released next month. He plays an ageing gangster who attempts to reconnect to his children and rectify the mistakes in his past.
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