Her husband, the actor Liam Neeson, and their two sons, aged 13 and  12, were at her bedside.
Aged 45, she was a member of the Redgrave acting dynasty. She  collapsed on Monday after falling during a beginner's lesson on a slope  in Quebec.
In a statement, the actress' publicist said: "Liam Neeson, his sons  and the entire family were shocked and devastated by the tragic death,  but were profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of  everyone."
Acclaimed for her performances on stage and screen, Natasha  Richardson won a Tony Award for her role as Sally Bowles in Sam Mendes'  production of 'Cabaret' on Broadway in 1998. 
Her other theatre credits included Eugene O'Neill's 'Anna Christie'  and Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
On the screen her credits included: 'Patty Hearst', 'The Handmaid's  Tale', 'The Comfort of Strangers', 'The Parent Trap', 'Maid in  Manhattan' and 'Asylum'.
Natasha Richardson was an activist in the fight against AIDS and was  on the board of the US-based charity amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS  Research.
Paying tribute, a spokesperson for the charity said: "Natasha  Richardson was a dedicated AIDS advocate and an eloquent spokesperson  for amfAR.
"She generously contributed her time and resources to amfAR for over  15 years.
"Natasha's passion for the cause and tireless efforts gave hope and  inspiration to the scientists and healthcare workers on the front lines  of this deadly epidemic, as well as to the millions of people living  with HIV/AIDS around the world."
this article from: http://www.rte.ie/ten/2009/0319/richardsonn.html
