Amid Reports He’s Now Dating Pamela Anderson, People Are Reflecting On The Tragic Death Of Liam Neeson’s Wife, Natasha Richardson — So Here’s All The Context
“Grief’s like— it hits you. It’s like a wave... And then it passes and becomes more infrequent, but I still get it sometimes.”
The news comes after tons of speculation about Pamela and Liam’s off-screen chemistry on their global promo tour for The Naked Gun, which hits theaters on Aug. 1. Neither of them has explicitly confirmed the romance; however, they’ve certainly made no secret of their affection for one another during interviews and on red carpets.
It’s certainly safe to say that the majority of fans are very happy about this possible Hollywood union — not only because they make an adorable pair, but because both Pamela and Liam have endured a lot in the public eye.
As you’ll probably know, Pamela has experienced sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment, both as a child and in adulthood. Most famously, she was violated on a global scale after the non-consensual distribution of her stolen sex tape in the 1990s.
Meanwhile, Liam experienced deep trauma in a different way following the death of his wife of 14 years, Natasha Richardson, in 2009.
With all this in mind, Pamela and Liam’s respective histories have been a major talking point among fans amid the news of their reported romance.
While Pamela’s past romantic relationships have played out quite publicly, Liam has maintained a lot of privacy surrounding his personal life. So, for those who may need it, here’s a bit of context on his marriage to Natasha, and what he’s said about life and relationships since her death.
Liam and Natasha — the Tony Award-winning actor you’ll probably know best from movies like The Parent Trap, Maid in Manhattan, and Wild Child — met in 1993 while starring opposite one another on Broadway. The pair married the following year and went on to welcome two sons, Micheál and Daniel, in 1995 and 1996.
Liam and Natasha were happily married throughout the 2000s, until tragedy struck in March 2009. While skiing on a beginner’s slope with an instructor in Quebec, Natasha slipped and fell. At first, the injury seemed minor, and she reportedly brushed off the idea of being taken to the hospital. However, it soon became clear that she was very unwell, and she was evacuated to a hospital in Montreal, where her husband flew in from a movie set in Toronto to be by her side.
According to the Taken star, he and Natasha “made a pact” that if either of them ever “got into a vegetative state that [they’d] pull the plug.” In that same interview, Liam remembered being with her in the hospital: “She was on life support… and [I] told her I loved her. Said, 'Sweetie, you're not coming back from this. You've banged your head. ... And we're bringing you back to New York. All your family and friends will come.’”
Liam suddenly became a single parent to two sons and threw himself into work to help with the grief, making 20 movies in the five years after Natasha died. “I'm not good without work. I just don't— I wallow too much. You know? And I just didn't want to— especially for my boys, to be— seem to be wallowing in sadness or depression,” he said in that same 2014 interview, adding that having a schedule helps “a great deal.”
When asked about single-parenthood, Liam detailed a pivotal moment between Bono and his older son, Micheál, when the U2 frontman was visiting their home after Natasha’s death. “I remember he was sitting beside Micheál and, just out of the blue, he said, ‘What age are you, Micheál?’ Micheál said, ‘13.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, that’s the age I was when I lost my mum,’” he remembered. “That was it. And I could’ve kissed him for it. He was, like, saying, ‘You know, I lost my mom at this age and I’m doing OK. And you will do OK too.’”
In terms of dating, Liam has only been in one public relationship since Natasha died. He dated a UK-based public relations executive called Freya St. Johnston for two years before they split in 2012. Notably, in 2024, Liam said he was done with dating, telling People: “I’m past all that.”
And here we are. I don’t know about you, but — if the dating reports are true — I’m so pleased for Liam and Pamela. They’ve both been through so much and deserve all the happiness!
