ACTRESS Natasha Richardson has died, her husband Liam Neeson’s publicist said last night.

The 45-year-old star died at a hospital in New York after suffering a serious head injury in a fall at a Canadian ski resort.

Alan Nierob, Neeson’s publicist, said: “Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha.

“They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Neeson, 56, her mother, Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, 72, and two sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12, visited her after she was flown from Canada to Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York, on Tuesday.

The accident happened while the actress was taking a supervised skiing lesson on a beginners run at the luxury Mont Tremblant resort, in Quebec, on Monday.

She showed no visible sign of injury after the fall, but was brought to the bottom of the slope by a ski patrol and told she should see a doctor.

About an hour later she started feeling unwell and was taken to hospital.

Richardson was flown from Canada to New York, where she and her family live, for further treatment, but her death was announced shortly before midnight GMT.

Richardson was the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson.

She was also the granddaughter of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, the sister of actress Joely Richardson, and the niece of Lynn Redgrave.

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