Remembering Natasha Richardson

There is a picture in my digital camera that was taken in 2005. For some sentimental reason, I have not deleted it. The photo is of Natasha Richardson and myself, taken at a dinner party hosted by China’s Cosmetic Queen and TV host, Yue Sai Kan, at her tastefully decorated apartment in Shanghai. While I have deleted countless other photos of myself with other celebrities (after importing them to my computer), even those with my favorite machos — Hugh Jackman, voted by People magazine as the sexiest man on this planet; Ralph Fiennes, he of the penetrating blue eyes; and the gentlemanly Liam Neeson — the one of Natasha is a mainstay in my digital.

The dinner where I met her in Shanghai was held in honor of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, Kan’s personal friends, who were the producers of the film The White Countess. Can you beat my luck — I was seated between the two leading stars of the film, Richardson and Fiennes during the two-hour Chinese lauriat dinner! My mind was swimming — what do I talk about with stars of their caliber during an entire dinner? It turned out that I had nothing to worry about because they were so cool and friendly. For starters, hostess Yue Sai Kan told them to ask me if they had any questions about the dishes that were unfamiliar, like abalone and shark’s fin soup, while I asked them what the film was all about and they took turns in telling me the story.

If memory serves me well, The White Countess is a poignant story of a young refugee, a white Russian countess played by Natasha, who was reduced to a sordid life in the city’s bars, doing odd jobs, and occasionally going with men for money to support members of her late husband’s aristocratic family. She meets a former US diplomat, played by the irresistible Fiennes, who lost his eyesight, his wife and daughter, in a politically motivated bombing incident. The story revolves around the relationship that develops between the two.

I developed a kinship with Natasha during that dinner. She was so conversant, so humble, so devoid of airs. When I complimented her on her cheongsam, she told me she had it made at the fabric market. She also told me that she bought faux copies of Hermès bags and Cartier watches at the same market. She is a shopper after my own heart! We shared many tips about where to find great values and we giggled at our being shopaholics. I was truly amazed at her candor.

When I told her that I loved her Broadway performance as the lead in Cabaret (for which she won a Tony Award), she gave me a big hug! At the end of the evening, she invited me to visit the set of White Countess, which I did. During that trip to Shanghai, I saw her a couple more times, and during each encounter, I liked her more and more. 

The next year, in 2006, I was invited to attend the Shanghai Film Festival. At the first dinner party I was invited to, the first face I saw was Natasha Richardson with her husband, Liam Neeson. She recognized me, much to my surprise, and so as not to embarrass her (just in case she had forgotten my name), I introduced myself to Mr. Neeson. I don’t delude myself into thinking that these stars would remember me or my name just because we sat together for two hours at a dinner party. I was delighted when I heard her tell him that she met me the year before at a dinner party for the White Countess’s cast. 

The next day, I saw her again at the press conference for White Countess, which was the film that would kick off the festival. I found myself alone with Liam Neeson when I took a break and went to the coffee room to get my morning fix. He was so friendly and we chatted for a while, mostly about his wife and how proud he was of her. He struck me as a gentlemanly, devoted husband and they seemed like they had a very close relationship.

I saw them at most of the film festival events and they were always very friendly and warm towards me. They told me that they would like to visit the Philippines one day, and we agreed that I would bring them to our beautiful islands. We exchanged e-mail addresses so they could contact me when that day would come. 

That day will never come for Natasha. Her unexpected death is such a shock to everyone whose lives she touched. Sam Mendes, the producer of Cabaret on Broadway, was quoted as saying, “It defies belief that this gifted, brave, tenacious, wonderful woman is gone!” 

The marquee lights on Broadway, New York, and the West End in London were dimmed for a minute last Friday to pay tribute to this star, whose multi-dimensional talent will be missed by her many fans.

There are very few celebrities who touched me the way Natasha did. This lady’s drawing power was her warmth and sincerity. She made you feel that she was all there for you, even if she had just met you. Her luminous personality was as bright as her star status. Now that she is gone, I will always look up at the stars and see Natasha as the brightest one that shines in the night.