Natasha Richardson's Death Explained Amid Liam Neeson And Pamela Anderson Dating

Buzz Feed

5 days ago

If the reports are to be believed, Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson are dating!
Yesterday, People published a story claiming that Pamela, 58, and Liam, 73, are enjoying a 'budding romance in the early stages.' 'It's sincere, and it's clear they're smitten with each other,' an inside source said, adding that they're loving each other's company.
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.
Notably, at the New York premiere for The Naked Gun on Monday, Pamela and Liam were joined by their respective sons, who are all aged between 27 and 30. The six of them posed for pictures like one big happy family, fueling a lot of interest in the potential romance.
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.
The ordeal tarnished her career for much of the 2000s and left her deeply traumatized, while her ex-husband, Tommy Lee, who also appeared in the stolen footage, was lauded as a sex symbol. 'You can't put a monetary number on the amount of pain and suffering it caused,' she said in her 2023 documentary. You can read more about Pamela's journey here.
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.
On X, one post with over 37,000 likes read: 'Liam Neeson dating again after Natasha's death in 2009? He's finally moving forward and finding that happiness in life and I love that for him. And Pamela being through as much as she has? Shoot, they found each other. Glad they're happy.'Another popular post said: 'Liam Neeson finding happiness with Pamela after how painful losing Natasha Richardson was and how long he went saying he couldn't see himself in a relationship again is so beautiful.'
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.
Speaking to Anderson Cooper in 2014, Liam recalled his final phone call with his wife before she was taken to the hospital: 'She said, 'Oh darling. I've taken a tumble in the snow.' That's how she described it.' When he arrived at the hospital, Liam was shown an X-ray of the injury and informed that Natasha was 'brain dead.' 'And you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to see what was happening,' he recalled.
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.''
At this point in the timeline, Natasha was reportedly transported back to New York, where she died surrounded by Liam and their family.
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.'
'Grief's like— it hits you. It's like a wave,' he added, admitting that Natasha's death sometimes doesn't feel real. 'You just get this profound feeling of instability. You feel like a three-legged table. Just suddenly you just— the Earth isn't stable anymore. And then it passes and becomes more infrequent, but I still get it sometimes.'
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.''
Since then, Liam has only spoken about Natasha's death on a few occasions. In 2020, he said he still speaks to his wife every day while visiting her grave near their home. 'I go down there quite often,' he told Inquirer.net. 'So I do speak to her as if she's here. Not that she answers me.'
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!