Joely Richardson speaks about her grief over sister Natasha

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Joely Richardson, the actress and sister of Natasha Richardson, spoke this week of her immense grief over the death of her sister during a Canadian skiing accident.

The 45 year-old star of 'Nip/Tuck' admitted she had to deal with 'violent' and 'terrifying' grief after her sister was killed in a skiing accident 14 months ago.

Her sister Natasha, who was married to Irish actor Liam Neeson, died after suffering a head injury during the skiing break in Canada.

Joely Richardson, who was at her sister's bedside when she died, said she still could not come to terms with using the word 'death.' She said that her grief had been a 'brutal' emotion.

“I felt my DNA had split. I felt as if someone had put a bomb inside me and exploded it," she said.

“This idea that grief is gentle - it's not like that, it's really violent. It's this brutal, aggressive, terrifying emotion – you're lucky if you can walk through it – it's like a dinosaur has got your head in its mouth, and is shaking your body, you're flailing around.”

Richardson admits she can't bring herself to use the word death in describing her sister:

“I don't know why, I can't say it. But I do understand it when people say 'passing,' because I suppose we are all just passing through life, there's no finality about it. Anyway, it makes me feel better.”
 

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