Statement on Richardson from Family Expected Wednesday

CBC News is updating that British actress Natasha Richardson left a Montreal hospital this morning after being injured in a skiing accident, but the condition of the Tony Award-winner could not be confirmed at press time.

A spokeswoman for Montreal's Sacré-Coeur hospital told CBC that the actress was "no longer in the country," but did not comment on where Richardson was transferred to, nor the true level of her injuries. The spokeswoman did say, however, that a family representative will release a statement Wednesday.

According to online reports, Richardson, 45, was transferred via private jet to New York, with her husband, actor Liam Neeson, by her side.

Earlier erroneous reports, including one on the Time Out New York website indicated that Ms. Richardson succumbed to her critical injuries and passed away.

Natasha Richardson was critically injured in a ski accident on Monday afternoon and was being treated in a Montreal hospital.

IrishCentral.com reported Richardson, who has appeared in more than 35 films including The Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan, was on a ski vacation and was hurt while skiing.

Richardson is the wife of Liam Neeson, and is the daughter of legendary actress Vanessa Redgrave.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reported in his 'On Broadway' column last month that the mother and daughter team of Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson had such a wonderful time performing in the Roundabout gala benefit reading of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" last month that they're up for a full-fledged revival on Broadway next year.

Richardson made her feature film debut as Mary Shelley in Ken Russell's "Gothic" (1986). Her performance caught the attention of director Paul Schrader, who cast her in the title role in "Patty Hearst" (1988), In 1995 she co-starred with Jodie Foster and Liam Neeson in "Nell" (1994) and, in 1998, in "The Parent Trap" (1998) with Dennis Quaid. Her recent films include "Blow Dry" (2001) released in 2001, and Ethan Hawke's "Chelsea Walls" (2001).

She and her family are in thoughts and prayers of BWW and the entire theatre community.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.