Celebrity News

Tearful tribute for Natasha Richardson at amFAR gala

Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson, the mother and sister of the late Natasha Richardson, paid an emotional tribute to the work of amfAR, the foundation for AIDS Research, which Natasha supported throughout her life.

After a film that included footage of Natasha was shown at Wednesday’s amfAR gala, Vanessa said onstage, “Hearing her voice here tonight, that was wonderful.”

Vanessa and Joely received the Award of Courage and were introduced by Natasha’s husband Liam Neeson. A tearful Joely told the audience, “You played that video, which we didn’t know about, and it absolutely floored me.”

Natasha died in 2009 after hitting her head during a skiing accident in Canada. After losing her father Tony Richardson to AIDS in 1992, she joined the amfAR board in 2006.

Joely continued, “So amazing to see my sister’s face again, supporting amfAR . . . this is an extraordinary thing, and because Liam and Natasha’s boys, Michael and Danny, are here with us.” She earlier said on the red carpet, “Because of Natasha but also because my father died of AIDS, I have been attending amfAR events or giving money.”

Other guests at the glam event, hosted by amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole and seen as the kick-off to New York Fashion Week, included Chelsea Clinton, who arrived hand-in-hand with husband Marc Mezvinsky, and announced a $1 million donation by Aileen Getty, and a host of top models including Erin Heatherton, Chanel Iman, Karlie Kloss, Karolina Kurkova, Lily Aldridge and Selita Ebanks, Britain’s Princess Eugenie, Michelle Rodriguez, Ethan Hawke, Alan Cumming, plus performers Nile Rodgers and Grace Jones, who sang “Slave to the Rhythm” on a tabletop while whirling a glittering hula hoop.