Joely Richardson shares stunning image of late sister Natasha with widower Liam Neeson

His sister Natasha died at age 45 in New York on March 18, 2009, of an epidural hematoma after a skiing accident in Quebec, Canada.

And over the festive period, Joely Richardson, 57, shared a shocking image of her late sister with her widower Liam Neeson, 70, after her phone offered her up as a souvenir.

The Patriot actress took to Instagram where she posted the gorgeous black-and-white photo and revealed how it made her “give a big smile” when she chanced upon it three years ago.

Tash in all her glory! Over the festive period, Joely Richardson, 57, shared a stunning image of her late sister Natasha with widower Liam Neeson, 70, after her phone offered up the memory of her.

Joely wrote alongside the snap: “A few years ago I was in a hotel in Dublin and really missed my sister Natasha.

‘Walking through the lobby on a screen this image appeared as ‘previous guests’- I smiled widely. My phone was just sent to me as a souvenir. Tash in all his splendor.

Eight months after the shock of Natasha’s death, Joely told Tatler, “I hadn’t lived a day in my life without her.” You care about your children and your elders, but I never imagined something like this. Tash was a gift to me.

“Shock tears you apart on a cellular level, and it takes time for the pieces to come back together, albeit in a different formation.”

Reminiscing: The Patriot actress took to Instagram where she revealed how the photo had made her ‘grumble’ when she chanced upon it three years ago

Heartbroken: Eight months after the shock of Natasha’s death, Joely told Tatler: “I haven’t lived a day in my life without her… The shock tears you apart on a cellular level” (Pictured together in 1988)

Natasha died at the age of 45 of an epidural hematoma (bleeding around the brain) two days after hitting her head during a beginner’s ski lesson in Quebec, Canada, in 2009.

Speaking to CBS’s Anderson Cooper in 2014 about the loss of his wife, Liam Neeson recalled arriving at the hospital and being told by doctors that he was brain dead after his accident.

He said: ‘She was on life support… I went up to her and told her I loved her. I said, “Honey, you’re not coming back from this, you hit your head.”

“She and I had made a pact, if either of us went into a vegetative state, we would disconnect. That was my immediate thought, “Okay, these tubes have to go. She’s gone.”

Liam and Maid In Manhattan star Natasha married in 1994 and have two children, actor Micheál, 27, and fashion designer Daniel, 26.

Heartbroken: Neeson’s late wife, Natasha Richardson, died at age 45 after hitting her head during a beginner’s ski lesson in Quebec, Canada, in 2009 (pictured together in 2008)

Liam has rarely spoken about his love life since the loss of his wife, but ended a two-year relationship with British publicist Freya St Johnston in 2012.

A source told MailOnline at the time: “He told her that he wanted to spend more time in New York and he really wanted to spend more time with his children.”

‘Freya wants something more serious, but Liam feels it’s too soon. His wife died only three years ago, he wants to take things easy.

Former flame: Neeson has rarely spoken about his love life since the loss of his wife, but ended a two-year relationship with British publicist Freya St Johnston in 2012 (pictured in 2011)