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Liam Neeson'sson Micheál is opening up about the untimely deathof his mother Natasha Richardson in 2009, revealing his struggle to grieve. The19-year-old admits he had a "delayed reaction" and the devastating lossaffected his teenage years.
Micheál with his mom and brother in 2008 Photo: Getty Images
Micheálwas studying at a New England boarding school when Natasha died afterfalling during a skiing lesson in Canada six years ago. "Ofcourse, when it happened it was devastating," he told the Sunday Times Style magazine. "But in my mind, subconsciously, I either pushed itout or stored it deep inside. And so, within the next week I was like, 'OK,get on with my life'."
Liam waves from the funeral service of his wife Natasha Photo: Getty Images
Unfortunately,the teen admits he turned to partying in New York after school to look "forself-gratification" and cope with the emotional pain. "Everybodysaid, 'This kid has lost his mom, that's where the problem comes from,'"he told the magazine. "And I was, like, 'No, it isn't, I just like toparty.'"
Thepartying became too much and Micheál hit rock bottom and admitted he neededhelp. "Last spring, things just started going downhill," he said. "Thepeople I was with, we were partying a lot. I couldn't leave my house. I wasunmotivated, couldn't wake up in the morning. It was dark. I hit rock bottomand couldn't do anything."
Natasha was known for being a talented actress Photo: Getty Images
He soughthelp at a center in the desert of Utah where he slept in a tent as part oftreatment. "Not having the mother figure definitely set the balance of thefamily off," he admitted. "I am the eldest. When I was younger, Iwas more of a momma's boy, my brother was more of a dad's boy. So I tooksolace in my friends, just living with different families."
Micheál posed with family members on a recent red carpet Photo: Getty Images
Nowworking as a fashion gallery curator in London, Micheál credits his fatherLiam to helping turn his life around. "He came from a small town,Ballymena." said Micheál. "His mum was a dinner lady at the school,his family ran a pub. It took him years to make it. He's an inspiration.He's a hard-working man, his mindset is still like his parents. I respectthat."
Liam and Natasha were openly affectionate on the red carpet Photo: Getty Images
Liam opened up last year about his own struggle over his wife's death. "[Her death] was never real. It still kind of isn't," the Taken star told Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes in 2014. "There's periods now in our New York residence when I hear the door opening, especially the first couple of years ... anytime I hear that door opening, I still think I'm going to hear her."