Actress Natasha Richardson was injured in a skiing accident

[cassiesmom]

Actress Natasha Richardson was in critical condition Tuesday after suffering a traumatic head injury in a ski accident.

There were conflicting reports about how severe the injuries were to Richardson, the wife of actor Liam Neeson.

Friends told the New York Post that she she was "brain dead" -- and that plans were being made to take her off of life support.

But TMZ quoted a hospital official as saying Richardson was sedated and suffering from brain swelling -- but not brain dead.

She apparently showed no signs of physical trauma after she initially fell and tumbled down a beginners trail during a private ski lesson at Mont Tremblant, Usmagazine.com reported.

"She was laughing and joking" after the accident, a spokeswoman told People magazine.

The British-born actress, 45, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the fall but was "accompanied by an experienced ski instructor who immediately called ski patrol," a spokeswoman said.

Richardson "did not show any visible sign of injury" was brought to the bottom of the mountain by the ski patrol, which insisted she see a doctor, the spokeswoman said.

The ski instructor then took Richardson back to her hotel. She began to complain about headache an hour later and was taken to the hospital in an ambluance, Usmagazine.com reported.

Liam Neeson, who was on a movie set in Toronto, rushed to his wife's bedside upon hearing the news.

"We know that she has had an accident but we really do not know any more details," Kika Markham, who is married to Richardson's uncle, Corin Redgrave, told the AP. "We are very concerned."

Richardson, the daughter of celebrated actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late producer Tony Richardson, married Neeson in 1994 after they both appeared in the film "Nell" and they have two sons, Michael 13, and Daniel 12.

Richardson won a Tony award for best actress in a musical in 1998 for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in a 1998 production of "Cabaret." Her film credits include "The Parent Trap" and "The Handmaid's Tale."

In January, Richardson and her mother played the roles of mother and daughter in a one-night benefit concert version of "A Little Night Music," the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical, at the Nokia Theatre in New York City.

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this is so sad... why, why don't they require newbie skiers to put on a helmet? Even famous newbie skiers.

[lvpets2002]

Yes I have been reading about this as well.. That is so sad.. They are flying her into the states now.. I sure hope she recovers.. Lots of Prayers for the Her & the Family..

[happylabs]

She is a wonderful actress and I didn't realize she was married to Liam Neeson. I loved them in the movie Nell. I hope she recovers okay.

[RICHARD]

I like her. Too bad she was so dumb about safety.

Always wear your helmet, the papparazi may not recognize you, but you won't have to go to the hospital.

[ramanth]

Reports aren't sounding good. Prayers for her and the family.

[pomtzu]

It was reported on GMA this morning, that the family has been gathering at the hospital (to say their good-byes), and they are going to make a statement in a few hours. No - it doesn't sound good at all. There have been reports that she is brain dead and on life support. I pray that this isn't the case.