Joely Richardson feels "mighty thankful" to have enjoyed a final family holiday with her sister Natasha just weeks before her death in 2009.

Joely Richardson shared a picture from her final holiday with her sister Natasha and their mum Vanessa Redgrave

Joely Richardson shared a picture from her final holiday with her sister Natasha and their mum Vanessa Redgrave

The actress died in March 2009 after sustaining a head injury in a fall during a ski trip in Canada, and Joely has now revealed she headed off on a sunshine break with Natasha and their mother Vanessa Redgrave shortly before the accident and she is grateful to have been able to spend that time with her.

In a post on Instagram, Joely shared a picture from the trip and wrote: "I came across this yesterday and it made me smile. Mum, me and my sister Tasha.

"It was a completely impromptu few days away in a gloomy January.

"Mum and I found ourselves at Gatwick’s south terminal wondering what on earth we were doing - later mighty thankful. We almost never holidayed the 3 of us ( children /partners/ friends)- a rare treat."

Joely went on to reveal Natasha organised the getaway to celebrate her sister's birthday and it turned out to be their "last adventure together".

She added: "Tash organised everything in her unique way ( in other words brilliantly) and I sat back being the birthday girl.

"We took little boat trip to lunch on island. Special few days that turned out to be our last adventure together. Mighty thankful indeed. Seize the day."

Natasha's death devastated the family and left her two young sons without a mother. Her widower, Liam Neeson, was left to raise the boys as a single dad and he previously admitted he still speaks to his wife 15 years after her death.

In an interview with 2020 interview with Inquirer.net, Neeson, who lives in upstate New York, explained: "I speak to her every day at her grave which is about a mile and a half down the road.

"I go down there quite often, so I do speak to her as if she’s here. Not that she answers me."