Natasha Richardson was simply a treasure. Gone far too soon, she died in a tragic skiing accident in 2009. On what would have been her 62nd birthday on May 11, her family shared some heartfelt memories. Natasha’s sister, Joely Richardson, posted some old photos on Instagram and included a message from their mom, Vanessa Redgrave, in the caption, calling her a person who was “ready for anything.”
With that bittersweet tribute, I remembered all of Natasha’s acting roles, like her Tony-award-winning performance in Cabaret or her villain turn in Maid in Manhattan (arguably the best part of that movie?). But IMO, there is no Natasha Richardson role more iconic than the one, the only, Elizabeth James from The Parent Trap.
Now, of course, I love the twins, Hallie and Annie, and I fully believe Lindsay Lohan should have won awards for her performance as the two of them. There’s also a time and a place to channel your inner Meredith Blake. And, if I’m being really honest, most of my style is probably inspired by Chessy. But no one was doing it like Elizabeth James. Not only is she the best mom, but she just might be the best character in The Parent Trap. Please join me in this ode to Natasha Richardson’s character from The Parent Trap.
Now, let’s suspend our disbelief for a moment and put aside the fact that Elizabeth and Nick Parker (played by Dennis Quaid at his DILF-iest) made the sociopathic decision to separate their twin babies. If you just excuse that as some movie plot nonsense, then we can focus on the fact that Elizabeth is the ideal mom. She decorates the house in gorgeous homemade banners to welcome Annie home from camp and takes Annie (secretly Hallie) out on the dreamiest mother-daughter dates. And she does it all while being a super successful wedding dress designer. In that scene where Hallie watches Elizabeth working and whispers, “My mom is too cool,” I can’t help but nod my head along with her.
With all that working mom energy, you might think Elizabeth is simply the stereotype of a woman “having it all,” both motherhood and a career. But she’s more than that, and that’s where Natasha Richardson’s performance takes Elizabeth to the next level.
Elizabeth James is also a hot mess. When she finds out that she’s gonna have to see Nick again for the first time in over a decade, she goes straight into panic mode. “I’m not mature enough for this,” she says, with sunglasses on inside and a single curler in her hair. I always find myself nodding along to this moment, too. Because, yes, it’s cool to see a mom be poised and have it all together. But what’s even better, what makes her more real, what makes all the other stuff even more even more impressive, is getting to see that messy side, too.
I want to see a mom character who feels her feelings and maybe even has a few too many cocktails on the plane but then still manages to pull together a gorgeously chic 90s-era sheath dress. Elizabeth is vulnerable on her way to having it all, which makes her all the more lovable.
Natasha’s real-life son Michaél shared with People that his favorite of his mom’s movies to rewatch to remember her is The Parent Trap “because I just see her so much as that person.” Natasha brought her own warmth to her portrayal of Elizabeth, and it works to make her a truly iconic character.
