'Chloe' director hails "heroic" Neeson

Liam Neeson has been praised for returning to finish a film shortly after the death of his wife Natasha Richardson.

Director Atom Egoyan said that the actor was a "hero" for completing the project despite the family tragedy. Neeson, 56, had been working on the set of Chloe when Richardson was taken to hospital after a skiing accident on the slopes of Mont Tremblant in Canada.

The 45-year-old actress died two days later from a head injury sustained during the fall. Egoyan told ET Canada that Neeson is struggling to cope with his wife's death.

"He called me and said, 'You know, let's do it right away'. It was really emotional. I think the only way he could have come back was right after because his family was all there to support his boys," he said. "Liam is heroic. He came back and finished."

Neeson, who has sons Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12, made his first public appearance since Richardson's death earlier this week, during which he was supported by friend and colleague Ralph Fiennes.