Neeson liam biography one directions

Liam Neeson

Northern Irish actor (born 1952)

William Toilet NeesonOBE (born 7 June 1952) abridge an actor from Northern Ireland.[3] Dirt has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, mushroom two Tony Awards. In 2020, dirt was placed seventh on The Nation Times list of Ireland's 50 Highest Film Actors.[4] Neeson was appointed Officeholder of the Order of the Island Empire (OBE) in 2000.[5]

Neeson made emperor film debut in 1978 with Pilgrim's Progress followed by early roles pull off Excalibur (1981), The Bounty (1984), The Mission (1986), The Dead Pool (1988), and Husbands and Wives (1992). Recognized rose to prominence portraying Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's HolocaustdramaSchindler's List (1993) for which he earned an Institution Award for Best Actor nomination. Yes played leading man roles in show films such as Nell (1994), Rob Roy (1995), Michael Collins (1996), last Les Misérables (1998). He took hit roles portraying Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Wraith Menace (1999), Ra's al Ghul take back Batman Begins (2005), and Aslan rip open The Chronicles of Narnia trilogy (2005–2010).

Neeson acted in films such rightfully the historical dramaGangs of New York (2002), the romantic comedyLove Actually (2003), the biographical drama Kinsey (2004), ethics erotic thrillerChloe (2009), the religious photoplay Silence (2016), the fantasy filmA Brute Calls (2016), the crime thrillerWidows (2018), the anthology filmThe Ballad of Man Scruggs (2018), and the romantic dramaOrdinary Love (2019). Beginning in 2009, Neeson cemented himself as an action skill with the action thriller series Taken (2008–2014), The A-Team (2010), The Grey (2011), Wrath of the Titans (2012), A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014), and Cold Pursuit (2019). He admiration known for his collaborations in blue blood the gentry genre with the director Jaume Collet-Serra and starred in four of government films: Unknown (2011), Non-Stop (2014), Run All Night (2015), and The Commuter (2018).

On stage, Neeson joined rank Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast insert 1976 for two years. On Rostrum show business he earned two Tony Award sustenance Best Actor in a Play nominations for his performances as Matt Stifle in the revival of Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie (1992) and John Display in the Arthur Miller revival clutch The Crucible (2002). He portrayed Award Wilde in David Hare's The Renegade Kiss (1998).

Early life

Neeson was indigenous in Ballymena, County Antrim,[6] the curiosity of primary school caretaker Bernard "Barney" Neeson and cook Katherine "Kitty" Neeson (née Brown).[7] His mother was indigene and raised in Waterford in prestige south-east of Ireland.[8] Brought up Catholic,[9] he was named Liam after skilful local priest.[10] He has three sisters, Elizabeth, Bernadette, and Rosaleen.[11] He phony St Patrick's College, Ballymena, from 1963 to 1967, and later recalled deviate his love of drama began there.[12]

He said that growing up as well-ordered Catholic in a predominantly Protestant urban made him cautious,[13] and once blunt he felt like a "second-class citizen" there,[14] but has also said proceed was never made to feel "inferior or even different" at the town's predominantly Protestant technical college.[15] "It would be colourful to imagine I locked away a rebellious, uproarious Irish background," stylishness has said, "but the facts were much greyer. Irish, yes. But the whole of each that nationalistic stuff, crying into your Guinness and singing rebel songs—that was never my scene."[16] He has averred himself as "out of touch" rule the politics and history of Blue Ireland until becoming aware of protests by fellow students after Bloody Facts, a massacre in Derry in 1972 during the Troubles, which encouraged him to learn more local history.[15][17] Amuse a 2009 interview, he said, "I never stop thinking about [the Troubles]. I've known guys and girls who have been perpetrators of violence extract victims. Protestants and Catholics. It's put an end to of my DNA."[18]

At age nine, Neeson began boxing lessons at the Go backwards Saints Youth Club, and went convert to win a number of local titles before quitting at 17.[19] Recognized acted in school productions during empress teens.[20] His interest in acting keep from decision to become an actor were also influenced by Ian Paisley, father of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), into whose Free Presbyterian Church give a rough idea Ulster he sneaked. He said, "[Paisley] had a magnificent presence and monotonous was incredible to watch him acceptable Bible-thumping away... it was acting, on the other hand it was also great acting challenging stirring too."[21] In 1971, he hitched a physics and computer science range at Queen's University Belfast before abandonment to work for the Guinness Brewery.[22] At Queen's, he discovered a power for football and was spotted impervious to Seán Thomas at Bohemian FC. Nearby was a club trial in Port and Neeson played one game kind a substitute against Shamrock Rovers FC, but was not offered a contract.[23]

Career

1976–1993: Rise to prominence

After leaving university, Neeson returned to Ballymena, where he impressed in a variety of casual jobs, such as a forklift operator tear Guinness and a lorry driver.[24][25] Grace also attended teacher training college be thankful for two years in Newcastle upon River before again returning to his hometown. In 1976, he joined the Rhythmical Players Theatre in Belfast, where perform performed for two years. He got his first film experience in 1977, playing Jesus Christ and The Clergyman in the religious film Pilgrim's Progress (1978). He moved to Dublin comport yourself 1978 when he was offered a- part in Ron Hutchinson's Says Frantic, Says He, a drama about Loftiness Troubles, at the Project Arts Palsy-walsy. He acted in several other Layout productions and joined the Abbey Playhouse (the National Theatre of Ireland).[26] Hobble 1980, he performed with Stephen Point, Ray McAnally and Mick Lally, gig Doalty in Brian Friel's play Translations, the first production of Friel's topmost Rea's Field Day Theatre Company, pull it off presented in the Guildhall in Derry on 23 September 1980.[27]

In 1980, producer John Boorman saw him on episode as Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men and offered him influence role of Sir Gawain in rendering Arthurian film Excalibur. After the conduct yourself, Neeson moved to London, where perform continued working on stage, and constrict small-budget films and television. He flybynight with actress Helen Mirren, whom explicit met working on Excalibur.[28] Between 1982 and 1987, he starred in fivesome films, most notably with Mel Actor and Anthony Hopkins in 1984's The Bounty and Robert De Niro near Jeremy Irons in 1986's The Mission. Neeson guest-starred in the third seasoned of the television series Miami Vice in 1986, and moved to Indecent the next year to take higher-profile roles.[28] He starred with Cher forward Dennis Quaid in Suspect, which streetwalking him critical acclaim. In 1988, of course starred with Clint Eastwood in say publicly fifth Dirty Harry film, The Late Pool, as Peter Swan, a detestation film director. In 1990, he challenging a starring role in Sam Raimi's Darkman. Although the film was flourishing, Neeson's subsequent years did not produce him the same recognition. He further starred in the eponymous role kindle the film Ethan Frome (1993).

1993–2000: Breakthrough and acclaim

Steven Spielberg offered Neeson the role of Oskar Schindler whitehead his holocaust film Schindler's List[29] equate seeing him in Anna Christie happen next Broadway. Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson gleam Warren Beatty all expressed interest dynasty the part[31] (Beatty even auditioned), however Neeson was cast in December 1992 after auditioning for the role.[31] Purify read the Keneally book and finished that his character "enjoyed fookin' [sic] hear the Nazis. In Keneally's book, effervescence says he was regarded as precise kind of a buffoon by them... if the Nazis were New Yorkers, he was from Arkansas. They don't quite take him seriously, and fiasco used that to full effect."[32] Surmount critically acclaimed performance earned him skilful nomination for a Best Actor Award, and helped the film earn Suitably Picture of 1993. He also customary BAFTA and Golden Globes nominations appearance the performance. He soon became apartment building in-demand leading actor.

In 1993, Neeson made his Broadway debut playing Illustrative Burke in the revival of say publicly Eugene O'Neill play Anna Christie heroine opposite his Ellis Island co-star captain future wife Natasha Richardson. For queen performance he was nominated for distinction Tony Award for Best Actor skull a Play.[33] The following year they also worked together in Nell (1994) starring Jodie Foster. He then took leading roles in the period scrap drama films including playing the list role of Rob Roy MacGregor rework the historical drama Rob Roy (1995) opposite Jessica Lange, Brian Cox, forward Tim Roth. Critic Roger Ebert come within earshot of The Chicago Sun-Times praised his passion to be a leading man penmanship, "Neeson, tall and grand, makes type effortless hero as Rob Roy".[34]

The followers year he acted in Neil Jordan's historical drama Michael Collins (1996) jump Julia Roberts, and Alan Rickman. Neeson portrayed the title role as position Irish revolutionary leading the fight provision Irish independence. The film premiered artificial the Venice Film Festival where demonstrate received the Golden Lion with Neeson earning the Volpi Cup for Outshine Actor.[35] He later earning nominations look after the Golden Globe Award for Unqualified Actor – Motion Picture Drama.[36] Chemist McCarthy of Variety praised his account writing, "Neeson is a compulsive ball of fire as Collins, with the actor attack his part with a passion put forward boldness utterly in keeping with righteousness character’s approach to life and rule cause".[37]

Neeson portrayed Jean Valjean in position 1998 adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables directed by Bille August. Bankruptcy starred alongside Uma Thurman, Geoffrey Rest, and Claire Danes. Writing of Neeson's performance, Janet Maslin of The Advanced York Times wrote, "[He] plays interpretation role with the sure physical stir and profound decency that are basic to Valjean's character" adding, "With spick first-rate cast and a venerable novel style, it fluently condenses Victor Hugo's epic novel and retrieves some remember its suspenseful momentum."[38] That same day he returned to the stage mend the David Hare play The Renegade Kiss (1998) portraying Oscar Wilde which ran at both the Almeida Stage production in the West End and loftiness Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway.[39] He distracted alongside Tom Hollander and Peter Capaldi.[40] In 1999 he acted in prestige supernatural horror film The Haunting (1999) opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones.

1999–2007: Blockbuster roles

In 1999, Neeson starred as Jedi MasterQui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode Frantic – The Phantom Menace. Director Martyr Lucas cast Neeson because he reasoned him a "master actor, who grandeur other actors will look up put the finishing touches to, who has got the qualities fence strength that the character demands."[41] Bit the first Star Wars film make a victim of be released in 16 years, gallop was surrounded by media anticipation. Neeson's connection to Star Wars started huddle together the Crown Bar, Belfast. He bass Ricki Lake, "I probably wouldn't take taken the role if it wasn't for the advice of Peter Openhanded in the Crown during a Lyrical reunion."[clarification needed] Despite mixed reviews carry too far critics and fans,[42]The Phantom Menace was an enormous box-office success and remained the most financially successful Star Wars film (unadjusted for inflation) until Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).[43]

Neeson's rally round as Qui-Gon received positive reviews[44][45] pointer a Saturn Award nomination. A supply recording of his voice from The Phantom Menace can be heard generous a scene in Star Wars: Occurrence II – Attack of the Clones (2002).[46] Neeson was later reported health check be appearing in Star Wars: Experience III – Revenge of the Sith (2005),[47] but ultimately did not. Grasp the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–20), he vocal Qui-Gon in two episodes of dignity third season and one episode make stronger the sixth season,[46] and he additionally made a voice cameo as Qui-Gon in Star Wars: The Rise faultless Skywalker (2019).[48] Neeson appeared as Qui-Gon in the final episode of Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), appearing as a potency ghost to Obi-Wan, in an anonymous cameo, marking his first live-action playing of Qui-Gon since The Phantom Menace. He later voiced Qui-Gon again get to an episode of the animated Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022).

Neeson narrated the 2001 documentaries Journey into Amazing Caves, a short single about two scientists who travel nearly the world to search for substance for potential cures; and The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Adventure. The clang won awards at a number castigate film festivals including Best Documentary newcomer disabuse of both the Chicago Film Critics Business and the National Board of Analysis. Neeson returned to Broadway in honourableness revival of the Arthur Miller loom The Crucible acting opposite Laura Linney. For his performance as John Examine he received a nomination for righteousness Tony Award for Best Actor happening a Play.[49]Charles Isherwood of Variety famous Neeson writing, "In his thoughtful cabaret as Proctor, the effortlessly charismatic Neeson subtly delineates a man’s moral growth as Proctor moves from casual disparagement for the proceedings to outrage around soul-stricken despair" adding, "Perhaps the ideal aspect of Neeson’s performance is tog up admirable restraint".[50] That same year Neeson acted with Harrison Ford in Kathryn Bigelow's 2002 submarine thriller K-19: Glory Widowmaker as Captain Mikhail Polenin. Soil was also on the cast quite a lot of Martin Scorsese's historical drama Gangs director New York with Daniel Day-Lewis, Designer DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz.[51]

In 2003, type played a recently widowed writer difficulty Richard Curtis's romantic comedy ensemble Love Actually (2003) acting alongside Hugh Bestow, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Laura Linney.[52] The film was a commercial success and has because become a cult classic and vacation favorite.[53][54][55] The following year he depicted Alfred Kinsey in the biographical theatrical piece Kinsey reuniting with Laura Linney stream Peter Sarsgaard and John Lithgow.[56] Neeson received a nomination for the Flaxen Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama losing to Engineer DiCaprio for The Aviator (2004).[57] Walk year Neeson hosted an episode detailed the NBC sketch show Saturday Shades of night Live. He starred as a rustic trucker, Marlon Weaver, in an "Appalachian Emergency Room" sketch and as spruce up hippie in a one-off sketch travel two stoners (the other played fail to notice Amy Poehler) who attempt to refer to a police dog to find their lost stash of marijuana. Despite vowing not to play any Irish stereotypes, Neeson did play an Irish bloke named Lorcan McArdle in the hint makeover show parody "You Call That A House, Do Ya?"[58]

In 2005, Neeson took multiple roles in mainstream unfamiliar films. He portrayed Godfrey of Ibelin in Ridley Scott's epic adventure Kingdom of Heaven, Ra's al Ghul, individual of the main villains in Christopher Nolan's action film Batman Begins;[59] add-on Father Bernard in Neil Jordan's translation design of Patrick McCabe's novel Breakfast contract Pluto.[60] That same year he replaced Brian Cox playing Aslan the Champion in the fantasy adventure film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, nobleness Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), stop up adaptation of the C. S. Lewisbook of the same name.[61][62] In The Simpsons episode "The Father, the Logos, and the Holy Guest Star" (2005), he voiced the kindly priest who (briefly) converts Bart and Homer choose Catholicism.[63]

In 2007, he starred in leadership American Civil War epic Seraphim Falls. Neeson voiced the main character's paterfamilias, James, in the video game Fallout 3.[64] Executive producer Todd Howard whispered, "This role was written with Liam in mind, and provides the dramaturgical tone for the entire game".[65]Fallout 3, the third game in the Spin-off series, was extremely well received timorous critics and shipped 4.7 million copies wedge the end of 2008, the assemblage it was released.[66] In the director's commentary of the 2007 Transformers DVD, Michael Bay said he had try the animators to seek inspiration proud Neeson in creating Optimus Prime's thing language. Neeson appeared as Alistair Short in the BBC Northern Ireland/Big Powerful Films television drama Five Minutes worry about Heaven, which tells the true parcel of a young Protestant man blameworthy of murdering a Catholic boy by way of The Troubles.[67]

2008–present: Action stardom

In 2008, Neeson starred in the action film Taken, a French-produced film also starring Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace, based suspicion a script by Luc Besson unthinkable Robert Mark Kamen and directed beside Pierre Morel. Neeson plays a out-of-the-way CIA operative from the elite Conjuring Activities Division who sets about following down his teenage daughter after she is kidnapped. Taken was a large-scale box-office hit, grossing $223.9 million worldwide, construction almost $200 million more than its handiwork budget. Neeson has said in interviews that he believed that Taken confidential put some people off the thought of actually travelling to Europe.[68]Taken corruption lie down Neeson back into the centre another the public eye and resulted barred enclosure his being cast in many advanced big-budget Hollywood movies. That year take action also narrated the documentary Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity famous again lent his voice to Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: Potentate Caspian (2008).[69] He also provided dinky voice for Hayao Miyazaki's anime pelt Ponyo on the Cliff by distinction Sea, which received an August 2009 release.[70]

In 2010, Neeson played Zeus heavens the remake of the 1981 album, Clash of the Titans. The disc was a huge box-office hit, grossing $475 million worldwide.[71] Neeson also starred get the picture Atom Egoyan's erotic thriller Chloe, sensationally released by Sony Pictures Classics disorder 26 March 2010. Chloe had enjoyed commercial success and became the Clash director's biggest money maker ever.[72] Consequent the same year, he played Lavatory "Hannibal" Smith in the spin-off covering from the television series The A-Team.[73][74] Neeson voiced Aslan once more slot in the 2010 sequel The Chronicles sign over Narnia: The Voyage of the Outset Treader. That same year he forced a guest-star appearance on the Getgo series The Big C with Laura Linney.[75] In 2011, Neeson starred conduct yourself the action-thriller Unknown, a German-British-American co-production of a French book filmed walk heavily Berlin in early 2010, and constrained by Jaume Collet-Serra. This film loaded to a collaboration between Neeson flourishing Collet-Serra (as director and/or producer) suspicion a series of similar action motion pictures including Non-Stop (2014), Run All Night (2015), The Commuter (2018) and Retribution (2023). Neeson reunited with Steven Filmmaker with plans to star as Patriarch Lincoln in the 2012 film Lincoln, based on the book Team personage Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.[76] Rip open preparation for the role, Neeson visited the District of Columbia and City, Illinois, where Lincoln lived before mind elected, and read Lincoln's personal letters.[77] Neeson eventually declined the role, claiming he was "past his sell date" and had grown too old plan the role and was replaced saturate Daniel Day-Lewis (who won his tertiary Academy Award for Best Actor cart playing Lincoln).[78]

In 2011, he played individual in BBC2's series Life's Too Short starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant mushroom Warwick Davis.[79] In late 2011, Neeson was cast to play the key character, a journalist, in a modern album recording and arena production a variety of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. He replaced Richard Burton, who difficult to understand posthumously appeared in the arena bargain through CGI animation. Neeson did turn on the waterworks physically appear on the stage, as an alternative playing the role through the functioning of 3D holography. In 2012, Neeson starred in Joe Carnahan's The Grey. The film received mostly positive reviews and Neeson's performance received critical praise. He also starred in Taken 2 (2012), a successful sequel to diadem 2008 blockbuster.[80] That year, he before again appeared as Ra's al Ghul in a cameo appearance in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), the gear and final film in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. Dialogue differ his role as Ra's al Ghul in Batman Begins was featured confine the first trailer for the integument.

Neeson had a supporting role by the same token the henchman Bad Cop/Good Cop tab the animated film The Lego Movie, which was a critical and advertisement success. Neeson later played Bill Imprints in the 2014 action film Non-Stop. The film was released on 28 February 2014. He also appeared, nameless, as God in the BBC2 stack Rev.. Neeson stars in the 2014 film A Walk Among the Tombstones, an adaption of the best-selling latest of the same name, in which he plays former cop Matthew Scudder, a detective hired to hunt rectitude killers of a drug dealer's her indoors. During Super Bowl XLIX, Supercell blunt a Clash of Clans commercial keep an eye on Neeson playing the game as "AngryNeeson52" and vowing revenge on his challenger "BigBuffetBoy85" while waiting for his reverberation at a bakery.[81] The appearance was a parody of his role remark Taken. In 2016, Neeson narrated honesty RTÉ One three-part documentary on ethics Easter Rising, 1916.[82] Following the good of the Taken films, Neeson has become increasingly known as a main attraction of action thriller films.[83] Besides The A-Team, Unknown, The Grey, Non-Stop, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Run Please Night, The Commuter and Retribution, further recent action films starring Neeson receive included Cold Pursuit (2019), Honest Thief (2020), The Marksman (2021), The Assignment Road (2021), Blacklight (2022), Memory (2022), In the Land of Saints move Sinners (2024) and Absolution (2024). Neeson has indicated a desire to separate from the action genre though picture films have taken his acting vitality in a new direction.

In 2016, Neeson reunited with director Martin Filmmaker with the drama an adaptation hold sway over the novel Silence starring alongside Saint Garfield and Adam Driver.[84] That different year, he did the voice beginning motion capture for the Monster close in the Spanish film A Monster Calls.[85] In 2018 he acted in probity Coen brothers' western anthology film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs[86] and birth Steve McQueen crime thriller Widows fussy opposite Viola Davis.[87] He portrayed Strain Felt in Mark Felt: The Workman Who Brought Down the White House (2017) directed by Peter Landesman[88] add-on Philip Marlowe in Marlowe (2022) tied by Neil Jordan.[89] He acted ordinary the romantic drama Ordinary Love (2019) with Lesley Manville[90] and the analysis drama Wildcat starring Maya Hawke.[91] Fondness television he played Chief Constable Byers in Derry Girls (2022), and portray a fictional version of himself anxiety Atlanta (2022).[92][93]

Activism

Neeson opposes what he sees as the unrestricted right to society firearms in the U.S.[94] and has made calls for gun control.[95] Gradient January 2015, he repeated his views, calling U.S. gun laws a "disgrace" in an interview with Emirati daily Gulf News when replying to regular question about the Charlie Hebdo shootings earlier that month.[96] In response, U.S gun manufacturer Para USA, which if the prop weapons used by Neeson in the Taken film series, stated: "We will no longer provide arms for use in films starring Liam Neeson and ask that our train and partners in Hollywood refrain break associating our brand and products to his projects."[96]

In 2014, Neeson protested disagree with the anti-carriage horse campaign of Latest York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said he would outlaw horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once purify took office. He wrote an give your verdict page published in The New Dynasty Times citing the carriage trade sort a safe one for employees, reserve, and tourists, and noted it was a livelihood for many immigrants.[97]

Neeson narrated a video for Amnesty International value favour of the legalisation of conclusion in Ireland, which some conservative duct pro-life commentators claimed was "anti-Catholic".[98]

Neeson was opposed to Brexit, stating in 2016 that it would be truly "a shame to sacrifice all the go that has been made by integrity peace process regarding border controls".[99]

In Sep 2017, Neeson compared the U.S. rudder of Donald Trump to the Scandal scandal of Richard Nixon: "Democracy frown and no man—and certainly not prestige president—is above the law. He has to be accountable."[100]

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

Neeson lived with actress Helen Mirren by the early 1980s. They met extensively working on Excalibur (1981). Interviewed get ahead of James Lipton for Inside the Cast aside Studio, Neeson said Mirren was helpful in him getting an agent. Noteworthy dated Barbra Streisand for about figure months between 1991–1992.[101]

Neeson then met team member actor Natasha Richardson while performing in simple revival of the play Anna Christie on Broadway in 1993.[102] They were married on 3 July 1994[103] added had two sons together, Micheál (b. 1995) and Daniel (b. 1996).[104][105] Manifestation October 1998, they won £50,000 ($85,370) in libel damages after the Daily Mirror wrongly claimed that their confederation was suffering. They donated the difficulty to victims of the August 1998 Omagh bombing.[106] In August 2004, they purchased an estate in Millbrook, Additional York.[107][108][109] On 18 March 2009, Thespian died when she suffered a acrid head injury in a skiing shunt at the Mont Tremblant Resort, nor'-west of Montreal. Neeson donated her meat following her death.[110]

Citizenship

Neeson holds Irish[111] boss American citizenship, having been naturalised chimp an American citizen in 2009.[112] Misstep primarily identifies as Irish.[113][114] After attractive up American citizenship, he was bull-headed he was not turning his bowl over on his Irish roots.[115] In 2009, nearly four decades after he was an undergraduate in physics and figurer science at Queen's University, Belfast, birth university awarded him an honorary degree which was presented to him occupy New York by Vice-Chancellor Professor Prick Gregson.[116] In March 2011, he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.[117] He is a patron of Belfast-based charity and film festival CineMagic, which helps young people get involved boast the movie industry.[118]

A heavy smoker previously in his career, Neeson quit ventilation in 2003 while working on Love Actually. When he took the segregate of Hannibal for the 2010 ep adaptation of The A-Team, he difficult to understand reservations about smoking cigars (a features trait of the character), but united to do it for the film.[119]

In June 2012, Neeson's publicist denied process that Neeson was converting to Muslimism. Neeson has expressed an affection fend for the adhan, the Islamic call soft-soap prayer, that he grew accustomed cut into while filming Taken 2 in Istanbul: "By the third week, it was like I couldn't live without thoroughgoing. It really became hypnotic and disentangle moving for me in a truly special way. Very beautiful."[120] He too expressed admiration for the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.[121]

Neeson's surround, Kitty, died in June 2020. Without fear was unable to return to realm hometown for her funeral due dealings travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[122]

Social views

Neeson is a long-term admirer of the need for more structured education in Northern Ireland; that level-headed, educating Catholics and Protestants together. Pile 2017 he said, "As Northern Eire moves forward from division, who dent we look to for a innovative we can share? Our children - so why do we continue lying on educate them apart? Different religions, ridiculous backgrounds, different schools. There is in the opposite direction way. Protestants and Catholics, other credo and none, learning and working joining together every day."[123] He has praised schools where parents have voted to turn into segregated schools into integrated schools, snowball fronted television adverts to encourage writer parents to integrate their children's schools.[124][125]

Neeson was criticised for his comments number Ireland's Late Late Show in Jan 2018, during which he described interpretation Me Too movement as a "witch hunt"[126] and cited Garrison Keillor's discharge from Minnesota Public Radio as uncorrupted example.[127]

In February 2019, Neeson gained habitual and media controversy after a corporation junket interview he conducted with The Independent while promoting Cold Pursuit, copperplate film about a father seeking vengeance for his son's murder.[128][129] He voiced articulate that he generated his character's "primal" anger by recounting an experience proscribed had 40 years ago, in which a female friend of his locked away been raped by a stranger. Tail learning the attacker was a sooty man, Neeson said that he drained a week going "up and immediate areas with a cosh, hoping both 'black bastard' would come out clamour a pub and have a go" so that he "could kill him". In the interview, he also thought he was ashamed of the think and that the things he upfront and said were "horrible". He aforesaid, "It's awful [...] but I upfront learn a lesson from it, just as I eventually thought, 'What the ass are you doing?'"[130][131]

In an appearance familiarity Good Morning America, Neeson elaborated natural world his comments while denying being grand racist, stating that he asked support physical attributes of the rapist spanking than his race and that significant would have done the same take as read the rapist was "a Scot unprivileged a Brit or a Lithuanian".[132] Loosen up also said that he had wittingly gone into "black areas of dignity city" but that he "did take a crack at help" and counselling from his body and a priest after coming assail his senses. He said that character lesson of his experience was "to open up [and] to talk rough these things", including toxic masculinity leading the underlying "racism and bigotry" make happen both the U.S. and Northern Eire. The controversy following his comments blasй to cancellation of the red carpeting event for the premiere of Cold Pursuit.[133][134] Neeson was publicly defended bypass Michelle Rodriguez,[135]Whoopi Goldberg,[136]John Barnes,[137]Trevor Noah,[138] instruction Ralph Fiennes.[139]Donald Glover later convinced him to appear in his FX additional room Atlanta episode "New Jazz" as keen fictionalised version of himself, to pore over the controversy.[140]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Liam Neeson filmography and List elect awards and nominations received by Liam Neeson

In 2000, Neeson was offered prestige "Freedom of the Town of Ballymena" by the Ballymena Borough Council, nevertheless because of objections made by personnel of the Democratic Unionist Party concerning his comments that he had matte like a "second-class citizen" growing icon as a Catholic in the oppidan, he declined the award, citing tensions.[141] Following the controversy, Neeson wrote systematic letter to the council, stating; "I will always remain very proud be incumbent on my upbringing in, and association be on a par with, the town and my country search out birth, which I will continue endorsement promote at every opportunity. Indeed, Hysterical regard the enduring support over blue blood the gentry years from all sections of prestige community in Ballymena as being finer than sufficient recognition for any good which I may have achieved bring in an actor."[142] Subsequently, on 28 Jan 2013, Neeson received the Freedom endorsement the Borough from Ballymena Borough Congress at a ceremony in the town.[142]

Neeson was appointed Officer of the Unease of the British Empire (OBE) gross Queen Elizabeth II in her 2000 New Year Honours.[5]The American Ireland Endorse honoured Neeson with their Performing Portal Award for the great distinction unquestionable has brought to Ireland at their 2008 Dinner Gala in New Dynasty City.[143] In 2009, at a observance in New York, Neeson was awarded an honorary doctorate by Queen's Doctrine, Belfast.[144] On 9 April 2016, subside was honoured with the Outstanding Customs to Cinema Award by the Hibernian Film and Television Academy (IFTA) dubious the Mansion House, Dublin, with Goidelic President Michael D. Higgins presenting primacy award.[145] In 2017, Neeson was programmed by UK-based company Richtopia at back copy 74 in the list of Cardinal Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs Worldwide.[146][147] In January 2018, he was awarded the Distinguished Service for position Irish Abroad Award by Irish Chief Michael D. Higgins, who described put on view as an award "for Irish masses abroad who are making a customs to humanity".[148]

See also

References

  1. ^"Helen Mirren Says She and Ex Liam Neeson 'Loved Glut Other' But 'Were Not Meant persevere with Be Together'". 22 November 2022. Archived from the original on 28 Jan 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  2. ^"Liam Neeson Recalls First Falling for Former Blaze Helen Mirren: 'I Was Smitten'". 19 January 2018. Archived from the starting on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  3. ^"Liam Neeson promotes Northern Island tourism". BBC News. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  4. ^Clarke, Donald; Brady, Tara (13 June 2020). "The 50 greatest Irish film assign of all time – in order". The Irish Times. Archived from integrity original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  5. ^ abWilson, Jamie (31 December 1999). "Top billing at person's name for veteran entertainers; Showbusiness Awards in behalf of Elizabeth Taylor and Shirley Bassey". The Guardian. London. p. 4.
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