Liam Neeson, the Hollywood actor known for his roles in action movies like Taken, Schindler's List, and Non-Stop, has revealed that he once turned down the role of James Bond due to love.
In the 1990s, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli approached Neeson to play James Bond to play after Timothy Dalton. However, he turned it down because his late wife, actress Natasha Richardson, did not want him to take the James Bond role.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Neeson stated, "Schindler’s List had come out and Barbara had called me a couple of times to ask if I was interested, and I said, 'Yes, I would be interested.' And then my lovely wife, God rest her soul, said to me while we were shooting Nell down in the Carolinas, 'Liam, I want to tell you something: If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married.'" During the interview, Neeson also expressed his gratitude towards his wife for giving him a life full of love and happiness. He said he declined the Bond role because he did not want to spend four to five months on a movie set away from Richardson and their two sons. Neeson said that his love for his family is the most important thing to him, and he could not imagine them being apart for such a long period.
Neeson's decision to turn down the James Bond role was undoubtedly significant in the franchise's history. However, it is a testament to the strength of his relationship with Richardson. Since Richardson's death, Neeson has had a successful acting career with many notable achievements. He has proven himself a versatile actor capable of playing various roles and delivering outstanding performances. Neeson has received several award nominations throughout the years, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in Schindler's List.
Neeson's revelation sheds new light on the long-running speculation surrounding who would have succeeded Dalton as James Bond. Neeson was one of several actors considered for the role before it eventually went to Brosnan. Daniel Craig has played the role for the last five Bond movies, with his final appearance as the character in 2021's No Time to Die. A similar search for a new actor to play James Bond now awaits.
Source: Rolling Stone