Over the past 15 years, actor Liam Neeson has reinvented himself as one of Hollywood’s biggest and most unlikely action stars. Following the success of 2008’s Taken, Neeson has been busy headlining action thrillers like Unknown, The Grey and The Commuter.
But it turns out that Neeson nearly landed perhaps the most coveted action movie role in history: the role of 007 himself, James Bond.
However, he turned down the potentially life-changing role — at the request of his future wife, Natasha Richardson.
In an interview with Rolling Stone promoting his new film Marlowe, Neeson was asked about reportedly turning down the 1995 Bond film GoldenEye.
Neeson explained that while he wasn’t officially offered the role, he had discussed the possibility with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli. Neeson said he had expressed interest in taking on the iconic role.
While producers seemed interested in hiring him, Neeson was soon talked out of the role by the love of his life.
Natasha Richardson, Neeson’s future wife, made it clear that she didn’t want him to play James Bond, and gave him an ultimatum: “Liam, I want to tell you something: If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married,” Neeson recalls Richardson telling him.
“She gave me a James Bond ultimatum. And she meant it!” Neeson told Rolling Stone.
It’s not entirely clear why Richardson was so adamant that Neeson decline the role. Maybe the intense publicity and tight shooting schedule that would come from playing Bond would’ve been too much.
But Neeson jokingly suggested that maybe Richardson just didn’t want him hanging around so many “Bond Girls.” “Come on, there’s all those gorgeous girls in various countries getting into bed and getting out of bed,” Neeson said. “I’m sure a lot of her decision-making was based on that!”
Neeson said he would tease his wife about their ultimatum, making finger guns and humming the James Bond theme song.
But the actor doesn’t seem to have any regrets about turning down Bond (the role ultimately went to Pierce Brosnan, who played the role in four films) and ultimately married Richardson in 1994.
The two enjoyed a very happy marriage for 15 years, until Richardson died in 2009 following a skiing accident. Her untimely death devastated Neeson, who has never remarried and says he visits her grave every day.
“I speak to her everyday at her grave which is about a mile and half down the road,” he told The Sun. “I go down there quite often, so I do speak to her as if she’s here. Not that she answers me.”
Given the choice between marrying Natasha Richardson and playing James Bond, it’s clear that Neeson made the right choice.
And while Bond is a career-making role for many actors, Neeson hasn’t had any trouble getting high-profile work. He’s had major roles in franchise blockbusters, including Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Read more:
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He’s also had many opportunities to show off his dramatic skills, most famously as the lead of Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust masterpiece Schindler’s List.
And he’s certainly keeping busy: the actor said that Marlowe, released this weekend, marks the 100th film of his career.
It would have been cool to see Liam Neeson’s take on the iconic role of James Bond, but we’re glad he married Natasha Richardson instead!
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