Liam Neeson, the tough guy from the “Taken” trilogy, was once offered the role of James Bond – a dream come true for many actors. However, Liam turned down the offer for a surprising reason – his wife gave him an ultimatum.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Liam revealed that he was approached by Barbara Broccoli, the producer of the 007 franchise, after the success of “Schindler’s List,” which earned him an Oscar nomination. Despite being interested, he consulted his wife and was shocked by her response.
“May she rest in peace, my lovely wife told me while working on ‘Nell,’ ‘Liam, if you play James Bond, we won’t be married.’ So she gave me an ultimatum. She was serious!” Liam said.
Though he was disappointed to let go of the opportunity, he respected his wife’s wishes and declined the offer. However, he couldn’t resist teasing her by humming the iconic James Bond theme behind her back.
Despite missing out on the coveted role, Liam Neeson’s career has been nothing short of impressive. He has played several iconic characters throughout his career, including the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I and Bryan Mills in the “Taken” series. He will be seen next in the upcoming crime drama “Marlowe.”
Even though Liam chose love over fame, we can’t help but wonder what kind of James Bond he would have made. Regardless, his love for his wife shows that he’s not just a tough guy on the big screen, but also in real life.
