Inside Liam Neeson’s life – forklift driver, Helen Mirren and death heartbreak

Liam Neeson, the brooding Irish actor, turns 70 today (June 7). Happy birthday!

A widely talented and diverse actor, he’s been in Hollywood box office smashes from Schindler’s List to Les Miserables to Love Actually but is also famously known for his menacing lines from 2008’s Taken: “If I find you, I will kill you.”

Acting aside, Liam has led a colourful life.

He once lived with Dame Helen Mirren, it was rumoured he was converting to Islam and he also worked at the Guinness factory.

So as one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation hits this special milestone birthday, Daily Star takes a look at his long, illustrious life.

Early life

Liam was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, in 1952 and was named after a priest, apparently.

His love of drama began at school and bizarrely, Liam has said he was inspired by the Irish loyalist politician, Ian Paisley.

He once said he had a “magnificent presence” and his Bible-thumping was “incredible to watch”.

Liam grew up during The Troubles and said that it’s “part of his DNA” however he didn’t buy into all the “crying into your Guinness and singing rebel songs”.

Liam was also a keen sportsman – he loved football and boxing and even won some regional fights as a teenager.

Jobs before becoming a movie star

Before becoming an actor full-time Liam made ends meet in other ways.

He had a spell as a forklift operator at the Guinness factory at his home town.

As an apprentice, he said it was his “brilliant” mentor who inspired him to pursue acting.

Speaking to Metro, Liam said he asked him: “’Liam, what do you want to do in life?’ I said ‘Actually, I want to be an actor’.

“And he said: ‘You could be another Roy Rogers’… of all the actors in the world it wasn’t James Cagney, it was Roy Rogers!”

Liam also trained as a teacher for two years in Newcastle before returning to Ireland.

He was sacked after hitting a student – but there were some extenuating circumstances, the boy had a knife.

Liam recalled in a previous interview: “My reaction was to punch him, which I shouldn’t have done but I felt threatened.”

Life with Helen Mirren

In the early eighties, Liam moved to London after featuring in his first film, Excalibur.

He landed parts in budget films and plays and was in a relationship with Helen Mirren.

She was instrumental in getting him an agent, it’s said.

Liam has since said it was love at first sight with Helen and he was instantly “smitten” after seeing her in costume.

In return, she said that her favourite holidays were camping with Liam.

The 76-year-old recalled on the Graham Norton show: “We would drive down to France, find a campsite, and Liam would cook breakfast.

“Can you imagine Liam in a tent? He’s 6’4″!”

Tragic wife and kids

Liam went on to meet actress Natasha Richardson in a Broadway revival of Anna Christie.

They wed in 1994 and have two sons, Michael, 26, and Daniel, 25.

Tragically in 2004, Natasha suffered a head injury while skiing in Montreal, Canada.

She was taken to hospital in New York but died a few days later from an epidural hematoma.

Richardson’s family issued a statement on the day of her death: “Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha.

“They are profoundly grateful for the support, love, and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Liam has said the he and Natasha were like “Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers” and added in an interview on 60 Minutes: “We had this wonderful kind of free dance.”

Though he has not publicly dated since Natasha’s death Liam revealed recently he fell in love with a woman while filming in Australia but she was “taken”.

Liam’s eldest son Michael is also an actor – in fact the pair have been in the same films – and his other son Daniel owns a tequila brand.

Islam

Back in around 2012, after filming in Istanbul, Turkey, Liam said that Islam “got into his spirit”.

According to The Sun, he said: “The Call to Prayer happens five times a day and for the first week it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit and it’s the most beautiful, beautiful thing.

“There are 4,000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim.”

His reps since denied he was converting to the religion though.

His greatest hits

Liam rose to prominence after Steven Spielberg cast him as Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List in 1993 and a string of successes followed including The Bounty, Michael Collins, Batman Begins and many many more.

He has been nominated for an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and a Tony Award.

Most recently, Liam had a fantastic cameo in Derry Girls, playing a police inspector.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk