It's never been a secret that Liam Neeson was at one time in contention for the role of James Bond, but what we didn't know he turned it down. Now the actor has chosen to reveal how closely he was to taking the part and more importantly why he passed up on the opportunity. Nearly two decades ago, the producers of the James Bond films were looking to hire a new 007. Before they cast Pierce Brosnan they looked at other actors, like Mel Gibson, Sam Neill, Hugh Grant and Lambert Wilson. One actor that they looked at that really caught there eye was Liam Neeson. Around that time the Irish actor was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the role of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's 1993 masterpiece
Schindler's List. He explains that his then-girlfriend/now late wife, Natasha Richardson ("The Parent Trap"), had major reservations about him taking on the iconic role of 007.
“I was heavily courted, let’s put it that way, and I’m sure some other actors were too,” says Neeson, as he chews thoughtfully on a toothpick and rests his long limbs on an armchair.
“It was about 18 or 19 years ago and my wife-to-be said, ‘If you play James Bond we’re not getting married!’ And I had to take that on board, because I did want to marry her,” he recalls, smiling.
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