After two decades of reinvention as one of Hollywood’s most unlikely action stars, Liam Neeson is finally hinting that his gun-slinging, fist-throwing days may be behind him.
In an interview published by Variety and cited by Parade Magazine, the Taken star reflected on the physical toll of action films and the growing distance between who he was and who he played on screen.
“The first Taken was 18 years ago, I was 54. Feels like a lifetime ago,” Neeson said. “I still get offered the occasional one. But I’m 73, for f--k’s sake.”
The Irish actor, who was initially known for dramatic and historical roles in Schindler’s List and Michael Collins, rose to action stardom in 2008 with the release of Taken. His gravel-voiced portrayal of ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills became a cultural icon, launching two sequels and more than a dozen similarly themed thrillers, including The Grey, Non-Stop, and The Commuter.
But Neeson acknowledged that age has made it harder to keep up with the physically demanding pace of such roles.
“I don’t want to insult audiences if they’re watching whole fight scenes and it’s not me,” he added.
While the actor didn’t definitively shut the door on returning to the genre, he made it clear that any future action project would have to be realistic for someone in his 70s.