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Liam Neeson Keeps Working — and Keeps Surprising Audiences at 73
Some actors might talk about their legacy, but then there are others who just keep going to work. This is definitely the case with Liam Neeson at 73. If you check out his IMDb page, it’s like a nonstop marathon of movies, including action thrillers, period dramas, and even romantic comedies that have stood the test of time.
His new movie Cold Storage, which is already out in theaters, is a horror tribute with a dark comedic twist – as one of the actors put it, “the weirdest date-night movie ever.” The movie mixes blood and humor, as well as tension and absurdity. Neeson, who portrays a hard-nosed bioterror agent – a role that is quite different from any that he has done in the past – decided to accept the role after what he calls his ‘cup of tea test.’ If the script can keep him interested while he is having tea, then it’s a project that is worth doing.
Neeson is very skillful at changing from gratitude to sharp Irish wit in a conversation, a mix of humility and reflection. He is not in favor of tracing every single move of his career that spans many years, rather he focuses on the times that have stuck to him – on set, off set, and everywhere in between.
One Sentimental Thing Changed
Even if Liam Neeson and Vanessa Redgrave don’t share any scenes in Cold Storage, the actor has a very personal link to the film through the actress. Redgrave is the mother of Neeson’s late wife, Natasha Richardson, and the two have stayed close after Richardson’s death in 2009.
Neeson recalled that even though he and Redgrave weren’t in the same scene on set, he still kept in touch with director Jonny Campbell during filming. “How did my mother-in-law get on?” he asked.
In Cold Storage, a dangerous fungus escapes from a secret laboratory, which leads Neeson’s character to join forces with two youngsters to face a threat that none of them can see and stop it from getting out of hand. Redgrave has a small role, and Campbell told about her first day on set—how, notwithstanding “acting her age,” she seemed to instantly regain that kind of energy which has always marked her career.
“Neeson said her eyes still light up. “The camera simply adores her.”
He said that if they hadn’t met on screen, he would have thought of her presence as the reason why the film gave him a rare, personal, and meaningful vibe. Now when he talks to her, he is glad that he can talk about Cold Storage in terms of “our movie” which is a subtle reference to the family story hidden behind the work.
Liam Neeson’s “Cup of Tea” Test – Why the Action Star Decided to Do a Horror-Comedy
Liam Neeson is not easily scared by monsters, and a major reason is that he doesn’t really like the genre. “I’m not into horror films at all,” he says, admitting that apart from enjoying old Hammer movies during his childhood, blood and guts are definitely not his thing.
What attracted him to the film, Cold Storage, was not the chaotic visuals but the writer, David Koepp. “I have been a David Koepp fan for a long time,” Neeson mentions, pointing out that the writer is behind great movies such as Mission: Impossible and Jurassic Park. “When I saw David’s name, it was like ‘Wow, this is really good.’”
Next, the script had to get approval from Neeson’s personal “cup of tea test.” He explains that if by the time he is reading the 5th or 6th page and feels like making a cup of tea, the project is usually not a good one. Nevertheless, Cold Storage turned out to be an interesting read that he completed at one go.
Neeson said that he was so engrossed in the story that it was a perfect blend of real tension with a ‘delicious dollop of humor,’ as he put it. The script’s capacity to keep him at the edge of the seat and occasionally laughing was, for an actor who generally stays away from the horror genre, the greatest accolade.
Only One Love Actually
Liam Neeson refuses to watch his film work for his own pleasure. “I have a little squeamishness about it,” he confesses. “I get to noticing, too much acting or one thing I should have done or shouldn’t have done.”
However, he made an exception once.
“If Love Actually is on and you grab the part where Hugh Grant is at the beginning of the film talking about all the messages of love after Sept. 11 — I bet no one can be so mean as to change the channel,” he says. ”Really.”
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Liam Neeson on Fitness, Responsibility, and the Accident That Changed Everything
There has been a certain myth built around Liam Neeson being an action star at 73, but he is quick to kill that myth. “I don’t train the way people imagine,” he confesses. “I don’t spend two or three hours in the gym every day.”
Though Neeson hardly ever exercises, he still considers keeping in shape a part of his professional duties. He reasons that if you are the star of the movie, you should always be there physically and mentally for the 50 to 100 crew members who rely on you. “That bunch necessitates a commitment,” he discloses. “And one of the commitments is to your physical fitness.”
Such a take on fitness came about when the actor suffered a life-threatening motorcycle crash. To think it through, Neeson offers, “They told my wife that I would not make it through the night.”
What kept him going was, without a doubt, the health and fitness routine he had been following up to that point for his professional work. “In fact, it was only because of the physical wellness that I pulled through,” he states matter-of-factly. “If you have health, you have everything.”
One Forgotten Thing: Liam Neeson Talks About His Collaboration With Michael Collins Director
Liam Neeson has mentioned several times that Michael Collins was one movie he felt didn’t get enough attention among all the different movies which marked the different phases of his career.
Neil Jordan was behind the camera, and Julia Roberts was on the screen alongside Liam Neeson in this historical drama to play the revolutionary leader who was the main figure in the struggle for Irish independence. Though it was mostly appreciated in Ireland, Neeson points out that the production was delayed for numerous years because of the political unrest in Northern Ireland at that time.
“That’s one I’m especially glad I did,” Neeson said. “It’s a story that really matters that many people simply don’t know about.”
To Neeson, the importance of Michael Collins is not in the trophies and the wealth it made in theaters but in the historical text it immortalized and the huge dedication that was given to it.
Looking back on 73, he doesn’t think too much about missed chances or “what-ifs”. Instead, he stays grounded in a feeling of gratitude for his continuing career. “I just feel so frigging privileged,” he says, “that some stranger — producers, a writer, whatever — will send me a script they want me to take part in. I’m always really deeply touched by that, no matter how poor the script may be or how good it is.”
