A well-known action star revealed that he declined the opportunity to play MI6 agent James Bond because his fiancée said she would not marry him if he accepted the part.
First created in 1953 by author Ian Fleming, the charming spy conquered the world in 1962 with the first full-length film of the franchise, Dr. No. Over more than six decades and 27 films, six actors have played Bond: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.
In one of the interviews Liam Neeson explained that he walked away from the possibility of portraying Bond because Natasha Richardson refused to marry him if he did. He clarified that he was never formally offered the role, but Bond producer Barbara Broccoli contacted him to find out whether he was interested.
Schindler’s List
Neeson built a long career in film and television, mostly appearing in smaller roles during the 1970s and 1980s, before gaining recognition through Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust drama Schindler’s List. He went on to appear in major dramas including Michael Collins, Les Misérables, Gangs of New York, and Kingdom of Heaven, before becoming an action star with Pierre Morel’s thriller Taken. Following the 2008 hit, Neeson became widely known for his roles in action films such as Run All Night, The Commuter, Cold Pursuit, and two Taken sequels.
According to Neeson, he was likely considered for the Bond role in the mid-1990s, around the time Pierce Brosnan was cast in GoldenEye. While he may not have possessed the same charm or charisma as Connery or Brosnan, Neeson could have brought a darker edge to the franchise, something that would not appear until Casino Royale in 2006.
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Brosnan, meanwhile, thrived as Bond, skillfully balancing charm and wit. Although Neeson stepped away from the possibility of playing the iconic MI6 agent, his career ultimately led him to numerous roles as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable action stars.
