I’m not a massive James Bond fan – in fact, I think I’ve only ever seen Daniel Craig‘s first one, so I can’t really speak on the character’s legacy or which actor should or shouldn’t play him. One thing I can tell you is that while Liam Neeson is a great actor and certainly one you’d want to negotiate for your kidnapped child’s release in any film, I just cannot see him as James Bond. Close call, because he nearly was!
From the Hull Daily Mail:
“I was heavily courted, let’s put it that way, and I’m sure some other actors were too.
“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.”
His wife-to-be, of course, is the late Natasha Richardson, who died after that awful skiing accident in 2009. Liam also spoke about how he’s still affected by her loss:
“There’s periods now in our New York residence when I hear the door opening, especially the first couple of years… anytime I hear that door opening, I still think I’m going to hear her.”
“It hits you. It’s like a wave. You just get this profound feeling of instability. The Earth isn’t stable anymore and then it passes and it becomes more infrequent, but I still get it sometimes.”
Ugh, how awful. I like Liam Neeson (well, that is to say, I don’t think about him much but he seems like a nice guy and really inoffensive) – here’s hoping he can somehow find some peace, though I don’t imagine you ever do in a situation like that. I don’t think I would, either.
*Swoon* it’s never too late. Love him. Loved her – terribly sad…