Liam Neeson Reveals the Directors He Loves Working With the Most

Liam Neeson’s journey from a promising talent in the 1980s to a global icon of both prestige drama and high-octane action is a testament to his enduring versatility. Before he became the face of the Taken franchise or the legendary Oskar Schindler, Neeson honed his craft in features like The Bounty and The Mission.

These early roles paved the way for a mid-career run that included Nell, Rob Roy, and Michael Collins, effectively cementing his status as one of the most respected actors in modern cinema history.

In a recent interview with IndieWire, Neeson reflected on the legendary filmmakers who have helped shape his path over the last four decades. He was particularly glowing about his relationship with director Neil Jordan, with whom he has collaborated on four films, including the historical epic Michael Collins and the 2022 noir Marlowe.

Neeson shared that he and Jordan are hopefully looking to reunite for a fifth project together toward the end of the year, continuing a creative partnership built on decades of mutual trust.

The Irish actor also took a moment to praise the magnificent Steven Spielberg, who directed him in the career-defining Schindler’s List. Neeson noted that Spielberg is just fantastic and credited him as one of the most brilliant minds he has ever worked with on set.

He also highlighted his work with Peter Mullan, recalling their collaboration on the 1990 film The Big Man, as well as his time with Kathryn Bigelow on the submarine thriller K-19: The Widowmaker.

While looking back, Neeson expressed a strong desire to see more women behind the camera in the industry. He recalled that in his filmography of over a hundred movies, he has only worked with a few female directors, including Bigelow and Angela Pope.

He stated that Bigelow was terrific to work with over twenty years ago and admitted he just wishes there were more opportunities for female filmmakers to lead large-scale productions.

The actor also credited much of his foundational knowledge to his early mentor, Excalibur director John Boorman. Neeson described Boorman as a wonderful mentor who would go out of his way to bring young actors like himself, Gabriel Byrne, and Ciarán Hinds behind the lens.

He shared that Boorman would show us what he’s looking at and explain the technical reasoning behind different shots, providing a hands-on education in the mechanics of filmmaking that Neeson still carries with him today.

As of February, the 73-year-old actor shows no signs of slowing down, recently reinventing himself yet again as a comedy lead. His reboot of The Naked Gun, where he plays Frank Drebin Jr., was a surprise hit in late 2025, even winning Best Comedy at the Critics’ Choice Awards in January.

Fans can see him next in the sci-fi thriller Cold Storage, which hits U.S. theaters on February 13, 2026. The film stars Neeson alongside Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell as they battle a deadly, mind-controlling fungus in a high-stakes race against time.

Do you think Liam Neeson’s recent move into comedic roles like The Naked Gun is a refreshing change of pace, or do you prefer seeing him in the gritty action roles that have defined his recent career? Share your thoughts in the comments.