Liam Neeson Reveals the One Reason He Won’t Work with Certain Actors
Liam Neeson recently talked with Rolling Stone while promoting his new movie, The Naked Gun. During the interview, he shared some honest thoughts about his acting career and what it’s like working in the film industry.
When asked about the best advice he ever got, Neeson said, “Stay poised, an old professional actor told me once, right.” He also reflected on how acting isn’t always easy. “I wish someone had told me that the highs would’ve been great, and the lows would have been very low,” he admitted.
Success hasn’t been simple for Neeson either. He recalled hearing someone say, “It’s terrible when people are talking about you, and it’s even worse when they’re not talking about you.” This shows how complicated fame can be, even for a star like him.
Neeson spoke about actors who inspired him. He said he admired classic performers like Spencer Tracy. “He was always so real. Without putting on false noses and strange accents and all this sort of stuff — he was just always present and real,” Neeson explained. This desire for authenticity is something Neeson clearly values in his own work.
One interesting part of the interview focused on Neeson’s famous line from Taken: “What I do have are a very particular set of skills.” He explained that acting is a constant learning process.
He said he’s always trying to improve and learn from the people he works with. But he also made it clear that professionalism matters a lot to him. “I hear disturbing stories about actors and actresses who are very gifted, but show up on the set two, three, four hours late. I would never work with those people. I think it’s so insulting.” For Neeson, being on time and respectful is part of what makes a good actor.
The Naked Gun is the latest film starring Neeson, and it came out in 2025. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, the movie is the fourth in the Naked Gun series. Neeson plays the lead role, with support from Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, and Danny Huston. The story follows the son of Lt. Frank Drebin as he tries to live up to his father’s legacy and save the Police Squad.
Justice has a new Daddy. Watch the new trailer for #NakedGun, only in theatres August 1st. pic.twitter.com/gA1dla6buZ
— Naked Gun Movie (@NakedGunMovie) June 16, 2025
This new Naked Gun film had a long journey before release. It was first announced back in 2009 but went through many changes, including different ideas for cast and story. Seth MacFarlane was once attached as director, but Akiva Schaffer eventually took over. Filming began in Atlanta in 2024 and finished the next year.
The movie premiered in Manhattan in July 2025 and hit theaters in the US and UK shortly after. It received good reviews and made $28.3 million worldwide, though its budget was $42 million.
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