Liam Neeson, 73, Shares Candid Admission: ‘I Thought I Was OK’ originally appeared on Parade.
He’s appeared in over 100 films, received nominations for an Academy Award, Golden Globes, and Tony Awards, and is among the few bonafide movie stars of our generation. And yet, Liam Neeson, 73, still doesn’t think of himself as exceptional.
The legendary actor, who was catapulted into the spotlight after starring in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List in 1993, is the star of the modern-day reboot of The Naked Gun. The film is a legacy sequel to the Naked Gun franchise that achieved box office success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Leslie Nielsen starred as Lieutenant Frank Drebin in the original trilogy, and in the latest installment, Neeson takes on the role of Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s iconic character.
The film, which also stars model and actress Pamela Anderson, 58, is an hilarious irreverent comedy that’s left early audiences in stitches. But, The Naked Gun’s leading man wouldn’t consider himself a comic— not in the least.
“I don’t think of myself as funny-funny, but I love laughing and gagging about,” Neeson told The New York Times in 2025.
In an industry notorious for being critical of its stars, Neeson has somehow maintained the role of his own harshest critic. In fact, for many years he struggled to watch his own performances.
“A lot of times, I could see myself acting. Up until quite recently, I’d always think that we should have cast this or that actor,” he said. “I just see myself acting, and I didn’t like that.”
Even now, Neeson isn’t one to get excited about watching his films. He worries about what audiences will think, whether or not he’s funny enough to charm and delight viewers.
When asked to make an assessment of his performance in The Naked Gun, the world-renowned star was humble to say the very least, perhaps even unintentionally self-deprecating.
“I thought I was OK, seriously,” he said, repeating himself. “I thought I was OK.”
Despite his own self-doubt, The Naked Gun has already proven to be a success, not only in the eyes of the audience, but in love. Neeson, a widower of 16 years after the death of his wife and fellow actor, Natasha Richardson, began dating his co-star, Pamela Anderson.
During an appearance on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy with Andy Cohen the couple spoke about their very first meeting.
“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, she is gorgeous,’ but she had this wonderful sense of silliness and just humanity about her,’ said Neeson of Anderson. “I don’t want to blow her head up, but it was like I just felt an ease with her, you know, and we discovered a silliness with each other.”
Anderson felt similarly. “Well, I was nervous to meet him, of course, and you’re always nervous the first day on the set, and it was just easygoing and very silly, which puts you at ease and very silly, on and off.”
Liam Neeson, 73, Shares Candid Admission: ‘I Thought I Was OK’ first appeared on Parade on Jul 31, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
