Liam Neeson refused to play James Bond because of his future wife

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Liam Neeson said that in the 90s he was approached several times by the producer of films about agent 007, Barbara Broccoli, with an offer to play the main role. The actor had just received an Oscar nomination for his role in Schindler's List (1993). So why did he turn down one of the most famous roles in cinema? It turned out because of his wife, actress Natasha Richardson.

“I said (to Barbara), “Yes, I would be interested (to play). And then my beloved wife (Richardson), God rest her soul, said during the filming of "Nell" in Carolina: "Liam, I want to talk to you:" If you play James Bond, we will not get married.

Neeson's love for his future wife overshadowed his interest in the role of Bond, so he never had a meeting with Broccoli on this topic. According to the actor, Natasha gave him an ultimatum because, most likely, she did not want to attract too much attention from women to him, which would automatically entail his participation in the franchise.