LIAM NEESON has become one of the leading international motion picture actors

LIAM NEESON has become one of the leading international motion picture actors today. Whether it is his Academy Award® nominated role of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s highly acclaimed “Schindler’s List” (`1993), his award-winning portrayal of legendary Irish Republican hero in “Michael Collins” (1996), or his role as controversial sex therapist Alfred Kinsey in the critically acclaimed “Kinsey” (2004), Neeson continues to display an acting range matched by few.

In 2007 Neeson completed production on Pierre Morel’s “Taken,” which is due out in the US later this year. Neeson stars as an ex-soldier trying to track down the Albanian slave masters who have kidnapped his daughter. Currently, Neeson is filming Richard Eyre’s “The Other Man” opposite Laura Linney, and he recently completed production on “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” where he reprised his role as the voice of the Lion, Aslan, in the sequel to the 2005 box office success “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

In 2006 Neeson graced the screen in the classic revenge drama “Seraphim Falls” opposite Pierce Brosnan. In 2005, he appeared in Ridley Scott’s crusades epic “Kingdom of Heaven.” He also co-starred that year in “Batman Begins,” directed by Christopher Nolan.

Neeson’s portrayal of Alfred Kinsey in Bill Condon’s “Kinsey,” co-starring Laura Linney, garnered him a Best Actor award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Prior to that, Neeson co-starred with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Keira Knightly in the Working Title film “Love Actually” (2003), written and directed by Richard Curtis.

Neeson returned to Broadway in 2002, co-starring with his friend Laura Linney in Arthur Miller’s classic “The Crucible.” Mr. Neeson’s performance as John Proctor earned both he and Miss Linney a Tony® Award nomination.

In 2001, he starred opposite Harrison Ford in the true story of Russia’s nuclear submarine tragedy entitled “K-19: The Windowmaker,” and starred opposite Sandra Bullock in the black comedy “Gun Shy”
(2000).

Neeson starred in the box-office phenomenon “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999) in the role of Qui-Gon Jinn, the Master Jedi Knight who bestows his Force-ful wisdom upon Obi-Wan Kenobi and the young Anakin Skywalker. In the same year, he starred opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones in Jan De Bont’s “The Haunting” (1999).

In addition, he starred in the screen adaptation of Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables” in the role of Jean Valjean, co-starring Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman and Claire Danes. Also that year, Neeson played Oscar Wilde in David Hare’s new play, “The Judas Kiss” which opened in London’s West End and subsequently on Broadway.

Neeson starred in the title role in Neil Jordan’s “Michael Collins” (1996) for which he received Best Actor honors at the Venice Film Festival, a Golden Globe® Best Actor nomination, and London’s prestigious Evening Standard Award for Best Actor. The film also received the highest honor in Venice -- The Golden Lion Award.

It was in 1993 when Neeson received worldwide attention for his starring role in the Academy Award® winning film “Schindler’s List.” In addition to winning an Academy Award® nomination for Best Actor, he was nominated for a Golden Globe® and BAFTA Award.

The Irish-born actor had originally sought a career as a teacher after attending Queens University, Belfast and majoring in physics, computer science and math . Neeson set teaching aside and in 1976 joined the prestigious Lyric Players Theatre in Belfast (“The best training any actor could have.”), making his professional acting debut in Joseph Plunkett’s “The Risen People.” After two years with the Lyric Players, he joined the famed National Theatre of Ireland, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Neeson appeared in the Abbey Theatre Festival’s production of Brian Friel’s “Translations,” and a production of Sean O’Casey’s “The Plough and the Stars” for the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, England where he received a Best Actor Award.