Helen Mirren concedes she and former flame Liam Neeson are ‘not meant to be together’

Hollywood screen legends Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson’s romance may have ended decades ago but the acclaimed actress still loves Neeson “deeply” to this day.

In a recent interview with AARP The Magazine, Mirren, 77, opened up about the men in her life and reflected on her past relationship with Neeson, 70, who she dated back in the ’80s.

The actress explained that while she and the Taken star “loved each other” their relationship was not destined to have a happy ending.

“We were not meant to be together in that way, but we loved each other very, very much,” she told the publication.

“I love him deeply to this day. He’s such an amazing guy.”

The pair had first met back in 1981 on the set of the fantasy film Excalibur and would go on to be a “serious item” four years later, even living together during the duration of their relationship.

Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson met on the set of Excalibur (1981).
“I was in love with this extraordinary human being. Seeing her in her costume for the 1sr time on set,” he said “Oh f—k,” adding, “I was smitten. I fell in love with Helen Mirren. Oh my God.” pic.twitter.com/ZkZgyyz20X

— Edward Elderman (@edwereddie) October 22, 2022

While Neeson credits Mirren for being instrumental in the success of his acting career, it was Mirren’s fame that ultimately caused their relationship to end.

“It was difficult for him to be under my shadow,” Mirren told the New York Times. 

“I was well known; I had the money … I had a sense from Liam that it was time for him to come out from under my wing. He handled it with great elegance and grace. We loved each other. It was difficult to let go.”

Mirren has never been one to shy away from discussing her former flame with enthusiasm, having previously shared a sweet memory of the time she went camping with the actor during an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019.

“I once went camping with Liam Neeson, because we used to date. We lived together for four years! (It was) Before Liam was the humongous movie star that he is today,” she said on the show.

“Liam is like 6 ft 4in, his head was touching the top, and he was driving like this (making a slouched body shape). We camped in this tiny little tent. It rained all day, every day. We were camping in Cornwall, then we went camping in France.”

“I like camping,” she reiterated, before clarifying that she likes “camping with Liam Neeson” and her husband, director Taylor Hackford, who she has been married to since 1997.

Both Mirren and Neeson have enjoyed highly successful acting careers. Mirren is currently starring in 1923, an upcoming spin-off series of Western drama Yellowstone, while Neeson has continued to work in several action films including In the Land of Saints and Sinners and Thug.