The Taken star was married to Natasha Richardson, who tragically passed away in 2009© Getty

If it wasn’t for his late wife, Liam Neeson could have been James Bond.

The Taken star was married to Natasha Richardson, who tragically passed away in 2009 after a skiing accident. In 1995, the actor was offered the role of James Bond in the movie GoldenEye, and he recently revealed why he turned it down.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Neeson explained he was one of a few actors who were being considered for the role. He was fresh off his role in Schindler’s List, to which he was nominated for best actor at the Oscars.

Producer Barbara Broccoli contacted him about the role. When he told Richardson about the opportunity, she was less than thrilled.

He recalled: “‘Schindler’s List’ had come out and Barbara [Broccoli] had called me a couple of times to ask if I was interested, and I said, ‘Yes, I would be interested.’

“My lovely wife, god rest her soul, said to me while we were shooting ‘Nell’ down in the Carolinas, ‘Liam, I want to tell you something: If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married.’

“So I would tease her by going behind her back, making my fingers as though I’m holding a gun, and then [hums the James Bond theme]. I loved doing that!” he laughed.

While he loved to joke with her about it, she was serious. He theorized the “Bond girls” he’d have to interact with was the cause of the decision.

Neeson said: “She gave me a James Bond ultimatum. And she meant it! Come on, there’s all those gorgeous girls in various countries getting into bed and getting out of bed. I’m sure a lot of her decision-making was based on that!”

Instead, Pierce Brosnan was cast in the film. It was the first of four movies where Brosnan plays the iconic character.

Throughout the years, Neeson has been open about his relationship with his late wife. He revealed to Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes in 2014 that he still experiences bouts of grief in unexpected times.

He said: “There’s periods now in our New York residence when I hear the door opening, especially the first couple of years … any time I hear that door opening, I still think I’m going to hear her.”