Liam Neeson speaks fondly of his ex-girlfriend Helen Mirren, describing her as a ‘remarkable woman’

Liam Neeson has spoken fondly of his ex-girlfriend Helen Mirren, describing her as “really something else” and an “extraordinary woman”.

The Irish actor, 70, dated the English actress, 77, for five years between 1980 and 1985, living together for four of those years.

The two have reflected on their past relationship since it ended 37 years ago, with Helen admitting last year in an interview: “We weren’t meant to be together, but we loved each other very, very much.”

And now he has returned the same words of praise to his ex-lover.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight Canada, Liam was promoting his latest film, Marlowe, in which he stars alongside Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange and Alan Cumming.

Former lovers: The Irish actor, 70, dated the English actress, 77, for five years between 1980 and 1985, living together for four of the years (pictured in 1984)

Noting that Mirren had previously said that she still loves him “deeply,” Neeson quipped, “She got the check then.”

He continued: “Helen is a remarkable woman, a remarkable actress – you should be very lucky to have spent three or four years with that lady.”

‘She’s really something else.’

In November of last year, Helen said of her ex: “We weren’t meant to be together like that, but we loved each other very, very much.”

‘I love him dearly to this day. He is an amazing guy.

Helen spoke exclusively with the new AARP Magazine about some of his past loves and how they all ‘had to have a shirt made by me’.

She told the publication: “I made one for Liam, oddly enough.”

Other men who own Helen’s handmade shirts include actor Peter O’Toole and his husband Taylor Hackford, whom she has been married to for 25 years.

Fond: They have both reflected on their past relationship since it ended 37 years ago, with Helen admitting last year in an interview: “We weren’t meant to be together, but we loved each other very, very much.”

The Latest: Speaking to Entertainment Tonight Canada, Liam was promoting his latest film, Marlowe, where he stars alongside Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange and Alan Cumming (pictured at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain for Marlowe in September last year)

The on-screen star isn’t shy about opening up about her ex and previously couldn’t resist fondly reminiscing about the time she went camping with the actor, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019.

When asked by guest presenter Sean Hayes about his love of the outdoors, the British star said he “liked” camping with Liam, telling the story of the two having to share a “little tent all day” during a rainy adventure

Helen detailed: ‘I went camping with Liam Neeson once, because we used to hang out. We lived together for four years! (It was) before Liam was the huge movie star he is today.

Telling the story to the excited audience, the Catherine the Great star continued: “We went camping in this little tent, the size of this table, and we drove there in this little car.”

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

“I like camping,” Helen reiterated, before cheekily adding: “Well, I like camping with Liam Neesom and my husband (Taylor Hackford) anyway.

On reflection: The screen star isn’t shy about opening up about her ex and previously couldn’t resist fondly reminiscing about the time she went camping with the actor, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019.

Helen and Liam have spoken about their affection for each other on several occasions over the years.

In January 2018, the Hollywood heavyweights revealed they were head over heels during their four-year romance, with the Taken star even admitting it was love at first sight during his appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

When asked about her dating days by the cheeky chat show host, Helen was quick to insist that their romance, which smoldered between the years 1980 and 1985, was much more serious than the casual courtship.

She claimed: ‘We didn’t date, we lived together for four years, we were a serious thing for a while. Lucky me!’

And Liam was quick to reciprocate Helen’s affections when he confessed that he fell instantly “in love” with the actress when they met on the set of the 1981 film Excalibur.

Revealing that she took an instant glow, the Schindler’s List star explained: “Before I met her and worked together, I had read somewhere that if she liked a guy, he would mimic the way he walked behind his back and I turned around a bit. day and she was doing that for me

Sad: Eight years into his relationship with Helen, Liam met his first wife, Natasha Richardson, who tragically passed away following a freak skiing accident in 2009

He added: “I remember being on set and standing with Ciarán Hinds as Helen walked up to us dressed in her full Morgana Le Fey outfit and we both said, ‘Oh f**k’ and I fell in love.”

But perhaps the most flattering comment came when Liam admitted that he had to battle his fair share of competitors to win Helen’s heart.

The Irish star divulged: ‘I think Ciarán was too, but I was so in love!’ prompting a blushing Helen to reply, ‘I never knew that. You’ve never said that to me before, it’s amazing.

Eight years into his relationship with Helen, Liam met his first wife, Natasha Richardson, who tragically passed away following a freak skiing accident in 2009.

The couple welcomed two sons, Micheál, 22, and Daniel, 21, during their 15-year marriage.

While Helen has been married to director Taylor Hackford, 74, since 1997.

Love: Helen has been married to director Taylor Hackford, 74, since 1997.