Liam’s new life as an action hero

MANILA, Philippines - Liam Neeson takes on yet another everyday hero in the Universal Pictures crime drama, A Walk Among the Tombstones.

Neeson plays an ex-New York cop turned private eye, who is hired by a drug kingpin to find the kidnapper who murdered his wife. As Matt Scudder, he delves into the case, and discovers that he is not dealing with ordinary criminals, but twisted vigilantes who know their targets won’t turn to the law for help. The film also stars Dan Stevens, best known for his role as the doomed heir on the TV series Downton Abbey. The British actor easily slips into the drug kingpin role with an American accent.

A widower since the unfortunate 2009 skiing accident of his actress wife Natasha Richardson, Liam recently spoke about his midlife rebirth as an action hero, what he liked about playing the flawed Block character and what’s ahead.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

Scott mentioned that some characters like yours have to find the worst in themselves, before they can find the best. Could you comment on that as part of your human role?

“Did Scott say that? He probably would. He’s a writer. Yes, he had mentioned that to me when we’d met. I wanted to find some kind of research I could do, other than reading Larry’s books. I know some policemen, and one of them I know very, very well. I was able to get access to documents on serial killers, and not just the crimes, but also the police work that went into tracking them down, which was very, very fascinating. Any little minutiae of evidence they would find, and put it together with this, and does it connect, and oh my God, it does connect. That was fascinating. I thought Scott had done that on a continual basis, and maybe, unbeknownst to himself, it brings out the good in (the character). I think Scudder is a good, righteous old-fashioned kind of man. I think he has certain pillars of ethics that never change, even though he’s kind of f------ up in a lot of ways. But he’s essentially a good man.”

What was it about this character and the characters you’ve played that draw you into playing them?

“I’ve always liked these grizzled characters, who have one foot on the side of law and order, and the other foot in the bad guy’s camp. They’re always treading a very delicate line. I just find them very appealing. It’s great to get a chance to do that.”

Is there a reason why you choose these characters? Or is it just because you’re so good at it?

“Thank you. I appreciate the compliment, I really do. Listen, I was in my 50s, when this Taken movie came out. I was sure it was just a straight-to-video, good little European thriller, well-made. And Fox Studios took it and did this amazing sell job. They showed the trailer at big sporting events and the film became a hit. I started to get sent these action scripts, in my 50s. It was very flattering, and I felt like a kid in a toy shop, so why not do them? I didn’t pretend like I was a 27 year old. I try in these fight scenes to fight as a 50 year old — eventhough I’m 62. I’m not playing a superhero.”

Do you have an exercise routine or special training to be ready for whatever role comes up?

“I keep pretty fit, in life. Before going into a role like this, I step up the regimen a couple of months before. It’s important to keep fit, and I’m not talking about having perfect abs or stuff, but you have to be on top of your game, especially if you’re playing the lead. You have to look after yourself.”

Distributed by Solar Pictures (not Solar Films), A Walk Among the Tomstones opens in theaters tomorrow, Sept. 19.