Liam Neeson has told RTÉ Entertainment that Vikings and Game of Thrones have made him want to make more films at home.

The Ballymena actor was in Dublin last week to receive the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his contribution to Ireland and his humanitarian work; and to promote his new action-thriller, The Commuter.

President Michael D Higgins and Liam Neeson Image: Twitter.com/PresidentIrl
When asked by RTÉ Entertainment if receiving the award had made him think about making more films at home, Neeson shared his love of the TV series, which are both filmed on the island of Ireland.

“I’d love to do some more stuff in Ireland, absolutely,” he said. “Not least being a huge Vikings fan and a Game of Thrones fan.”

“I’m thrilled with the success of those shows,” Neeson continued. “The production value and the acting; seeing all the production design side, everyone involved; people I’ve kind of known over the years… That’s terrific.

“To make more movies in Ireland? I’d love to. Spread the word!”

“I would also like to get more heavily involved in UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund],” Neeson added. “I’m an ambassador for 20 years. I’d like to be able to travel a little bit more in the field.”

Having made the headlines last year when he appeared to suggest he would soon be done with action hero roles, Neeson told RTÉ Entertainment it had been an off-the-cuff remark.

“I was at the Toronto Film Festival with another picture in September last year,” he recounted.

“You walk into a room full of journalists and they said, ‘So Liam, when are you doing another action movie?’ And I said – couple of swear words put in there too – ‘Come on guys, I’m 65! Give me a break!’

Liam Neeson and Killian Scott get to grips with a scene in The Commuter
“So it was a flippant remark. I didn’t mean it; I was trying to be quite humorous. Of course, everybody ran with that. My agent was calling me, saying, ‘What do you mean you’re not doing action movies?!’

“I’ll do them until I have to reach for the Zimmer frame. Which might be in a year’s time, you never know!”