LIAM Neeson joined the Lyric Players’ Theatre in Belfast in 1976, and at the time, he never imagined becoming a huge star in Hollywood.

The 70-year-old actor - whose new movie, ‘Marlowe’, is the 100th of his career - told HeyUGuys: “You know, I was delighted to become a professional actor in 1976, in a theatre in Belfast and then moved down to Dublin.

“I think my ambitions then would’ve been, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to be in the National Theatre of Great Britain’. That would’ve been my ambition.”

Liam’s career was transformed by his starring role in the Sir John Boorman-directed medieval fantasy film ‘Excalibur’.

The movie was released in 1981 and it helped to propel Liam towards success in the American film business.

He recalled: “We did ‘Excalibur’ with the wonderful Sir John Boorman ... knights in shining armour and riding horses and stuff ... and it was like, euphoric, the feeling. It was euphoric, and John was a fantastic mentor.”

Liam previously described making the movie as a “great” experience.