Liam Neeson’s Disdain for Actors Who Arrive Late on Set

According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Liam Neeson says actors who don’t show up on time for filming are “annoying,” and he would never work with such actors.

The 73-year-old Irish actor, whose remake of “The Naked Gun” is now in theaters, told Rolling Stone in a recent interview that punctuality is the most valuable skill an actor can have on set.

He said: “It’s extremely important. I’ve heard disturbing stories about actors—men and women—who are very talented but arrive two to four hours late on set. I would never work with such people. I find it insulting. You’re keeping a crew of 60 to 80 people waiting. The least you can do is respect them and show up on time.”

Neeson did not name any actors, but Johnny Depp is among the stars who, according to some colleagues, has a history of arriving late on set. French actor Bernard Montiel made this claim a few years ago, saying that Depp and French director Maïwenn had arguments during the filming of “Jeanne du Barry.” In an interview with The Independent, Maïwenn added: “I have to be honest. Filming with him is difficult… The whole crew was afraid of him because he has a very different sense of humor, and we never knew if he would show up on time or if there would be issues with his lines. Even when he did show up on time, the crew was still scared of him.”

Neeson has only rarely appeared in comedies, and recently told Variety that he is no longer interested in acting in the action genre: “I don’t want to insult the audience when they’re watching a fight scene and the actor they see isn’t me. I’m not willing to do that. Until recently, I enjoyed filming fight scenes. But I don’t want to act using a cane or a walker.”

“The Naked Gun” grossed $17 million in its opening week at U.S. theaters.