Liam Neeson: I have no regrets over not playing James Bond

Liam Neeson has explained how close he came to playing James Bond while talking to Yahoo about his new film 'Non-Stop'.

He was in the running to play 007 when the series producers were casting for 1995's 'Goldeneye', ultimately losing out to fellow Irishman Pierce Brosnan.

[Bond girls: Then and now gallery]

"I was heavily courted, let's put it that way," he recalls in our video above, "I think other actors were heavily courted as well, but it didn't work out and that was absolutely fine."

"I was thrilled that when Pierce got it, he's a buddy of mine, and he was excellent too."

Despite missing out of the chance to play the much-loved spy, Neeson's career has taken him in a similar direction, becoming an action hero at the unlikely age of 61.

His latest role in 'Non-Stop', out in UK cinemas today, sees him playing an air marshall entrusted with the safety of a passenger flight which is threatened by a hijacker, so he has no regrets about turning down the iconic role.

"I don't really look back and think 'if only'" he explains, "I've had such a lucky, lucky, fortunate career, I just wouldn't change anything. I've been really blessed."

Neeson's 'Non-Stop' co-star Julianne Moore also feels particularly blessed having recently joined the cast of 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay' in which she plays Alma Coin, the leader of District 13.

[Liam Neeson "suprised" by action roles]

However, her 11-year-old daughter who is a huge 'Hunger Games' fan, was not so impressed by Neeson, as the actress told us.

"It's nice for me to be in a movie that my kids care about," says the actress, "My daughter asked me, 'What did you do today mommy?' and I said 'I spent the whole day with Liam.' So I sent her a picture of us [Moore and Neeson] and she said 'Who's that?'"

"I said, that's Liam. And she said, 'No, I meant Liam HEMSWORTH. I thought you meant HIM.'"

'Non-Stop' is out in UK cinemas today.