Liam Neeson confirms his comment about dating an ‘incredibly famous’ woman was tongue-in-cheek

Liam Neeson has silenced the speculation over a supposed ‘incredibly famous’ girlfriend after making a comment about his dating life earlier this week.

The actor had said in a chat with the Irish Independent that he couldn’t reveal who he was dating as she was a well-known celebrity, and his remarks caused Hollywood to go into meltdown over her identity.

But a representative for the 63-year-old actor has now confirmed that it was actually a tongue-in-cheek comment that failed to translate.

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Putting rumours to rest: Liam Neeson has denied he is dating an ‘incredibly famous’ woman after a comment he made earlier this week caused Hollywood to go into meltdown

‘He was joking with the writer during an interview he was doing with the Irish Independent,’ a spokesperson for the star revealed.

The Taken actor had been asked about Valentine’s Day and what he might buy his girlfriend had been quoted saying in his interview, while refusing to reveal her identity.

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Joker: A representative for the 63-year-old revealed that his comments in his interview were a joke

He continued, presumably in his mocking style: ‘I’ll send out a few bunches of flowers to various people and I usually just say ‘from an Irish admirer’.’

Following his remarks, there was plenty of talk about who the lady might be – suggestions ranged from the likes of Susan Sarandon and Halle Berry to Twilight actress Kristen Stewart.

It is unclear if the actor is currently in a relationship or single.

Neeson’s wife Natasha Richardson died aged 45 in March 2009 after hitting her head during a skiing lesson in Quebec, Canada.

The mother of two, who was not wearing a helmet, hit the left side of her face tearing a blood vessel in the brain, which would start as a slow leak and later prove fatal.

But initially she appeared unhurt and got up laughing. Unaware of the seriousness of the injury, she refused to see a doctor and even signed a medical form saying that she did not need help.

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Tragic: Neeson’s wife Natasha Richardson died aged 45 after hitting her head during a skiing lesson in Quebec, Canada in March 2009

Neeson told the publication that Natasha’s death was still a ‘touchy subject’ and added: ‘Of course the grief is still there. You do your best.’

The pair met on the set of Broadway play Anna Christie in 1993. They married the following year and had two sons together, Micheál, 20, and Daniel, 19.

For five years the actor kept silent about his wife’s death, before finally opening up in an episode of 60 Minutes.

The star told Anderson Cooper of the heartbreaking moment the decision was made to switch off Natasha’s life support machine.

‘I went in to her and told her I loved her. Said, ‘Sweetie, you’re not coming back from this,’ said Neeson. ‘You’ve banged your head. It’s… I don’t know if you can hear me, but that’s — this is what’s gone down. And we’re bringing ya back to New York. All your family and friends will come.”

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Heartbreaking: For five years he kept silent about his wife’s death, before finally opening up in an episode of 60 Minutes, speaking of  the moment the decision was made to switch off Natasha’s life support machine

The actor ended a two-year relationship with British publicist Freya St Johnston in 2012.

An insider told MailOnline at the time: ‘He told her he wanted to spend more time in New York and that he really wants to make more time for his children.

‘Freya wants something more serious, but Liam feels it is too soon. His wife only died three years ago, he wants to take things slow.’

Freya and Neeson began dating in September 2010. They had a long-distance relationship, with Liam living with his sons in New York and Freya living in London with her children.

The pair were also spotted out on a date night in London in 2014 following a promo event for his film Non-Stop.

Neeson starred alongside Micheál in an LG commercial which aired during the Superbowl on Sunday.

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Fizzled out: The actor ended a two-year relationship with British publicist Freya St Johnston in 2012. The pair were on and off for the next couple of years

It is the first time the two have starred together and Neeson spoke of how special the experience was to him in an LG behind-the-scenes video.

He said: ‘Being able to work with my son Micheál has been absolutely wonderful and quite unique.

‘It’s also our first time acting together and it’s great to share the screen with him.’

The commercial shows Neeson as a man from the future giving advice to his present-day self while promoting the new technology of the LG OLED TV.

‘It’s weird seeing him differently to him making me do the dishes or waking me up in the morning,’ he said. ‘In this I am supposed to possibly be him in the past and him as me in the future.’

The Run All Night star described his character in the commercial as an enigmatic man from the future that’s traveled back to the present day on a very important mission.

‘He represents that inner-appeal, that curiosity we have to find out about the future,’ the Taken star said. ‘So we go after it and we want to know what’s out there.’

Unsurprisingly, Natasha’s death had a profound impact on the up and coming actor.

In an interview with The Sunday Times last year, he admitted: ‘I was going out, partying a lot, looking for self-gratification. I wanted to be the man, doing these drugs.’

‘Everybody said, ‘This kid has lost his mum, that’s where the problem comes from’. And I was like, ‘No, it isn’t, I just like to party’. But looking back, I realise it was a delayed reaction.’

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Like father, like son: Neeson starred alongside Micheál in an LG commercial which aired during the Superbowl on Sunday

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Proud: Micheál described working with his Oscar nominated father as a ‘very cool experience’

But after ‘hitting rock bottom’ in 2014, the young actor checked himself into rehab.

Neeson Snr’s next feature-length is Martin Scorcese’s historical drama Silence which is now in the editing suite ahead of its release later this year.

He is also working on Operation Chromite. The upcoming war drama, directed by Korean film-maker John H Lee, tells the story of a group of soldiers during the Battle of Inchon during the Korean war in 1950.

Neeson is one of the main western actors in a cast dominated by South Korean actors.

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Busy: Amid the furore and speculation around his love life, Liam was spotted filming in New York for comedy show Inside Amy Schumer, with the star herself