Liam Neeson Slams Tardiness in Hollywood: “I Would Never Work With Those People”August 8, 2025
Liam Neeson has never been one to mince words when it comes to his approach to filmmaking. The Oscar-nominated actor, who has built a decades-long career balancing prestige dramas with blockbuster action hits, is now speaking out about a problem he sees as both rampant and deeply disrespectful in the industry: actors showing up late to set.
In a candid interview with Rolling Stone promoting his latest project — Paramount Pictures’ reboot of The Naked Gun — the 73-year-old Irish star made it clear that punctuality is non-negotiable for him.
“That’s very important,” Neeson said when asked about showing up on time. “I hear disturbing stories about actors and actresses who are very gifted, but show up on the set two, three, four hours late. I would never work with those people. I think it’s so insulting. You have a crew of like 60, 70, 80 people waiting for you. The very least you can do is give them the respect by turning up on time.”
Although Neeson didn’t call out anyone by name, his comments struck a chord in Hollywood, where lateness on set can quickly spiral into major production headaches — and significant cost overruns.
Why Neeson’s Comments Matter
In the entertainment industry, time really is money. A large-scale studio production can burn through tens of thousands of dollars per hour in wages, location fees, and equipment costs. If a lead actor is hours late, it’s not just an inconvenience — it can throw an entire day’s shooting schedule into chaos.
Neeson’s words carry weight because of his reputation. Over more than 40 years in the business, he has earned a reputation as a consummate professional. Crew members and directors who have worked with him often note his reliability, preparedness, and humility on set.
That’s why his disdain for chronic tardiness isn’t just about etiquette — it’s about respect for the collaborative nature of filmmaking.
“It’s not just about me,” Neeson emphasized. “You have electricians, camera operators, make-up artists, sound crew, stunt teams — all standing around because one person couldn’t be bothered to turn up when they were supposed to.”
Not About The Naked Gun Cast
While Neeson’s remarks were broad, he made it clear he wasn’t referring to his Naked Gun co-stars, including Pamela Anderson. In fact, by all accounts, the comedic reboot’s set was an energetic and disciplined environment.
Anderson, who plays opposite Neeson’s bumbling detective, has described the shoot as “one of the most fun and efficient sets” she’s ever been on. The film, which flips Neeson’s image from stoic action hero to slapstick lead, opened to $17 million at the domestic box office — a strong debut for a comedy in today’s challenging theatrical market.
The role marks a new direction for Neeson, whose recent career has been dominated by the Taken-style action films that made him a late-career box office draw.
The End of an Action Era
Though still in demand for action scripts, Neeson says his appetite for the genre is waning.
“I’m 73, for f***’s sake,” he told Variety earlier this year. “I don’t want to insult audiences if they’re watching whole fight scenes and it’s not me. I just wouldn’t do it. Up until recently, I liked doing my own fight stuff. But I don’t want to be doing that stuff with a Zimmer frame or walking stick.”
While he doesn’t rule out another action role — “Sure, there might be another one out there,” he said — there’s nothing currently on the horizon. For now, he’s focused on exploring new genres, including comedy, where timing of a different sort takes center stage.
Why Timeliness Is a Bigger Issue Than People Realize
Insiders say Neeson’s critique points to a deeper problem that’s long plagued Hollywood: a tolerance, even indulgence, for bad behavior by high-profile talent.
In many cases, top-billed actors are granted wide latitude — showing up late, ignoring call sheets, or holding up entire crews — without serious consequences. Studio executives sometimes look the other way if the actor is deemed essential to a film’s marketability.
But the industry is changing. Tightened budgets, more rigorous union contracts, and greater scrutiny from social media have made such behavior harder to hide — and less acceptable.
“It’s not the 1980s anymore,” says one veteran assistant director. “Back then, if a big-name star rolled in three hours late, everyone just gritted their teeth and adjusted. Now, word gets out instantly. And frankly, crews have less patience for it.”
Neeson’s Old-School Professionalism
Part of the reason Neeson’s comments resonate is that he’s from an era — and a cultural background — where punctuality and preparation were non-negotiable.
Born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, Neeson worked as a forklift operator, truck driver, and amateur boxer before training as an actor. His theatre background, including a stint at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, instilled in him a respect for ensemble work and the rhythms of production.
In theatre, lateness isn’t an option. Curtain times are fixed, audiences are waiting, and every actor’s timing depends on the others. That ethos seems to have carried over into his film career.
A Growing Conversation in Hollywood
Neeson’s remarks arrive amid a broader industry conversation about professionalism on set. In recent years, actors like Tom Cruise, Dwayne Johnson, and Keanu Reeves have been praised for their punctuality and work ethic, with stories of them arriving early, staying late, and treating crew members as equals.
Conversely, tales of chronic lateness have dogged other stars — sometimes spilling into the public domain. While Neeson was too diplomatic to name names, his comments inevitably invite speculation.
Film historian and industry commentator Carla Renata says Neeson’s stance could help shift norms.
“When someone of Liam’s stature speaks out, it gives cover to directors and producers who want to enforce call times without fear of alienating big stars,” she says. “It sets a tone that professionalism is as important as talent.”
Why The Naked Gun Could Be Neeson’s Perfect Next Step
The irony, of course, is that The Naked Gun — a broad, slapstick spoof — relies heavily on comedic timing. And Neeson, a self-described newcomer to leading in this genre, seems to be taking the craft as seriously as he took his bruising action roles.
“Comedy’s all about rhythm,” Neeson said in the same interview. “You miss the timing, you lose the laugh. In that sense, it’s not so different from a fight scene — everyone has to be in sync, or it doesn’t work.”
By combining his on-set discipline with a willingness to poke fun at his own tough-guy image, Neeson may have found a formula that keeps him relevant to both longtime fans and new audiences.
The Takeaway
In an industry where stories of diva behavior still circulate freely, Liam Neeson’s zero-tolerance approach to lateness is refreshingly straightforward.
He’s not pretending to be perfect. He’s not claiming to have all the answers. But he is drawing a line — one that says respect for the crew, the schedule, and the collaborative nature of filmmaking is just as important as the performance itself.
And in an era when budgets are tight, schedules are compressed, and every day of production counts, that’s a message more actors — and studios — might do well to hear.
For now, The Naked Gun is in theaters, giving audiences a chance to see Neeson in a rare comedic turn. But his comments about on-set discipline may prove to be his lasting contribution this month — sparking a conversation that goes beyond the box office.