Taken actor says comments he made about being involved with a famous woman were in jest 

Liam Neeson is not ruling out Taken 4
 (Getty Images)

Liam Neeson is likely hoping relentless speculation about his private life will finally be brought to a close after explaining the remarks he made about being involved with a “very famous woman” that sparked so many headlines were just a joke.

Neeson proved just how quickly rumours can spiral out of control when he found himself at the centre of a particularly surprising thread last week.

After being asked by the Irish Independent if he was dating again, seven years after his wife Natasha Richardson passed away, the 63-year-old replied: “Yes, but I’d embarrass her if I said her name, she’s incredibly famous.

I’ll have to do my best for her. It’s amazing how far a simple bunch of freshly picked flowers will go in a lady’s life, I find.”

A satirical article from Jezebel presenting a ‘theory’ that his mystery partner was Kristen Stewart, 25, sent the rumour mill into overdrive – despite the piece making it clear in the first sentence that this ‘theory’ was “based on almost nothing”.

Neeson’s spokesperson quickly set about such claims to rest, dismissing it as “meaningless speculation” to The Independent at the time.

However, interest in his domestic life refused to die down, with the Mail Online dedicating an entire piece to listing the famous women who could possibly be linked to the actor.

His spokesperson quashed any speculation pertaining to a partner by telling The Mirror: “He was joking with the writer during an interview he was doing with the Irish Independent.”