LIAM Neeson has told of how the script for his new movie - about a father and son who bond after their wife and mother dies - left his gut "churning" because it mirrored his own life.
The Taken star said while the script for 'Made in Italy' wasn't written for him, it was "near the knuckle" following the death of his wife, Natasha Richardson.
The 45-year-old died in New York in 2009 following an accident while skiing in Montreal.
The 68-year-old Ballymena-born actor was speaking about his new Amazon Prime project on The Graham Norton show, where he appeared alongside his son, Micheál Richardson, who stars in the movie with his famous father.
The pair did their interview on the BBC show via a video call from New York.
Some Irish viewers noted that a Michael Collins statuette could be seen on the shelf in the room.
Neeson played the Irish Rising hero in the 1996 movie.
During the interview, his son also clarified that his name is Micheál and not Michael.
Neeson said he was keen for his son to appear with him in the movie.
"It's about a father and son who have kind of split apart," he said.
"I've lost my wife. He's lost his mother, tragically, which we can very much relate to, and we have to sell this house in Tuscany that belonged to my wife. In the process of selling this dilapidated house, we form a close bond again.
"It was written by James D'Arcy, who is a wonderful British actor, first time director, who went through a similar emotional experience when he was younger.
"He sent me the script and I remember reading it and thinking `Gosh, this is a bit near the knuckle'.
"I felt a churning in my gut and thought `Gosh, it would be great to do this and great to do with my son".
Micheál Richardson, who has taken his late mother's surname as an actor, said he and his father "had a conversation" about the movie.
"It was 10 years after mum had passed and that year we also had to sell an old family home where she and I grew up so it kind of hit a little harder for us".
The 25-year-old also revealed he auditioned for the role in the movie because "for my dignity, it was good".