Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson are two of the most acclaimed actors of their generation, having starred in numerous films and won several awards. But are they related by blood, or just by friendship? The answer is the latter, as they are not biologically related, but have a strong bond that goes back decades.
How They Met
According to IMDb, Fiennes and Neeson first met on the set of Schindler’s List, the 1993 film directed by Steven Spielberg that tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved over a thousand Jews from the Holocaust. Neeson played Schindler, while Fiennes played Amon Goeth, the sadistic Nazi commander of the Plaszow concentration camp. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Fiennes and Neeson became friends during the filming, despite playing enemies on screen. They bonded over their shared Irish heritage, as Neeson was born in Northern Ireland and Fiennes has Irish ancestry from his mother’s side. They also shared a passion for acting and a respect for each other’s work.
How They Stayed Friends
Fiennes and Neeson have remained close friends ever since Schindler’s List, supporting each other through personal and professional challenges. They have also collaborated on several other projects, such as Clash of the Titans (2010) and its sequel Wrath of the Titans (2012), where they played Greek gods Zeus and Hades, respectively. They also voiced characters in The Lego Movie (2014) and The Prince of Egypt (1998).
One of the most notable examples of their friendship was when Fiennes defended Neeson after he faced a backlash for admitting in an interview with The Independent3 that he once had violent thoughts of killing a black person after someone close to him was raped. Fiennes said that Neeson was “not a racist” and that he was trying to make an honest confession about his past emotions. Fiennes said that he knew Neeson to be “one of the most loyal and honourable and good men there are”.
Conclusion
Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson are not related by blood, but by friendship. They met on the set of Schindler’s List in 1993 and have maintained a strong bond ever since. They have worked together on several films and have supported each other through thick and thin. They are an example of how two actors can form a lasting friendship despite playing opposite roles on screen.
