Forget Sir Laurence Olivier or Robert DeNiro. Liam Neeson has revealed the man who inspired him to be an actor is Northern Ireland's former first minister Ian Paisley. The two Ulstermen, however, had never come face to face until a dinner for Irish-Americans in the US this month.

Liam told Big Ian the profound effect his preaching had upon him as a teenager. The Schindler's List star said: "Paisley then turned to his wife and said: 'Eileen, this gentleman has just told me it was me who made him become an actor'."

Too bad Neeson didn't tell Paisley he turned down a role playing reverend in a biopic because he reckoned Cracker star Robbie Coltrane would do it better.