Hollywood star Liam Neeson has been awarded an honorary degree from Queen’s University Belfast at a ceremony in New York.
But the Northern Ireland-born actor had to endure hearing quotes from his old school report during the ceremony yesterday, as the Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s, Prof Peter Gregson, recalled the actor’s student days.
Neeson, who appeared in blockbuster films including Schindler's Listand Michael Collins, enrolled at Queen's in 1971 as a physics and computer science student, before leaving to work at Guinness.
Prof Gregson presented the actor with a Doctorate of the University for his Outstanding Contribution and Service to the Arts at an event at the residence of Her Majesty’s Consul-General.
“From an acting career which first began at the age of 11, Liam Neeson has gone on to become one of the leading, international motion picture figures of our time,” he said. “He is to be commended for his continuing contribution to the sector both on the big screen and at his home in Northern Ireland, where he continues to provide vital support for local theatre."
The Vice Chancellor revealed how Neeson’s academic referee from Ballymena Technical College said he was confidently expected to obtain high grades in maths, physics and geometrical drawing.
His teacher hinted at what was to come when he wrote: “Liam’s chief interest would appear to be amateur dramatics, in which he has played the leading role in the last two productions of the college play.”
Accepting his honorary degree, Dr Neeson joked that at last he would be able to tell his mother he had graduated from university.
The actor, who recently suffered the loss of his wife, said: “My home will always be Northern Ireland. I have often found that, no matter where I meet people in the world, there is a path that leads back to Queen’s”.
Natasha Richardson died in a hospital in New York last March after suffering a fatal head injury during a skiing accident in Canada.
PA