Liam Neeson Channels ‘Rage’ Into New Film About Tuam Mother and Baby Home Scandal
Actor Liam Neeson produces The Lost Children of Tuam, a new drama exposing the tragic history of Ireland's St. Mary's Mother and Baby Home scandal.
POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — Actor Liam Neeson has opened up about the profound sense of anger and shame he experienced upon discovering the details of a care home scandal that devastated Ireland. The 74-year-old star is now serving as a producer for a new biographical drama titled The Lost Children of Tuam, which aims to bring the harrowing history to a wider audience.
The film draws inspiration from a 2017 New York Times report detailing the research of local historian Catherine Corless. Her work uncovered that nearly 800 children were interred in unmarked graves and a sewage tank at the St. Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway, over several decades ending in the 1960s.
Reflecting on his Catholic upbringing and time as an altar boy, Neeson admitted he was staggered by the revelations. He told Variety, “I was brought up a Catholic. I was an altar boy for a bunch of years, and I was kind of staggered by it. And, for the first time in my professional life, I remember thinking: ‘Whatever my celebrity status is in this business, I want this story to be shown to more people.’”
Driven by a need to act, Neeson secured the rights to the article, marking his first foray into film production. The project is directed by Frank Berry and features Monica Dolan in the role of Corless. Neeson noted that he specifically chose Berry for the project after being impressed by his previous works, including the 2017 film Michael Inside and the 2022 drama Aisha.
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Regarding the directorial style, Neeson remarked, When I saw those films, I thought — this is the man to tell this story. Frank wonderfully eavesdrops with his camera and allows the story to breathe. And especially with this, you do not want to highlight the horror. You just let the story breathe, and the horror will reveal itself.
Beyond his production work, Neeson recently shared his anxieties regarding the shifting state of the film industry. He expressed concern over the rise of streaming platforms and the decline of traditional theatrical releases, telling the Press Association, “The movie industry is changing, streaming services are merging, companies are being bought out. We’re all very concerned about the state of Hollywood. What’s going to happen to feature films?”
The actor also reflected on the inherent instability of his profession, noting that he feels fortunate despite the industry’s volatility. He added, “I’ve been very, very lucky. I have friends and acquaintances, actors, some of whom haven’t worked for months and months. It’s a profession filled with rejection. It really is.”
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
