Liam Neeson is one of Ireland's most famous actors, having starred in films such as Taken, Schindler's List and Michael Collins.
But the Ballymena native was also a very talented young amateur boxer before giving up the sport after a frightening experience.
Neeson began boxing when he was just nine years old and competed until he was in his mid to late teens.
He was crowned juvenile champion of Northern Ireland on three occasions and was also Irish runner-up a couple of times.
Previously speaking with ESPN about his boxing days, he said: "I was OK, I was competent. I was a jabber, I had a good jab. I had about 40 fights and I won about maybe 30."
On how he first began boxing, Neeson told the Huffington Post: "I was nine and was at mass one Sunday morning and our parish priest Father Darragh announced from the pulpit, ‘Listen, I am starting a boxing club on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm,’ or something like that.
"‘Send your boys up!’ And I was sent. There were about 10 or 12 of us. Father Darragh was there. He had two ropy pairs of ratty, old, ancient boxing gloves and a book on how to box.
"He started at page one and we learnt how to throw a left jab and did all that and then six years later — I say this very, very proudly — he guided our club to become one of the best clubs in Ireland.
"I made some very dear friends, and still have some very dear friends from the boxing years."
Neeson admits that he did consider boxing as a career when he was a kid.
On ever thinking about boxing as a career, he added: "Oh, yes, of course. You think, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to be picked for the Mexico Olympics?’ I think it was then.
"Of course, at that age you are thinking that. Muhammad Ali had won the world title and he was like a god, certainly to me.
"Your imagination is fired at that age.
"I have a photograph of Ali that I remember cutting out as a 12-year-old and he was an amateur boxer and I remember thinking, ‘My God, Ali’s 12 and I am 12. I could be the same.’ You think all that stuff."
Neeson was tipped by many to go professional, but he opted to hang up the gloves after suffering a concussion when he was 16.
He explained: "It was maybe close to my last fight. I must have been 16. I actually won the fight, but I came out of the ring and I had obviously got a concussion because my trainer said to go downstairs and take my clothes off and stuff, and I couldn't figure out what downstairs meant.
"It kind of freaked me out a bit. It lasted for about three minutes or so. I remember thinking, 'I've got to get out of this. It's not comfortable anymore'."
