Liam Neeson talks about how he ‘lost everything’ just before filming his first scene in SCHINDLER’S LIST

The seven-time Academy Award-winning Holocaust drama Schindler’s List It had taken him ten years to become an acclaimed director Steven Spielbergwho first heard about the book, based on a true story, when he had just released his hit 1982 film, ET the extraterrestrial. After reading the story, he began the long process of acquiring the rights and began looking for a writer and actors who could tell such a delicate story just the way he had imagined it. Once the casting was complete, he hired him Liam Neeson in the role of industrialist Oskar Schindler, the man who employed Jews in his camp during the Holocaust to save them from death, they traveled to Krakow to shoot the film in the place where the real events occurred.

Spielberg was joined by his two producers, Jerry Molen and Branko Lustig, the latter of whom, according to Spielberg, came to his office and stormed out by rolling up his sleeve and displaying his Auschwitz numbers tattooed on his forearm.

In an in-depth story about the making of the film with The Hollywood Reporter, Neeson talked about how he wrapped up the Broadway show Anna Christie, and headed to Poland the next day. He had worked with a dialect coach and watched footage of Schindler in preparation for the role, but nothing could have prepared him for the feelings he felt when he was finally on set. He explained:

“Before my first scene, we were at the gates of Auschwitz. I was walking outside the barbed wire, waiting to be called to the set. I was wearing my Schindler stuff, a big fur-lined coat, and I was a little nervous, looking at the huts inside Auschwitz. Branko came up to me and said, “How are you feeling?” I said, “I feel good.” It’s an intense scene and it’ll be nice to have it under control.” Branko casually pointed to a cabin and said, “See that cabin over there, second from the left?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “That’s where I was.” Damn, I just lost it. He was there at age 6. Two years spent there. I remember my knees getting weak and thinking, ‘You gotta get your act together, man.’ This isn’t acting in another movie. ‘”

I can’t even imagine the burden of taking on a role like this. Neeson was the perfect actor for the part, however, and the film turned out magnificently, winning seven Academy Awards and remaining one of Spielberg’s best films and one of the most important films of all time.