Liam Neeson & Dame Helen Mirren open up about their relationship

Former flames Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson had perhaps the most amicable reunion of all time as they recounted their days as lovebirds during their appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

The interview, which will air on Friday night, saw the Hollywood heavyweights reveal they were head over heels during their four-year romance, with the Taken star even admitting it was love at first sight. 

Asked by the cheeky chat show host about their dating days, Helen, 72, was quick to insist their romance, which burned between the years of 1980 and 1985, was a lot more serious than the occasional bit of courting. 

She affirmed: 'We didn’t date, we lived together for four years – we were a serious item for a while. Lucky me!' 

And Liam, 65, was quick to reciprocate Helen's affections as he confessed he was instantly 'smitten' with the actress when they met on the set of 1981 movie Excalibur. 

Revealing he took an instant shine, the Schindler's List star explained: 'Before I met her and we worked together I had read somewhere that if she fancied a guy she would imitate his walk behind his back and I turned around one day and she was doing that to me. 

He added: 'I remember being on the set and standing with Ciarán Hinds as Helen walked towards us dressed in her full Morgana Le Fey costume and we both went, "Oh f**k" and I was smitten.' 

But perhaps the most flattering comment came when Liam admitted he had to battle off his fair share of competitors to win Helen's heart. 

The Irish star divulged: 'I think Ciarán was too but I was very smitten!' prompting a blushing Helen to respond: 'I never knew that. You’ve never told me that before – it’s amazing.'

This article was first published on dailymail.co.uk and is reproduced here with permission.