Helen Mirren has spoken fondly about her relationship with ex-boyfriend Liam Neeson as she explained they ‘loved each other very, very much’.

The actress, 77, was in a relationship with the actor, 70, for five years between 1980 and 1985 and even lived together for four of the years.

Speaking in a new interview about their past, Helen said: ‘We were not meant to be together in that way, but we loved each other very, very much,’ she told the outlet. ‘I love him deeply to this day. He’s such an amazing guy.’

Helen spoke exclusively to the new AARP The Magazine about some of her past loves and how they all ‘had to have a shirt made by me’.

She told the publication: ‘I did make one for Liam, oddly enough.’

Other men who own homemade shirts by Helen, include actor Peter O’Toole and her husband Taylor Hackford, who she has been married to for 25 years.

Ex-files: The actress, 77, was in a relationship with the actor, 70, for five years between 1980 and 1985 and even lived together for four of the years (pictured together in 1984)

Helen branded the shirts ‘very bad’ and laughed when it was suggested that she has her own fashion collection of shirts.  

The screen star is not shy about gushing about her ex and previously couldn’t resist fondly recalling the time she went camping with the actor, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019.

When quizzed by guest presenter Sean Hayes about her love for the outdoors, the British star gushed about ‘liking’ camping with Liam and relayed the story about them two having to share a ‘tiny tent all day’ during a rainy adventure.

Reflecting: The screen star is not shy about gushing about her ex and previously couldn’t resist fondly recalling the time she went camping with the actor, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019

Helen detailed: ‘I once went camping with Liam Neeson, because we used to date. We lived together for four years! (It was) Before Liam was the humongous movie star that he is today.

Telling the story to the excitable audience, the Catherine The Great star continued: ‘We went camping in this tiny little tent, the size of this table, and we drove there in this tiny little car. 

‘Liam is like 6 ft 4in, his head was touching the top, and he was driving like this (making a slouched body shape). We camped in this tiny little tent. It rained all day, everyday. We were camping in Cornwall, then wewent camping in France.’

‘I like camping,’ Helen reiterated, before cheekily adding: ‘Well, I like camping with Liam Neesom anyways, and my husband (Taylor Hackford).

Helen and Liam have spoken about their fondness for each other on various occasions over the years.      

Helen detailed: ‘I once went camping with Liam Neeson, because we used to date. We lived together for four years! (It was) Before Liam was the humongous movie star that he is today’

In January 2018, the Hollywood heavyweights revealed they were head over heels during their four-year romance, with the Taken star even admitting it was love at first sight during their appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

Asked by the cheeky chat show host about their dating days, Helen 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 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.

Cute: Helen and Liam have spoken about their fondness for each other on various occasions over the years

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.

Sad: Eight years after his relationship with Helen, Liam met his first wife, Natasha Richardson, who tragically passed away following a freak skiing accident in 2009.

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.’ 

Eight years after his relationship with Helen, Liam met his first wife, Natasha Richardson, who tragically passed away following a freak skiing accident in 2009.

The couple welcomed two children, Micheál, 22, and Daniel, 21, during their 15-year marriage.

While Helen has been married to director Taylor Hackford, 74, since 1997.

Love: Helen has been married to director Taylor Hackford, 74, since 1997