Liam Neeson's dramatic transformation as concerns raised about mystery weight loss

Liam Neeson appears to have undergone a dramatic transformation following a period of mystery weight loss that sparked concern among fans.

The Love Actually star was a shadow of his former sturdy self when he was papped in 2015. He was spotted looking noticeably thinner on the streets of New York , which raised eyebrows as to what caused the change.

A snap of Neeson captured at the Garden of Dreams Talent Show in New York on June 18, 2015, saw the celeb looking remarkably slimmer, sparking questions about the health implications for a man his age.

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A spokesperson told MailOnline that the usually robust actor "had never been healthier ". The now 72-year-old had previously announced he had "cleared his schedule" but actually went on to start a new project two months later.

It remains unknown if the dramatic weight loss was due to preparation for a role or a new fitness routine. Neeson had just wrapped on two films at the time - Martin Scorsese's Silence and JA Bayona's A Monster Calls.

A Willing Patriot, the action thriller that was due to be shot in South Africa later that year, didn't seem like a role necessitating a major physical shift. It left everyone guessing what could have prompted such a transformation .

Neeson confessed not long before the pictures were taken that he'd felt the years creeping up when it came to his busy film gigs, admitting he had been considering calling time on the roles .

"Maybe two more years. If God spares me and I'm healthy," he mentioned during a chat with US media. "But after that, I'll stop [the action] I think."

The A-lister looked back to a normal weight and full health when he appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in March this year. Meanwhile, Neeson was nearly cast ahead of Daniel Day-Lewis for the lead part in 'Lincoln' but "didn't think he was right" for the role in Steven Spielberg's critically acclaimed project.

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The Irishman was a strong contender to play Abraham Lincoln in the titular feature. The Taken star even went as far as reading the script for the movie. Neeson was sought out for the part - but quickly realized it wasn't for him .

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