NEW YORK - Northern Ireland-born Hollywood star Liam Neeson accepted an honorary degree from his former university at a ceremony in New York on Thursday.
But he had to endure hearing quotes from an old school report during the ceremony, as the vice-chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, Prof Peter Gregson, recalled the actor's student days.
Neeson, the star of such films as Schindler's Listand Michael Collins, enrolled at Queen's in 1971 as a physics and computer science student, before leaving to work at Guinness.
Prof Gregson presented the actor with a doctorate of the university (DUniv) for his contribution and service to the arts at an event at the residence of the British consul general.
"From an acting career which first began at the age of 11, Liam Neeson has gone on to become one of the leading, international motion-picture figures of our time," Prof Gregson said.
"Liam's outstanding drive and resolute belief that the arts can contribute much to society has seen his star remain in the ascendancy.
"He is to be commended for his continuing contribution to the sector both on the big screen and at his home in Northern Ireland, where he continues to provide vital support for local theatre."
Prof Gregson surprised guests by revealing details from Neeson's original university application form from 1970.
Neeson's academic referee from Ballymena Technical College said he was confidently expected to obtain high grades in maths, physics and geometrical drawing.
As well as commenting on his pleasant personality and hard-working approach, his teacher hinted at what was to come when he wrote: "Liam's chief interest would appear to be amateur dramatics, in which he has played the leading role in the last two productions of the college play."
Accepting his honorary degree, Neeson joked that at last he would be able to tell his mother he had graduated from university. "My home will always be Northern Ireland. I have often found that, no matter where I meet people in the world, there is a path that leads back to Queen's," he said.
"Queen's University flies the flag for the arts in Northern Ireland and beyond. It is to be commended on its commitment to the arts sector and in nurturing new talent through its broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses."
In March the actor's wife, Natasha Richardson, died from head injuries suffered in a skiing accident. Neeson is a patron of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and has been an ambassador for Unicef Ireland.
- (PA)