For shooting in the film “Hostage”, actor Liam Neeson received not only a good fee, but also a nice bonus: after filming in this picture, the Irish artist became so popular among modern directors that in 2014 he took sixth place in the list of the highest paid actors in the world. Who else, besides Neeson, starred in the action movie, which was produced by Luke Besson himself?
"Hostage": an actor in the title role. Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson began acting in films quite late - at the age of 26. Prior to that, he selflessly served in the Dublin Theater. But when Neeson nevertheless took up his film career, he managed to get the most sensational and legendary projects in his personal filmography: Schindler's List, Star Wars, New York Gangs, Batman. The Beginning ”and“ The Chronicles of Narnia ”. By the way, Neeson was nominated for an Oscar for the lead role in Schindler’s List.
The actor got into the film “Hostage” in 2008. He was supposed to play a former agent of the American special services, who went to France to find his kidnapped daughter. This impulse turns for the hero Neeson into a fierce struggle with the Albanian mafia.
The actor’s fee for shooting in the first part was only $ 2 million. But the general fees from the rental of the film were so successful that the producer of the film, Luc Besson, decided to shoot a sequel. However, Neeson did not immediately rejoice at this idea. To persuade the actor to return to the set of “Hostages”, Luc Besson had to lay out a fee of $ 20 million on the table.
Maggie Grace as Kim
In the film “Hostage,” actor Liam Neeson, or rather, his character, is trying to save his daughter Kim. The role of the kidnapped girl went to the young American actress Maggie Grace.
Kim goes to Paris for company with his girlfriend Amanda. They spend a fascinating day together, then the girl calls her father, but at that moment she sees how unknown people abduct her friend right from the hotel room. After some time, the attackers find Kim herself, who tried to hide from them under the bed. A little later, the girl learns that she will be resold as a concubine in the harem of a very rich man. Fortunately, the father finds the girl on time.
Maggie Grace played Shannon Rutherford in the famous American television series Lost. She also appeared in the role of the vampire Irina in the twilight saga with Kristen Stewart in the lead role and played April Havens in the film “Knight of the Day” with Tom Cruise.
The film "Hostage": actors and roles. Famke Janssen
Famke Janssen worked for a long time as a model in the Netherlands. Her career in Hollywood began with the role of Kyle in the film Fathers and Sons. Then the actress collaborated with such well-known directors as Woody Allen (“Celebrity”) and Robert Rodriguez (“Faculty”). Also, the actress can be seen in the thrillers “The House of Night Ghosts” and “Alien Game” with John Hannah in the title role.
Famke gained some popularity by playing in the 2000 film “X-Men”. Her character,
Gene Gray, subsequently appeared in all parts of the film, including the last, released in 2015, entitled Days of the Future Past. Janssen also appeared in 2013 in the dark fantasy Witch Hunters. In this film, she got the role of the supreme dark witch Muriel, and Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner became partners with Famke on the stage.
Famke played in all three parts of the film "Hostage" the ex-wife of special agent Brian Mills. Her heroine is also the mother of the abducted girl Kim.
Xander Berkeley
Xander Berkeley is better known to viewers for his roles in the American television series Nikita and 24. In the action movie "Hostage", the actor got the role of businessman Stuart, who married the ex-wife of Brian Mills and brings up his daughter. It is Stuart who buys Kim tickets to Paris so that she can unwind with her friend. Kim also gives her stepfather many expensive gifts, for example, an Arabian horse, which greatly annoys the girl’s real father.
Xander Berkeley has been in films since 1991, and his first role was the role of guardian John Connor in the acclaimed "Terminator 2". Then Berkeley starred in Poison Ivy-2 and in the television series Bones, Thinking Like a Criminal, and Jericho. Further, the
actor’s filmography is a string of television series, among which only occasionally feature films: for example, “Hostage” by Pierre Morel, “Women in Need” by Sebastian Gutierrez, “The Beginning of Times” by Harold Ramis. In 2015, the film with the participation of the actor “Consolation” was released, the main role in which went to Anthony Hopkins.
Katie Cassidy
The actors of the film “Hostage” also accepted the actress Katie Kessidy, who played the role of Amanda, into their friendly company. Amanda is Kim’s girlfriend and with her is kidnapped by Albanian merchants. In the finale of the picture, she manages to save her, as did Kim.
At the beginning of her career, Cassidy starred in Eminem's famous video “Just Lose It.” Then the young actress starred in the TV series Supernatural, Melrose Place, Harper Island and Gossip Girl. In 2010, Katie played the role of Chriss in the remake of the 80s, A Nightmare on Elm Street.
In 2011, Cassidy plays a supporting role in the melodrama Monte Carlo. Her partners on the stage were the famous singer Selena Gomez and actress Leighton Mister, who starred in the films “Roommate” and “Crazy Date”. In the same year, Katie received one of the main roles in the romantic comedy "Love Binding", where Nina Ostroff plays.
Other role performers
The main actor of the film “Hostage” is, of course, Liam Neeson, who is good at playing the roles of “tough” guys. In addition to Janssen, Grace and Berkeley, the actor had the opportunity to meet with Pierre Boulanger, a young French actor who played the role of Theo Marchand, on the set. You can also see Katherine Tate (“Love and Other Disasters”), Luke Bracey (“On the Crest of a Wave”), Corey Monteith (“Secrets of Smallville”), Andy MacDowell (“Hudson Hawk”) and Brett Cullen (“Ghost Rider”) ").
In a word, the actors of the film “Hostage” turned out to be very recognizable Hollywood persons, which positively affected the success of the action movie. With a budget of $ 25 million, it was possible to collect $ 226 million at the box office. If we talk about the second part of the film, the budget of the picture was increased to $ 45 million, and at the box office managed to raise 376 million.