Liam Neeson: 'Batman' Mentor

By: Brian Leach

Few actors have had a more diverse career on film than Liam Neeson, the actor who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in the Steven Spielberg award-winning Holocaust drama, "Schindler's List."

He has moved effortlessly from dramas like that to comedies, like "Love Actually," to biopics like "Kinsey" and even mega blockbusters, such as "Star Wars Episode One."

His latest movie is the eagerly anticipated "Batman Begins," in which he stars as a mysterious man known as Henri Ducard.

Neeson admits he was a bit reticent to accept the part when he first was approached with the role.

"As a child growing up in Ireland, he wasn't my hero, " Neeson tells The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "I have to say, it was Superman. He was my kind of guy. I find Batman just a little bit scary."

Plus, the past Batman movies have not been well-received. Neeson says, "I think the last two were kind of strange. Lost touch. Lost a bit of direction. But in this one, my reticence was put to bed."

When he read the script, Neeson says, he was drawn in by the realistic character and story dynamics. He explains, "Now, I know why this guy, Bruce Wayne, would end up dressing up in this strange funky costume and climbing over buildings. The film really delivers as to how and why that happens."

Neeson's character is Bruce Wayne's (Christian Bale) mentor. Ducard teaches him in the mastery of the physical and mental disciplines that will empower him to fight the evil he has vowed to destroy.