Liam Neeson was joking about dating an 'incredibly famous' woman

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Liam Neeson apparently isn't taken after all.

Neeson's publicist insists the actor was joking this week when he told the Irish Independent he is dating an "incredibly famous" woman, but didn't want to reveal who she is.

Neeson, 63, has kept his personal life out of the spotlight since his wife, actress Natasha Richardson, died in 2009 after a freak skiing accident, so his pre-Valentine's Day admission that he has been courting a celebrity sparked speculation across the Internet about who the lucky lady might be.

But now Neeson's representative is quashing the romance rumors.

"He was joking with an Irish journalist while conducting an interview promoting a documentary, and the humorous tone of that statement did not translate in the printed version of the interview," his publicist told People magazine.