Liam Neeson says he would have had the same reaction to a friend of his being raped, if she had been attacked by an Irishman.
The actor has drawn widespread criticism after admitting that, around 40 years ago, he roamed the streets hoping to murder a "black bastard" as pay-back for the rape of his friend.
He now says his thoughts at the time were wrong, and has since sought help.
The actor told The Independent that he took to the streets for a week in the hope of a confrontation after his friend told him she was raped by a black man.
Liam Neeson Wants People To "Open Up"
Speaking on ABC's Good Morning America, Liam Neeson said he would have had the same reaction if his friend "had said an Irish, or a Scot, or a Brit, or a Lithuanian".
"I was trying to... stand up for my dear friend in this terrible medieval fashion", he told the programme.
He admitted that he roamed the streets "maybe four or five times until I caught myself on".
"It really shocked me, this primal urge I had. It shocked me, and it hurt me. I did seek help", he said.
The actor hopes his confession will get people "to open up".
"We all pretend we're kind of politically correct", he said.
