Action star Liam Neeson has said he regrets the loss of the sanctity of sex in modern day culture and continuously struggles with the the sexualized nature of society.

The 'Taken' star said he blames the cheapening of sex for ruining loving relationships.

Speaking to the Catholic Herald, Neeson, who has two teenage sons, Micheal, 17, and Daniel, 16, explained: "I'd hate to be a kid now, because we're all inundated with so much information about sexuality, coming at us from everywhere – the media, the advertising billboards, just everywhere – and it must be so confusing for them."

 "There's a problem that, if you become over-familiar with something, it moves from the sacred to almost the profane," he said.

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"The act is very, very special. It's full of mystery and wonder, and I'd hate us all to get to the stage where we just treat it lightly, because it deserves more than that."

He added: "Times have changed since I was young, no doubt about it."

When the 6ft 4in movie star was described as a sex symbol in the past, he quipped  that he was past his 'sell-by date.'

The 60-year-old Oscar nominated actor lost his wife Natasha Richardson three years ago when she died after suffering a head injury while skiing in Canada. The daughter of the actress Vanessa Redgrave and the director Tony Richardson, Richardson had been married to Neeson for 15 years.

He briefly dated Freya St Johnston, a public relations executive, before the relationship ended as Neeson reportedly wanted to spend more time in New York with his sons.

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