Liam Neeson has insisted he is "not racist" after facing backlash for admitting he stalked the streets with a cosh in the hope of coming across a "black b-----d" to kill.

He has been accused of being a "racist nutjob" by critics after telling the Independent he had an urge to kill someone because of the colour of their skin after finding out his friend was raped by a black man.

Despite this, he told ABC's Good Morning America: "I'm not racist."

He said his actions were because of a "a primal urge" nearly 40 years ago, which led him to "try and stand up for my friend in this fairly medieval fashion".

Neeson added there were "some nights" where he "deliberately went into black areas in the city, looking to be set upon" so that he could "unleash physical violence".

The Taken star said he realised that the "primal urge" was wrong and sought help from a Catholic priest and went power walking for two hours a day in order to get rid of the anger he felt.

The actor has faced widespread criticism from police officers, think tanks, politicians and his peers in show-business.