Interview with Stephen Rea
Interview with Stephen Rea, who plays Sir Hugh Hayden-Hoyle in BBC Two drama The Honourable Woman.
I hadn’t worked with [Maggie Gyllenhaal] before; she’s a wonderful actress. She is tremendously easy to work with; it was a pleasure to be with her on set and do the more difficult scenes.
What is your character’s role within The Honourable Woman?
Hugh Hayden-Hoyle is a spy - he works for MI6 and looks after the Middle East. The context of this is important, as we know Palestine and Israel in the Middle East is in question. But it’s done with such tremendous humanity.
What inspired you to work with Hugo Blick?
I did a series called The Shadow Line with Hugo and it was a wonderful experience. I think he’s an exceptional writer and director, so I was keen to do this as soon as he mentioned it to me. Hugo will always make it a bit more complex and find ways to keep it interesting, as well as incorporate any ideas you have yourself.
How was it working alongside Maggie Gyllenhaal?
I used to turn the page of the script and think ‘My God – look at what Maggie Gyllenhaal has to do today!’ I hadn’t worked with her before; she’s a wonderful actress. She is tremendously easy to work with; it was a pleasure to be with her on set and do the more difficult scenes.
What do you admire most about The Honourable Woman?
Maggie’s character, Nessa, is looking for reconciliation; my character is looking for reconciliation with his ex wife. I think that’s what makes it immensely poignant because it’s on an understandable, relatable level. The whole question of reconciliation is on a level that we can all identify with and understand.
