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Sir Hugh Hayden-Hoyle

The outgoing Head of the Middle East desk of MI5, Sir Hugh has one last assignment to oversee before his departure; that of finding out who is intent on destroying the Steins and how Nessa’s past directly correlates to the present and the forces that are conspiring against her – both at home and on the international stage. A cunning and astute operator, Sir Hugh is fazed by little and knows all too well how the higher offices of government operate and the lengths to which they’ll go in order to protect national interests. A man who wants only the truth, he is an unlikely ally to the Steins and must engage in an intellectually superior game of espionage and international relations in order to preserve the Stein family name and get to the bottom of why Nessa’s enemies (domestic and foreign) are so intent on her destruction. As he now faces the end of his career and despite never having never had to make a stand on anything, Sir Hugh begins to discover a moral compass.

Stephen Rea: "It's done with tremendous humanity"

Stephen introduces his character, Sir Hugh Hayden-Hoyle.

Stephen Rea

Stephen is one of Ireland’s most celebrated stage and film actors. Born in Belfast, he has appeared in V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire, Fever Pitch, Underworld: Awakening and Breakfast on Pluto amongst many others. In 1992 he was nominated for an Academy Award for his lead performance as Fergus in Neil Jordan’s critically acclaimed film The Crying Game.

On stage, Stephen has worked extensively with the Abbey Theatre in Dublin where he trained and has worked many times with acclaimed US playwright Sam Shepard including Geography of a Horse Dreamer at the Royal Court, Kicking a Dead Horse and Ages of the Moon at the Abbey Theatre and on Broadway.

For television, Stephen has appeared in Utopia, The Shadow Line, Law & Order: SVU and now, The Honourable Woman.

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