Stephen Rea biography

Synopsis

Irish actor Stephen Rea worked at Dublin’s renowned Abbey Theatre before co-founding the Field Day Theatre in 1980. Hollywood took notice of him after his incredible performance in The Crying Game, when he played an IRA gunman who falls for the fiancee of his victim. He also starred in V for Vendetta and Interview with the Vampire. Despite his film schedule, he still performs on stage regularly.

Profile

Actor, director. Born October 31, 1946 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Stephen Rea??s tenure at Dublin??s renowned Abbey Theatre afforded him extensive stage work in England. In 1980, he co-founded the Field Day Theatre with Irish playwright Brian Friel.

Stephen Rea appeared in several TV productions before making his first notable performance on the big screen in 1982??s Angel, Neil Jordan??s directorial debut. It wasn??t until 1992??s The Crying Game, however, that Stephen Rea would make Hollywood stand up and take notice. His performance as an IRA gunman who falls for the fiancee of his victim earned Rea a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

Notable films followed, including Interview with the Vampire, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, This Is My Father and The End of the Affair. The 2000s brought several more strong performances from Stephen Rea, including Evelyn, Catch the Sun and his eighth collaboration with Jordan, Breakfast on Pluto.

Despite his busy film schedule, Stephen Rea continues to do strong work on the small screen and stage. In 1996, he gave an acclaimed performance as the accused Lindbergh baby kidnapper Bruno Richard Hauptmann in HBO??s Crime of the Century. More recently, he directed and starred in an adaptation of Sean O'Casey play The Plough and the Stars at the Gaeity Theater in Dublin.