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"I didn't want to be seen as just a guy on a list. I'm interested in good scripts, scripts that are about something, scripts that move your acting along." - Stephen Rea in an interview published in the Toronto Sun, 1999. |
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If
a picture is worth a thousand words then maybe there's so much more to
say about this talented actor...
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Perhaps
it's time a website offered a new appreciation...
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 AMPAS |
Stephen
Rea has a long and distinguished acting career in film, television and
theatre and has
consistently proven his talent as a multidimensional actor who has gone
the distance and always excels far beyond the ordinary and typecast in
any role. Well known as one of Ireland's
most talented, captivating and versatile actors, he's often noted for
his Academy Award nominated role as Fergus in the cult classic, The
Crying Game, (1992).
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To
date, Stephen Rea has appeared in over 95 film and television productions,
has played many different characters in a variety of films and has a solid
record of never shying away from challenging roles. In
the last ten years alone, Stephen Rea has appeared in over 35 films, playing
everything from the factual based character of Danish nuclear physicist
Niels Bohr in the BBC/PBS production of Copenhagen (2002), to the
classic portrayal of Leopold Bloom, in
the film Bloom (2003, based
on Joyce's novel Ulysses),
to a sympathetic police inspector
who begins to doubt the totalitarian government's agenda in the internationally
known film, V for Vendetta (2005).
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Born
in Belfast, Ireland, Stephen Rea is steadfast and proud of his Irish heritage
and often chooses to play many roles using his own native accent. He also
continues to lend his talent in support of the Irish film industry and
can be see in many recent Irish films: Bloom, (2003), The Halo
Effect (IFTA nomination) (2004), Breakfast on Pluto (IFTA nomination)
(2005) and Kisses, (2007). And, while Stephen Rea can easily speak
fluent Irish/Gaelic (Fluent Dysphasia, 2004), he also has a masterful
command of the English language and its many dialects. As a truly international
actor who can portray a wide range of characters with a variety of accents,
he has taken on roles like the stoic Russian medical examiner tracking
a serial killer in Citizen X (1995), Lindberg kidnapping suspect
Bruno Richard Hauptmann in Crime of the Century (1996) (Golden
Globe Nomination) and a patient and caring Rabbi in Snow in
August (2001) (Daytime Emmy Nomination).
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In 1983, Stephen Rea first teamed with director Neil Jordan and starred in Angel, aka Danny Boy. The director and star collaboration proved successful and yielded enchanting and inventive results. Rea and Jordan went on to work together on eight more films including, The Company of Wolves (1984), The Crying Game (1992), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Michael Collins (1996), The Butcher Boy (1997), In Dreams (1999), The End of the Affair (1999) and Breakfast on Pluto (2005). The dynamic Irish duo is currently working together for the 10th time on Jordan's latest film, Ondine, starring Colin Farrell. |
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Whether
portraying the dapper, ultra conservative and sensitive Henry Miles, who
remains troubled, yet unflinchingly devoted to his unfaithful wife in
Neil Jordan's The End of the Affair (1999), or the mop top, aging
bohemian member of a rock-n-roll band trying to make a comeback in the
cult retro rock film, Still Crazy (1998), Stephen Rea's performance
in any movie role is often subtle and diverse, yet always memorable and
unique.
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Stephen
Rea's film roles are only a part of his prestigious and brilliant acting
career. He is also one of the great stage actors who has appeared in many
different and distinguished theatre productions, entertaining worldwide
audiences in Ireland, London and Broadway. Well known for his electrifying
stage performances in many classic world dramas and their various translations,
Stephen Rea won a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor as
political prisoner
Edward in
the critically acclaimed production of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me
(1992-1993) written
by Frank McGuinness.
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Stephen
Rea is also a founding member of Ireland's groundbreaking Field
Day Theatre Company. Field Day is known for its efforts
to bring theatre back to many areas of Ireland where it was lacking for
years. More importantly, the company's performances also provided an intellectual
and scholarly discourse for the political, social and economic turmoil
which was, and still is, important and intrinsic to Ireland's identity
as a nation.
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In
stage comedy, Stephen Rea's performances have been known to span the gamut
from sparkling wit to dark sarcasm. Known for his broad range as an actor
in many different theatrical plays, Stephen Rea's versatility landed him
major part in the British musical theatre production of High Society,
(1987), where he sang and, yes, danced to the music of Cole Porter. How
equally fine in jazz and rhyme...
"Sensational!" |
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As if that isn't enough, you still have to ask:
What else has Stephen Rea done?, we'll
add:
He's known for his acting in theatre, but few know he has also starred in and directed many stage productions. And, he's not only known as an actor but also as a very talented narrator and speaker. He has appeared in many live readings and has done voice over work for film, radio, animation and recordings. Stephen Rea's memorable narration often brings literature's best Irish writers and poets to life. |
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Wondering
where else you've seen Stephen Rea? He appeared on Saturday Night Live
with Miranda Richardson in 1993 and also appeared on The Daily Show
with Jon Stewart in 1999.
For more clips, check out the Multimedia section on this website. |
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Whether
you've followed Stephen Rea's career for years or you're looking for more
info, we invite you take a tour of this website. The site contains sections
on film and theatre as well as news, articles, multimedia, links and pics.
Enjoy! |
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