Maggie Gyllenhaal to star in new BBC spy thriller 'The Honourable Woman'
OSCAR-nominated actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is set to play a high-flying businesswoman in a new BBC spy thriller.
The 35-year-old star will take on the role of Nessa Stein in 'The Honourable Woman' which will begin shooting later this year.
"I couldn't put the scripts down. Nessa is such an exciting and intricate character. I can't wait to begin filming," Gyllenhaal said of her latest role.
The BBC2 show will follow Nessa, who is the daughter of an arms dealer, as she enters the House of Lords after years of charity work in the Middle East, only to become caught up in an international conspiracy with the secret service at her heels.
The thriller was written by 'Shadow Line' creator Hugo Blick, and will be shown on TV screens some time next year.
I couldn't put the scripts down. Nessa is such an exciting and intricate character. I can't wait to begin filming.
"Maggie Gyllenhaal will be a perfect Nessa Stein, and I am delighted that she has agreed to play her," said Polly Hill, head of independent drama for the BBC.
"Hugo Blick has created a complex character in Nessa, with an extraordinary story and the combination of Hugo's stunning scripts and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the lead role is an exciting and powerful combination."
Maggie, who was nominated for the best supporting actress Oscar in 2009 for her performance in Crazy Heart, is no stranger to playing an array of mysterious characters.
Not only did she play the role of Rachel Dawes in Batman movie 'The Dark Knight,' she took on the role of mistress Lee Holloway in 'Secretary.' and Giselle Levy in drama 'Mona Lisa Smile.'