Stephen Rea

Stephen Rea, born on October 31, 1946, is an Irish actor renowned for his work on both stage and screen. Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Rea started his career as a member of Dublin’s Focus Theatre. He gained prominence as one of the frequent collaborators of director Neil Jordan.
Rea has received nominations for prestigious awards including the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Tony Award. He is a two-time BAFTA Award winner and a three-time Irish Film and Television (IFTA) Award winner.
One of his most notable roles was in Neil Jordan's thriller "The Crying Game" (1992), for which he earned Oscar and BAFTA nominations. He also starred in several other films directed by Jordan, including "Interview with the Vampire" (1994), "Michael Collins" (1996), "The End of the Affair" (1999), "Breakfast on Pluto" (2005), and "Greta" (2018).
Rea has also made significant contributions to television, starring in Hugo Blick's series "The Shadow Line" and "The Honourable Woman," for which he won a BAFTA.
As a stage actor, Rea is celebrated for his performances at The Gate and Abbey Theatres in Dublin, as well as the Royal Court Theatre in London. He co-founded the Field Day Theatre Company alongside Brian Friel.
In 2020, The Irish Times recognized Rea as the 13th greatest Irish film actor of all time.

Stephen Rea was born in Belfast to a family of Protestant background, with his father working as a bus driver and his mother as a housewife. Despite their Protestant upbringing, Rea's family held sympathies towards Irish nationalism.
Rea pursued his education at Queen's University Belfast, where he studied English, before honing his acting skills at the Abbey Theatre School in Dublin.
During the late 1970s, he was part of the Focus Company in Dublin, where he collaborated with actors such as Gabriel Byrne and Colm Meaney.

Stephen Rea's career has been marked by his collaborations with acclaimed Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan, particularly gaining international attention for his role in "The Crying Game," which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
He has been closely associated with prominent Irish writers and playwrights, such as Stewart Parker, with whom he formed a connection during their time as students at Queen's University Belfast. Rea played a pivotal role in establishing the Field Day Theatre Company in 1980, alongside notable figures like Tom Paulin, Brian Friel, Seamus Heaney, and Seamus Deane. His contributions to the performing arts were recognized with honorary degrees from both Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University in 2004.
Rea's friendship with American playwright and actor Sam Shepard led to collaborations such as "Geography of a Horse Dreamer" at the Royal Court Theatre in 1974. He continued his successful partnership with Shepard at the Abbey Theatre, appearing in productions like "Kicking a Dead Horse" and "Ages of the Moon," both of which later transferred to New York.
Throughout his career, Rea has showcased his versatility, appearing in various mediums including radio dramas and crime dramas like "The Shadow Line." He has lent his voice to literary works, such as James Joyce's "The Dead" on RTÉ Radio 1 and the BBC Radio 4 production of "Ulysses" for Bloomsday.
In 2023, Rea was seen in the film "The Miracle Club," portraying the character Frank opposite Kathy Bates.

Stephen Rea's notable achievements include:

• Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in Neil Jordan's thriller "The Crying Game" (1992).
• BAFTA Award win for his role in "The Honourable Woman."
• Recognition by The Irish Times as the 13th greatest Irish film actor of all time in 2020.

Stephen Rea's personal life includes:

• Marriage to Dolours Price from 1983 to 2003, who was a former Provisional Irish Republican Army bomber and hunger striker.
• They have two sons together.
• Price attended one of Rea's performances at the Court Theatre in London in 1973, the night before she participated in a car bombing that injured 200 people.
• Rea currently resides in County Donegal as of 2020.

References

1.  "Stephen Rea". Tribute.ca.
2. ^ "Stephenrea.net - Intro". www.stephenrea.net. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
3. ^ "The 50 greatest Irish film actors of all time – in order". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
4. a b Auld, Tim (25 March 2016). "Stephen Rea: 'I never wanted to be a polite actor'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
5. ^ "Stephen Rea: 'I can't imagine teams of loyalists rolling up to watch it'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
6. ^ "Queen's prepares for graduation week". Queen's University Belfast. June 2004. Archived from the original on 15 August 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
7. ^ "Honour for Stephen Rea". Ulster University. 15 December 2004.