British Actresses You Should Know: Keeley Hawes

This Sunday marks the debut of a new period drama on Masterpiece called The Durrells in Corfu. Based on the biographical writings of Gerald Durrell, the series chronicles the adventures of a penniless widowed mother and her four headstrong children who attempt to start life anew on a pastoral Greek island in the mid-30’s.

Heading up the cast of this very successful ITV series is Keeley Hawes as the Durrells’ intrepid family matriarch, Louisa. With a career already spanning over a quarter century, this British actress is very much in demand. Besides The Durrells, she’s currently appearing in the new season of the BBC’s The Missing (soon to come to Starz), and recently played Queen Elizabeth in the Hollow Crown sequel that will be making its American debut this December.

So if you aren’t already familiar with this very talented leading lady, I’ve compiled a sampling of some of her standout roles over the years.

MI-5 (aka Spooks in the UK). Hawes was one of the original cast members in this long-running spy drama. She played Zoe Reynolds, a junior counterterrorism case officer for three series. Despite her excellent undercover skills and dedication to her job, she is arrested for conspiracy to murder and her career is abruptly cut short.