Stephen Rea feels ‘so lucky’ to have made it as an actor and urges his sons to follow their dreams too
ACTOR Stephen Rea says he feels “so lucky” to have made a career as an actor and has urged his sons to follow their dreams too.
The Belfast native, 73, has starred in over 50 films in a career that has spanned half a century - with the actor even landing an Oscar nod for his role in The Crying Game.
He’s currently enjoying huge success on the small screen with his latest role in Netflix show The Stranger, while he also appears in ITV’s upcoming drama Flesh & Blood.
And the star - who has sons Danny and Oscar from his marriage to IRA bomber and hunger striker Delours Price - told how he encourages his kids to find a career they love too.
DREAMS REALISED
He said of being an actor: “I told my sons a few years ago, ‘I realise I’ve spent my life doing what I wanted to do.
"To be honest boys, that’s what you have to do.
"You don’t want to be doing something that other people wanted you to do...and you don’t want to do.’
“As I look about I see a lot of people heading off in the morning to do things they have to do. Rather than want to do.
“I just feel I am so lucky that it worked out for me.
"I went to London and then I was able to decide, ‘Well, I’m going to go and live at home now.’
"I’ve been all over the world in this job. And doing it with good people."
PROFESSION WISHES
He continued: “I shot War and Peace. We filmed a lot of it in St Petersburg and I’m there with fantastic actors and old friends.
“It doesn’t get any better than that. It’s amazing. I just hope it continues. Not for me. But for other people as a viable profession.
“For a while drama was under threat on TV. But now it competes with movies. It’s amazing how you can now watch drama from all over the world. I’ve been very fortunate.”
In Flesh & Blood, Stephen stars alongside Imelda Staunton, who starred as his wife in 1995 film, Citizen X, Francesca Annis and Russell Tovey.
The drama series tells how a family are torn apart when widowed mother Vivien (Annis) meets a mysterious new man, Mark, played by Stephen, on social media.
NEW ROLE
Stephen, who was divorced Delours in 2003, before she passed away in 2013, said: “As far as we know, Mark appears to be a good guy.
“I sometimes play suspicious characters. So, I found this interesting because I got to wear nice clothes.
“It is a bit different for me. Actually, it’s playing very close to myself. It’s not a wildly different character. I didn’t have to pretend too much with Mark.
“He has an Irish surname - Kineally - so was going to be Irish. And he’s about my age. I was actually a little worried because I didn’t have to pretend too much.
“I’m a character actor and this character is very close to me - but it seemed to work because of the writing.”
STORYLINE
He added: “It’s interesting that these two not so young people - Vivien and Mark - have met via an online dating service. I wouldn’t dream of doing it myself.
“But people who have been married and lost partners do try and find love again. Or find some accommodation.
“When you are that age you are old enough to know it isn’t about a soul mate. It’s simply someone to be friendly with for the rest of your life, I guess.”
Now 73, Stephen, who lived in Malahide, Co Dublin for much of his marriage to Delours, told how he’s spending more time in Co Donegal with his family in recent years.
He said: “I do feel very strongly about certain places that are close to me. We’ve got a house in Donegal now.
MOST READ IN SHOWBIZ
“Me and my two sons feel very close to that location. We’ve been going there since they were tiny. It feels like my spiritual home.
“I like London. I lived there for a long time. But I prefer living in my own environment.”
- Flesh and Blood will air from Monday February 24 over four consecutive nights.
