It’s been murder for Keeley
Keeley Hawes’ life over the last couple of years reads like a list of stressful events which are best avoided.
The model turned actress, who stars this evening with Martin Clunes in the gruesome true story drama, A is for Acid, married and then broke up with her husband within months.
The split led to her having to buy a London flat following her departure from the family. Oh, and she also gave birth along the line.
During all this, Keeley somehow tucked a whole range of projects under her belt, including the BBC spy drama Spooks and four projects which have yet to air, including the controversial Victorian lesbian drama Tipping the Velvet and Me And Mrs Jones, with Robson Green.
Her romance with Spooks co-star Matthew MacFadyen was all over the papers earlier this year, but Hawes is refreshingly philosophical about the coverage, admitting it goes with the territory.
“It’s not nice reading about your private life, but you have to just accept it and get on with your life,” states Keeley, 26.
“The one aspect that did upset me was the implication that I had sacrificed time with Myles (her two year-old son) in order to spend time with Matthew.”
Keeley comes across as a devoted mother. Her conversation frequently turns to talk of Myles, who was borne out of her short-lived marriage to estranged husband Spencer McCallum.
In A is for Acid, Hawes plays the girlfriend of real-life acid bath murderer John Haigh, who is played by Clunes.
“My character was devoted to Haigh and knew nothing of his other life,” explains Keeley. “But after he’d been executed she simply disappeared.
“To our knowledge, she is still alive but she has never spoken publicly about her time with him 60 years ago.
“It’s not a nice story but it is a fascinating one.”
For The Sunday Times.
(Source: highbeam.com).