SON OF A GUN

The Assassin stars Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore discuss complicated mother-son dynamics with LYNN RUSK

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"SHE'S not the coolest assassin in the world, but she’s a great character in her own right,’ says Keeley Hawes, reflecting on her role as Julie, a retired hitwoman.

The 49-year-old British actress, best known for her roles in Bodyguard and Line of Duty, stars opposite Freddie Highmore in The Assassin, a new six-part thriller.

The series follows Julie and her estranged son Edward, played by Freddie, as they are forced into a fight for survival.

The pair are forced to flee an idyllic remote Greek island and go on the run together when Julie’s dangerous past catches up with her.

London-born Keeley says that Julie offers a refreshing twist on the typical assassin archetype less slick and more grounded.

“The Britishness of it is something that’s really appealing to me,” she says. “If this were an American show, it would feel very different and be slicker.”

While portraying a killer on screen was appealing, Keeley reveals she shares little in common with her character.

“I'm far too emotional and sort of the opposite in most ways to Julie,” she says. “I've got a terrible poker face. Someone told me the other day, ‘Everything's just on your face.”

“The physical side of it was a bigger challenge for me,” she continues. “But the stunt team we worked with was just brilliant. They're there to make you look good.”

She laughs as she recalls one of the more dramatic moments from the trailer: “There’s a shot where I'm throwing someone over a car. That actually took very little on my part. The stuntman basically flipped himself upside down and smashed into the side of the car.”