Keeley Hawes hits out at lack of female action heroes on TV ahead of new role in BBC drama Crossfire

Keeley Hawes is delighted to be taking on the role of a protective former police officer in new BBC drama Crossfire, with the star saying it’s time the action roles on television are given a shake up.

The actress, 46, who has previously appeared in the likes of Bodyguard and Line of Duty, plays ex-cop Jo in the three-part BBC drama, which starts on Wednesday, with her character grabbing a gun to battle a nasty criminal gang who attempt to terrorise a holiday resort.

And Keeley insists there should be more females in the main roles in gripping action dramas, with the star being shocked that it’s still a ‘novelty’ today. 

According to The Sun, she said: ‘I’ve been asked, “How does this differ from other action-based pieces you’ve done?”

‘Well, it’s the only one where I haven’t been passive. It’s quite a big thing.

‘Bodyguard is an action thriller, but I wasn’t part of that action. That was very exciting and very telling about the way things have been.

All change: The star saying it’s time the action roles on television are given a shake up (pictured in Crossfire)

‘It shouldn’t be a novelty to have a 46-year-old woman playing this part, but it is. Hopefully that’s changing.’  

Keeley will lead the cast of the three-part series that has been created and written by Louise Doughty in her first original series for television in association with Buddy Club Productions.

Set on a luxury resort in the Canary Islands it follows the story of Keeley’s character Jo, who is on a dream holiday with her family and friends when shots ring out across the complex.

Gripping: The star plays ex-cop Jo in the three-part BBC drama with her character grabbing a gun to battle a nasty criminal gang who attempt to terrorise a holiday resort

Gunmen, out for revenge, turn the slice of paradise into a terrifying heart-breaking hell.

A story of survival and resilience, Crossfire is an edge-of-your-seat nail-biting thriller yet also emotional, intimate and relatable.  

With the unsuspecting holidaymakers and hotel staff forced to make monumental split-second life or death decisions, the consequences will linger long after the final shots are fired.

Crossfire will also star Josette, Anneika Rose, Lee Ingleby, Daniel Ryan, Vikash Bhai, Hugo Silva, Alba Brune, Shalisha James-Davis and Ariyon Bakare.

Speaking out: Keeley said: ‘It shouldn’t be a novelty to have a 46-year-old woman playing this part, but it is. Hopefully that’s changing’ (pictured at the 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles this month)