Maggie Gyllenhaal to star in BBC2 spy thriller The Honourable Woman

Maggie Gyllenhaal is going to star in a new BBC spy drama (Getty Images)

Oscar-nominated Hollywood actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is to star as a high-flying businesswoman in a new BBC spy thriller.

The actress, who starred in Batman film The Dark Knight, will play the lead role in The Honourable Woman.

Her character, Nessa Stein, is the daughter of an arms dealer who enters the House of Lords after years of charity work in the Middle East, only to become caught up in an international conspiracy with the secret service at her heels.

She said: "I couldn't put the scripts down. Nessa is such an exciting and intricate character. I can't wait to begin filming."

The BBC2 show, written by Shadow Line creator Hugo Blick, starts filming this year and will be shown next year.

Polly Hill, head of independent drama for the BBC, said: "Maggie Gyllenhaal will be a perfect Nessa Stein, and I am delighted that she has agreed to play her.

"Hugo Blick has created a complex character in Nessa, with an extraordinary story and the combination of Hugo's stunning scripts and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the lead role is an exciting and powerful combination."

Gyllenhaal, whose brother Jake starred in Brokeback Mountain, was nominated for the best supporting actress Oscar in 2009 for her performance in Crazy Heart.

PA