Stephen Rea (born October 31, 1943) is an Irish actor. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Rea is a Protestant married to a woman whose father was a member of the Irish Republican Army. After appearing on the stage for many years in Ireland and the UK, Rea came to international attention when he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Crying Game.

Other films include The Company of Wolves, Princess Caraboo, Interview With the Vampire, Prêt-à-Porter, Evelyn, FearDotCom, Citizen X, The Musketeer and The End of the Affair.