Karen Hayes

Infobox character
series=24


caption = Jayne Atkinson as Karen Hayes
name=Karen Hayes
portrayer=Jayne Atkinson
lbl1=Appearances

data1=5, 6

Karen Hayes is a fictional character on the television program "24" portrayed by actress Jayne Atkinson. She appeared as a recurring character in twelve episodes of the fifth season and was a main cast member in eighteen episodes of the sixth season.

Concept and creation

Actress Laurie Metcalf was originally cast as Karen Hayes before being replaced by Jayne Atkinson.cite web| publisher=ContactMusic|date=2005-12-19|accessdate=2008-07-05|title=ROSEANNE - METCALF BOWS OUT OF 24|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/metcalf%20bows%20out%20of%2024 ] Producer Howard Gordon praised Metcalf's acting abilities, but said "the role was not the right fit for the actress" and they mutually agreed to recast the part.

Characterization

Before joining the United States Department of Homeland Security, Hayes was an FBI agent. She worked within the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, eventually becoming Senior Agent and later a Division Agent in Charge.

Hayes has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Princeton University. [ [http://www.fox.com/24/profiles/kh.htm FOX 24- Character biography] ] Atkinson says that her character is cautious especially when it comes to "civil liberties and profiling a certain population." [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07105/777542-237.stm Supporting players get to shine] ]

Appearances

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Hayes is the Division Director of the United States Department of Homeland Security's Los Angeles branch at the time of Day 5. Vice President Hal Gardner authorizes her to absorb and essentially replace the workers at CTU - Los Angeles after a major terrorist attack leaves many of CTU's original employees dead.

She gradually grows suspicious of her superiors when President Charles Logan issues an executive order for the detainment and arrest of Jack Bauer [cite episode|title = 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM | series = 24 | serieslink = 24 (TV series) | season = 5 | number = 113|airdate=2006-04-10|credits = Writer: David Fury Director: Brad Turner] and later says that he will use the military to capture him. [cite episode|title = 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM | series = 24 | serieslink = 24 (TV series) | season = 5 | number = 114|airdate=2006-04-17|credits = Writer: Howard Gordon Director: Brad Turner] She learns from Mike Novick that Logan never contacted the military about Bauer and that no member of the executive office has yet seen Logan's "evidence" against Bauer. Based on the President's actions in the preceding hours, Hayes is convinced that Logan is indeed manipulating CTU in order to kill Bauer.

After Jack successfully obtains a confession from Logan, Hayes prepares to leave CTU for the day. She acknowledges to Buchanan that she will strongly recommend to newly appointed President Gardner that he remain as Special Agent in Charge of CTU. At the end of the day, Buchanan asks to have breakfast with Hayes, though she asks for a raincheck.

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Karen returns to Day 6, married to Bill Buchanan. She had also been appointed as the White House National Security Advisor to President Wayne Palmer, several months previously. [ [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/299361_tv12.html On TV: As Day 6 of '24' unfolds, a new Jack Bauer steps into action] ] She frequently argues with Tom Lennox over plans of creating detention facilities and presidential pardon for Hamri Al-Assad. She briefly resigns after Tom Lennox threatens to expose the files that show that her husband released Fayed who is revealed to be a terrorist. [cite episode|title = 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | series = 24 | serieslink = 24 (TV series) | season = 6 | number = 126|airdate=2007-01-29|credits = Writers: Joel Surnow and Michael Loceff Director: Milan Cheylov] At one point, she reluctantly fires Bill Buchanan to save her career. [cite episode|title = 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM | series = 24 | serieslink = 24 (TV series) | season = 6 | number = 139|airdate=2007-04-23|credits = Writers: Joel Surnow and Michael Loceff Director: Brad Turner]

However, Karen returns when she learns of a failed assassination plot against Wayne Palmer. She helps Wayne Palmer stay in power when Vice President Noah Daniels attempts to invoke the 25th Amendment to become the President.

When Phillip Bauer offers to trade this component in exchange for his grandson Josh Bauer, Karen decides to defend Josh's rights and opposes the deal. When Tom and Daniels goes on to do so, she secretly helps Jack Bauer to intervene. Although she is arrested for insubordination, Tom persuades Daniels to grant a pardon to Karen and Bill who will resign in return.cite episode|title = 5:00am-6:00am | series = 24 | serieslink = 24 (TV series) | season = 6 | number = 144|airdate=2007-05-21|credits = Writer: Robert Cochran, Manny Coto, and David Fury Director: Brad Turner]

Critical reception

References

External links

* [http://www.fox.com/24/profiles/kh.htm Character biography] on the official 24 website