![Philip Seymour Hoffman as Günther Bachmann in A Most Wanted Man, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/a-most-wanted-man-facebook1.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By TIME Photo and Eliana Dockterman
Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers) and Hugh Laurie (House) are joining some of the most prestigious actors in Hollywood by starring in an adaptation of John Le Carré’s The Night Manager. Filled with political commentary and plenty of intrigue, Le Carré’s spy novels have been fodder for films and television series since the Cold War. His most famous series, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was turned into a TV shows, radio show and film.
And his projects have courted some of the world’s best actors and even two veterans of another famous spy series, James Bond. Here are some of the most memorable actors who brought Le Carré’s words to the screen.
![SWCIFTC_Still_0002.tif Richard Burton as Alec Leamas in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, 1965.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/the-spy-who-came-in-cold.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Anthony Hopkins In 'The Looking Glass War' Anthony Hopkins as John Avery in The Looking Glass War, 1969.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/the-looking-glass-war.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY, Alec Guinness, 1979 (Great Performances) Alec Guinness as George Smiley/"Beggarman" in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 1979.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/tinker-tailor.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL, Diane Keaton, 1984, © Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection Diane Keaton as Charlie in The Little Drummer Girl, 1984.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/the-little-drummer-girl.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sean Connery as Bartholomew "Barley" Scott Blair in The Russia House, 1990.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/the-russia-house.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pierce Brosnan as Andrew "Andy" Osnard in The Tailor of Panama, 2001.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/the-tailor-of-panama.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![CONSTANT GARDENER Ralph Fiennes as Justin Quayle in The Constant Gardener, 2005.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/constant-gardener.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy-image Gary Oldman as George Smiley/"Beggarman" in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 2011](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/tinker-tailor-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Philip Seymour Hoffman as Günther Bachmann in A Most Wanted Man, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/a-most-wanted-man-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine and Hugh Laurie as Richard Roper in The Night Manager, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/the-night-manager.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Our Kind Of Traitor Ewan McGregor as Peregrine "Perry" Makepeace in Our Kind of Traitor, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/our-kind-of-traitor.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com