Thea Clifton is a supporting character in the 2025 drama, Hedda.
Hedda is based on the 1890 play Hedda Gabler, written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. In the original play, Thea’s name is Thea Elvsted. In the film, Thea is played by the actress Imogen Poots.
Thea is a research assistant in 1950s England (in the play, the narrative was originally set in the 1880s in Norway). She has become the assistant to Eileen Lovberg (Nina Hoss), an out lesbian and brilliant sex researcher and writer. While helping Eileen assemble the book, the two start an affair, and Thea leaves her husband for Eileen. However, it also becomes clear that Thea is not only interested in Eileen as a lover but also has career ambitions and wants to ensure her name is published alongside Eileen’s when the manuscript goes to print.
During the course of the play, at a lavish party, Thea comes across Hedda (Tessa Thompson). The two were schoolmates, but Hedda bullied Thea, so the two never became close. Thea suspects that things are not over between Eileen and Hedda and does her best to protect both their work and Eileen from being corrupted by Hedda (trying to keep her sober, etc.). She serves as a fascinating foil to Hedda, as she was willing to love Eileen and leave everything behind (including her husband and her reputation) during an era that was less than kind to the queer community. In contrast, Hedda was not willing to risk scandal.