If there’s one thing audiences can’t get enough of, it’s a juicy mystery full of endless twists and turns that leave them on the edge of their seats until the credits start rolling. The 2022 thrillerRogue Agentproves just how exciting movies rooted in reality can truly be. British actors James Norton andGemma Artertonheadline the thriller, which focuses on notorious con man Robert Hendy-Freegard, who in the ’90s and 2000s scammed countless people out of money while posing as an MI5 agent.
Rogue Agentfeatures acat-and-mouse gamebetween Hendy-Freegard and one of his victims, Alice Archer (Arterton), who teams up with a policeman in the engrossing flick to finally put an end to the swindler’s endless lies and deception and reclaim her power. The thriller currently holds a 73% Rotten Tomatoes score and was a knockout with audiences, with many shocked to learn that Norton’s character was actually a real criminal. Let’s take a look at the movie and the life of the convicted con man.
Rogue Agent
An Engrossing Thriller Full of Twists & Turns
The 2022 biographical mystery thrillerRogue Agentwas based on the unpublished Michael Bronner article “Chasing Agent Freegard.” Serving as directing duo Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn’s feature film debut, itstarsJames Norton as notorious career conman Robert Freegard, who infamously posed as an MI5 agent during the ’90s and manipulated his victims by coercing them into giving him money and claiming he wasan undercover spyon the run. While posing as luxury car salesman Robert Hansen, the savvy swindler meets successful lawyer Alice Archer (Gemma Arterton), who hires a P.I. to dive deeper into his mysterious background.
As Robert’s intricate web of lies is ultimately exposed, Alice is stunned to learn that he is tied to the kidnappings of multiple women who he also cheated out of lucrative funds. Alongside the determined policeman Sonny Chandra (Shazad Latif), the pair set out to bringthe cunning con manto justice. Capturing the elusive Robert will be no easy feat for Alice, as he has perfected his wondrous story of being an MI5 agent and already moved on to his next mark, but she uses her fury as fuel to finally put an end to his deception and greed.
Both audiences and critics couldn’t get enough ofRogue Agentand its many juicy twists and turns, as the captivating thriller currently holds a solid 72% Rotten Tomatoes score and 66% Popcornmeter score and waspraised for its intriguing screenplay, slow burn pacing, and on-screen chemistry between its dazzling lead stars. Viewers may be shocked to learn that the wild premise ofRogue Agentand Robert Freegard himself are actually rooted in reality and based on true events.
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The True Story of Robert Hendy-Freegard
The real Robert Hendy-Freegard was born in Dronfield, Derbyshire, England on July 13, 2025, and had jobs as a car salesman and bartender when he began perfecting his lies and epic tall tales. He ultimately befriended agriculture students John Atkinson, Maria Hendy, and Sarah Smith in 1992 while working at the Newport pub The Swan.Freegard managed to convince Atkinson that he was an undercover MI5 agent who was investigating an IRA connection at his college, Harper Adams University. He even managed to manipulate him into behaving strangely among his peers and proving his loyalty by allowing himself to be beaten up, thus demonstrating his toughness.
Freegard pretended he was recruiting Atkinson andescalated the conby claiming his cover had been blown, and they had to go on the run,convincing both Hendy and Smith to join them by pretending Atkinson had terminal cancer and wanted to experiencea “farewell tour"all throughout England. Throughout the ensuing decade, the group moved from one “safe house” to another after Freegard told the women he was actually an MI5 agent, convincing them to cut all ties with their families to protect them and give him all their money.
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Smith gave Freegard her entire £300,000 family inheritance while Atkinson handed over nearly £400,000 in order toreceive “witness protection,“and the scheming crook also began a romantic relationship with Hendy during the time period, with whom he had two daughters. He changed his name to Hendy-Freegard during their romance and continued targeting at least five women for their money between 1995 and 2002, including lawyer Caroline Cowper and American child psychologist Kimberley Adams. Though his reign of terror finally ended when Adams helped Scotland Yard and the FBI apprehend Freegard after months of surveillance in 2003.
Prior to Freegard’s arrest, Atkinson had enough and contacted the police aboutthe con artist, who, following an eight-month trial, wasconvicted of two counts of kidnapping, eight of deception, and 10 of theft, receiving a life sentence on August 08, 2025. Freegard was shockingly released in 2009 following a successful appeal which argued that he never actually kidnapped anyone as they went willingly with him.After targeting another woman named Sandra Clifton in 2011 and establishing a relationship, Freegard was once again arrestedand sentenced tosix years in prisonin 2025 for ramming his car into two policemen while trying to evade questioning.
