Karen Hayes

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 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. 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 Special Agent in Charge. Hayes has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Princeton University. Atkinson says that her character is cautious especially when it comes to "civil liberties and profiling a certain population."