William Hurt Walks In A Spy's Shoes

William Hurt takes the role of an American traitor in the CBS mini-series, "Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story." He visits The Early Show with Hanssen's FBI superior, agent David Major to discuss life of a spy.

On May 10th 2002, Hanssen was sentenced to life in prison without parole for providing classified intelligence to the KGB. He was arrested in February of 2001 after retrieving a package under a bridge while being trailed by the FBI for suspected spying since 1979.

While the U.S. is still trying to assess the damage Hanssen has caused, Lawrence Schiller and Norman Mailer were busy building his life story.

They researched Hanssen's life for nine months meeting with members of his family, his wife's family, friends, his Opus Dei priest, former colleagues at the FBI, and even high-ranking officials at the KGB who knew the spy only as Ramon Garcia.

Hurt also met with many people who knew Hanssen to help build his character.

Through their investigations they have come to know a man who, though religious to the point of donating money from the KGB to Mother Teresa, was prone to kinky sexual tendencies and deeply dissatisfied with his recognition at the FBI.

FBI Agent Major was one of the officials at the FBI who offered them insight into the bureau's culture. Major was a supervisor of Hanssen's boss.

Schiller and Mailer have collaborated on other projects including the CBS mini-series "American Tragedy" about the O.J. Simpson trial.

Hurt won an Academy Award as Best Actor for his role in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in 1985 and was nominated for his work in "Children of a Lesser God" and "Broadcast News."