He was almost Wolverine. That’s the piece of trivia everyone knows about Dougray Scott—that he was cast as Logan in X-Men but had to drop out because Mission: Impossible 2 ran over schedule, handing the role to Hugh Jackman on a silver platter. But if you’re a fan of Wisteria Lane, that’s not his most iconic "what if." For us, Dougray Scott on Desperate Housewives was the ultimate breath of fresh, albeit slightly posh, air during a season that desperately needed a romantic anchor.
He played Ian Hainsworth. He was British, wealthy, and fundamentally heartbroken.
When Scott showed up in Season 3, the show was in a weird spot. Mike Delfino was in a coma. Susan Mayer was, as usual, a mess. The chemistry between Scott and Teri Hatcher wasn't just "TV chemistry"; it felt like a genuine collision of two people trying to navigate grief while accidentally falling in love. It was messy. It was charming. Honestly, it was one of the few times a guest star actually felt like they belonged in the core cast rather than just being a plot device to keep the main couple apart.
The Coma Club: How Ian Hainsworth Changed the Stakes
Usually, when a show puts a main character’s love interest in a coma, it’s a cheap way to stall for time. Not here. Ian enters the picture while Susan is visiting Mike at the hospital. Ian’s own wife, Jane, has been in a vegetative state for years. It’s dark. It’s depressing. But Dougray Scott brings this incredible, dry vulnerability to the role that stops it from feeling like a soap opera cliché.
He wasn't just "the other guy." He was a man who understood Susan’s specific brand of loneliness.
Most fans remember the awkwardness. There’s that scene where they try to go on a "date" while their respective spouses are literally feet away in hospital beds. It’s peak Desperate Housewives—absurd, uncomfortable, and strangely sweet. Scott played Ian with a stiff upper lip that slowly cracked, and you could see why Susan was tempted to just give up on the plumber and marry the millionaire.
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The dynamic shifted the show's energy. Before Ian, Susan's love life was mostly physical comedy and "will-they-won't-they" tropes with Mike. With Ian, the stakes were emotional. Do you wait for a man who might never wake up, or do you move on with a man who is ready to love you right now? It was a legitimate moral dilemma.
Why Dougray Scott was the Perfect Foil for Mike Delfino
James Denton’s Mike was the rugged, mysterious "guy’s guy." He was all flannel shirts and secrets. Ian Hainsworth was the exact opposite. He was refined. He had a private jet. He used words like "rather" and "quite."
This contrast is what made the Season 3 rivalry work. When Mike finally woke up with retrograde amnesia (of course), the battle for Susan's heart became a clash of classes and temperaments. Ian wasn't a villain. That’s the crucial part. Usually, the "temporary" boyfriend is a jerk so we don't feel bad when the lead dumps them. Ian was actually a great guy. He was devoted to his wife for years. He was patient with Susan’s nonsense.
It made the audience feel guilty. We wanted Mike and Susan to be together because that was the "destiny" of the show, but Dougray Scott made Ian so likable that part of us wanted Susan to just take the jet and the English manor and leave the drama of Fairview behind.
The Scrabble Game and the Breaking Point
If you want to talk about specific moments where Scott really shined, you have to look at the "Scrabble" incident. It sounds silly, but it’s a masterclass in building tension. Ian and Mike playing a high-stakes game of Scrabble to "win" Susan—it’s peak suburban melodrama.
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Ian’s insecurity was his undoing. He knew he was the rebound. He knew that as soon as Mike’s memory came back, he was toast. Scott played that desperation beautifully. He didn't play it as a mustache-twirling baddie; he played it as a man terrified of losing the first bit of happiness he’d found in years.
There’s a specific look he gives when he realizes Susan will always choose Mike. It’s a mix of resignation and dignity. Ian Hainsworth didn't go out with a bang or a big fight. He realized he was the second choice and decided he deserved better. He left. He went back to London. It was one of the most mature exits in the history of the show, which is saying a lot for a series where people usually leave in a body bag or a police car.
The Reality of Guest Starring on a Juggernaut
Dougray Scott’s stint lasted 18 episodes. In the world of TV, that’s a significant arc.
At the time, Scott was a massive "get" for the show. He was a film actor doing prestige TV before that was the norm. His presence elevated the writing for Susan’s character, which often drifted into being too "damsel in distress." With Ian, Susan had to be a partner. She had to navigate his world, his snobby parents, and his grief.
It’s also worth noting the technical side. Dougray Scott on Desperate Housewives was a bridge between the show’s early-season mystery focus and its mid-season transition into more character-driven drama. He helped ground the show during the "Monique Polier" murder mystery, which was... let's be honest, a bit of a mess. Ian was the emotional anchor that kept us grounded when the plot got too convoluted.
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What Most Fans Forget About Ian's Exit
People tend to remember the wedding that didn't happen. The engagement was a huge plot point, but the breakup was actually the most "human" moment of the entire season.
Ian didn't leave because he stopped loving Susan. He left because he saw her looking at Mike through a window and realized he was a placeholder. It’s a gut-punch. Scott’s performance in that final scene—packing his bags, being polite, yet clearly devastated—is why Ian remains a top-tier guest character. He wasn't just a hurdle for Mike and Susan; he was a person with his own tragedy.
The show rarely gave its "temporary" characters that much depth. Usually, they were either crazy (like Dave Williams) or boring. Ian was neither. He was just a man out of time.
Actionable Takeaways for Desperate Housewives Fans
If you're revisiting the show or looking to dive deeper into Dougray Scott's filmography, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch Season 3 with fresh eyes: Pay attention to the subtle ways Ian mirrors Susan’s grief. It’s more than just a romance; it’s a shared trauma bond that the writers handled surprisingly well.
- Compare the "Wolverine" factor: Look at Scott’s intensity in Desperate Housewives and imagine that channeled into a superhero role. You can see the "what could have been" in his more dramatic scenes with Hatcher.
- Track the "British Invasion": Ian was part of a trend in the mid-2000s of bringing in UK actors to add "class" to American soaps. Compare his performance to John Barrowman’s later turn on the show to see how Scott avoided the "camp" trap.
- Explore Scott’s other work: If you liked his brooding energy on Wisteria Lane, check out Crime or his work in Hemlock Grove. He’s an actor who excels at playing men with dark secrets or heavy burdens.
- The "Ian" Archetype: Note how future "temporary" boyfriends on the show were written. None of them quite captured the same level of empathy that Dougray Scott brought to Ian Hainsworth, largely because the writers realized it’s hard to make the audience root against a "good man."
Dougray Scott might have missed out on the claws and the spandex, but he gave Desperate Housewives one of its most nuanced and heartbreaking chapters. He proved that even on a street full of secrets and scandals, sometimes the most compelling story is just two people trying not to be lonely anymore.