the tourist cast tv show 2021

The Tourist cast: Here's who stars in the thriller series with Jamie Dornan

Both seasons of The Tourist are coming to Netflix this February, get to know the cast!

By Mads Lennon | Jan 30, 2024

The Tourist is likely about to become one of the next big hit shows on Netflix when it starts streaming in February . The first season will debut on February 1 followed by the second season on February 29 , marking the first time that season 2 will be available to watch in America and many other countries around the world. Max previously carried the show, but has chosen to dump it, so Netflix swept in and picked up international distribution rights for the BBC One series.

Jamie Dornan is the leading star and character in the show, but The Tourist features a very talented supporting cast. Get to know everyone below.

Jamie Dornan as The Man

Jamie Dornan stars in The Tourist and plays the leading character, who we'll refer to as " The Man ," for the sake of spoilers. You'll learn about who he really is as you watch the show, but it's the core mystery so we don't want to ruin it for you before you even begin!

Dornan's biggest claim to fame so far is probably playing Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise alongside Dakota Johnson, but since then he has really diversified his resume with lots of exciting projects ranging from serious dramas to action to comedy and everything in between. Some of his other popular shows and movies include Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar , The Fall , A Private War , Heart of Stone , A Haunting in Venice , and Wild Mountain Thyme .

Shalom Brune-Franklin as Luci Miller

Luci Miller is one of the first people that The Man meets after he wakes up and starts trying to piece together what happened to him. She helps him out of a cafe shortly before a bomb goes off and later acts somewhat suspiciously around him, suggesting she might have something to hide. Australian actress Shalom Brune-Franklin plays Luci and is best known for starring in the BBC series Our Girl . She also starred as Estella in the BBC One adaptation of Great Expectations and will next appear in the Max series Dune: Prophecy .

Danielle Macdonald as Helen Chambers

Danielle Macdonald is another Aussie native starring in the series as Constable Helen Chambers. It doesn't take long for Helen to cross paths with The Man, which causes strain in her relationship as her fiancé seems to lament her working and would rather her stay home and spend time with him. Macdonald's most notable roles outside of The Tourist include the drama film Patti Cake$ and the Netflix Originals Unbelievable , Dumplin' , and Bird Box . In 2023, she also guest starred in an episode Poker Face .

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Greg Larsen Ethan Krum

Speaking of Helen and her fiancé, comedian Greg Larsen actually plays her significant other Ethan Krum. Like the majority of the cast, Greg is an Australian and he has a background in acting, writing, and comedy. He has won several awards for his stand-up comedy routines, particularly at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The Tourist is his most notable acting role to date.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Haralabidou (@victoria_haralabidou)

Victoria Haralabidou as Lena Pascal

Greek actress Victoria Haralabidou plays Lena Pascal, a character that enters the picture a bit later into the season. She also becomes an important part of The Tourist season 2. Most of her projects have been Australian series such as The Secrets She Keeps , Wakefield , and The Tailings . She also had a recurring role in the HBO show The Leftovers and she starred in the 2021 movie The Drover's Wife .

More characters in seasons 1 and 2

• Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Billy Nixon
• Genevieve Lemon as Sue
• Alex Dimitriades as Kosta Panigiris
• Damon Herriman as Inspector Lachlan Rogers

The Tourist season 1 starts streaming on February 1, followed by season 2 premiering on February 29.

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'The Tourist': US release date, cast, plot, trailer, and all you need to know about the twisty thriller

Jamie Dornan heads the cast of epic drama 'The Tourist'.

The Tourist has brought mystery and intrigue to BBC1 and now the drama is heading to HBO Max for US viewers. 

Created and penned by award-winning brothers Harry and Jack Williams, whose previous credits include Liar , The Missing and Baptiste , the series sees Jamie Dornan as a mysterious character known as "The Man," who faces huge danger as he searches for his identity in the Australian outback.

Here’s everything we know about The Tourist ...

'The Tourist' release date

The Tourist arrives on HBO Max in the US on Thursday, March 3. 

The thriller first aired on BBC1 in the UK on Saturday, Jan. 1 2022 (New Year's Day) and now all episodes are available on streaming service BBCiPlayer. 

What is the plot of 'The Tourist'?

The twist-laden, action-packed, darkly comic drama follows The Man, a Brit, who has ended up Down Under and finds himself being chased by a massive truck, which is attempting to drive him off the road. 

After a breathtaking pursuit, The Man wakes up some time later in hospital but has no idea of his name or identity. But as people from his past return to haunt him, he faces a race against time to get to the truth about who he once was and who he is now before he is discovered by those who want to silence him forever...

“ The Tourist has some of the most exciting scripts I’ve ever read,” says Jamie Dornan , best known for The Fall and Fifty Shades of Grey film. 'I wanted The Man to come across as likeable because then the things you hear about him are more shocking as the shadiness of his past catches up with him…”

“We're hugely excited about this show. It's tonally breaking new ground for us, and having Jamie Dornan on board is the icing on the Australian cake,” add the Williams brothers.

Who does Danielle Macdonald play in 'The Tourist'?

The drama also stars Danielle Macdonald ( Unbelievable, Dumplin’, Patti Cake$ ) as rookie probationary constable Helen Chambers.

“Helen is a fascinating and intriguing character, I fell in love with her on page one,” says Macdonald. “I ended up reading all the episodes in one sitting because I couldn’t put them down! I’m so excited to get to be a part of this incredible project and I can’t wait to start filming alongside the amazing cast and production team.”

Who does Shalom Brune-Franklin play in 'The Tourist'?

Shalom Brune-Franklin ( Line of Duty, Roadkill ) is enigmatic waitress Luci, who crosses paths with The Man.

"This story is unique and I'm excited to be a part of bringing it to life with this brilliant team,” reveals Brune-Franklin. “I'm looking forward to adding to the thrilling mystery of these scripts with the wonderfully intriguing character of Luci. It's very exciting to be working on such a great project in Australia — it's going to be a lot of fun."

Who else is in the cast of 'The Tourist'?

Damon Herriman ( Mindhunter , Justified ) plays quirky cop DI Lachlan Rogers, and replaces Hugo Weaving who had to leave the production due to scheduling issues. Meanwhile Ólafur Darri Ólafsson ( Trapped, The Missing ) also appears as Billy Nixon, an American who gets embroiled in the case, and Alex Dimitriades ( The End, The Cry ) is Kosta Panigiris, a wealthy but shady businessman. 

How many episodes of 'The Tourist' are there?

There are six 60-minute instalments.

Is there a trailer for 'The Tourist'?

Yes! The action-packed teaser features explosions, helicopters and guns. It begins with The Man driving along in the Outback singing to the radio before a truck shockingly crashes into him. As he later sits sipping a beer he muses, "Why would somebody want me dead?" We then get glimpses of several other characters including an anxious-looking Helen and Luci before we see The Man lying in his hospital bed suffering from amnesia and the ominous words What He Doesn't Know Could Kill Him are emblazoned on the screen.

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Caren has been a journalist specializing in TV for almost two decades and is a Senior Features Writer for TV Times , TV & Satellite Week and What’s On TV magazines and she also writes for What to Watch.

Over the years, she has spent many a day in a muddy field or an on-set catering bus chatting to numerous stars on location including the likes of Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Suranne Jones, Jamie Dornan, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Derek Jacobi as well as Hollywood actors such as Glenn Close and Kiefer Sutherland.

Caren will happily sit down and watch any kind of telly (well, maybe not sci-fi!), but she particularly loves period dramas like Call the Midwife , Downton Abbey and The Crown and she’s also a big fan of juicy crime thrillers from Line of Duty to Poirot .

In her spare time, Caren enjoys going to the cinema and theatre or curling up with a good book.

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‘The Tourist’: First Look At Jamie Dornan Thriller Series Set At BBC & HBO Max; Hugo Weaving Exits Cast

By Jake Kanter

Jake Kanter

International Investigations Editor

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Here’s your first look at 50 Shades Of Grey star Jamie Dornan in The Tourist , the mystery thriller limited series from  Fleabag  production company Two Brothers Pictures .

The story centers on a British man (Dornan) who finds himself in the glowing red heart of the Australian outback, being pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road. An epic cat-and-mouse chase unfolds, and the man later wakes in hospital, hurt, but somehow alive. Except he has no idea who he is. With merciless figures from his past pursuing him, The Man’s search for answers propels him through the vast and unforgiving outback.

Other cast includes Danielle Macdonald ( Dumplin’ ), Shalom Brune-Franklin ( Line of Duty ), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson ( Trapped ), and Alex Dimitriades ( The End ). Hugo Weaving ( The Lord of The Rings ) has exited the series, however, due to a scheduling issue. He has been replaced by Damon Herriman ( Mindhunter ).

HBO Max Upfront: Deadline’s Complete Coverage

The Tourist is a Two Brothers Pictures production for the BBC , in association with Highview Productions, All3Media International, the South Australian Film Corporation, HBO Max, Stan, and ZDF. The six-episode drama has been written by producers and screenwriters Harry and Jack Williams, who alongside Christopher Aird and Andrew Benson will serve as executive producers for Two Brothers Pictures and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. Lisa Scott produces and Chris Sweeney executive produces and directs. International sales are handled by All3Media International.

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'The Tourist' is topping Netflix charts. Meet the cast and who they play

• "The Tourist," starring Jamie Dornan, is now available on Netflix in the United States.
• The second season of the show will premiere on Netflix on February 29.
• Here's the show's main cast and who they play.

"The Tourist" is an Australian-set thriller series starring Jamie Dornan — and as of this month, it's available on Netflix in the United States.

Dornan plays a man who, after a road accident, wakes up with amnesia in Australia. Without knowledge of his identity, he has to figure out who he is, why he's there, and how he ended up in the hospital. He's joined by Probationary Constable Helen Chambers (Danielle Macdonald), who continues to investigate even as things become more dangerous.

The show premiered in 2022 on BBC One, Australian streaming service Stan, and Max in the United States. Netflix picked up the show after Max dropped it , and the second season is set to hit the platform on February 29 (season two already premiered on BBC One and Stan in January).

Here's the main cast of "The Tourist" and who they play.

Jamie Dornan plays the Man.

Dornan stars in "The Tourist" as a man who, after getting hit by a truck, wakes up with amnesia. From that point, he attempts to discover who he is — and why someone is trying to kill him.

Dornan is an Irish actor known for films like "Belfast" and the "Fifty Shades of Grey" franchise.

Danielle Macdonald plays Probationary Constable Helen Chambers.

Helen Chambers is an officer who meets the Man after he wakes up, and ends up investigating his case.

Macdonald is an Australian actor known for films like "Patti Cake$" and "Dumplin'."

Shalom Brune-Franklin plays Luci Miller.

Luci Miller is a waitress who the Man encounters after he loses his memory. She turns out to have information about his past.

Brune-Franklin is an Australian actor known for television series like "Our Girl" and "Doctor Doctor."

Greg Larsen plays Ethan Krum.

Ethan Krum is Helen's fiancé, who wants her to prioritize their relationship over her investigation.

Larsen is an Australian comedian who was a correspondent on the Australian comedy series "Tonightly with Tom Ballard."

Victoria Haralabidou plays Lena Pascal.

Lena Pascal is a woman who has information about the Man's past.

Haralabidou is a Greek-Australian actress who was born in the USSR. She has appeared in films including "The Drover's Wife" and TV series like "The Leftovers."

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson plays Billy Nixon.

Billy Nixon is another person who appears to have ties to the Man's past, attempting to visit him at the hospital after he loses his memory.

Ólafsson is an Icelandic actor known for films like "The Deep" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."

Alex Dimitriades plays Kosta Panigiris.

Kosta Panigiris is a Greek man who is also seeking out the Man.

Dimitriades is an Australian actor known for "The Heartbreak Kid" and its spinoff series "Heartbreak High."

Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.

• Main content

Meet the cast of The Tourist season 2

Jamie Dornan and Danielle Macdonald star in the new season of the unique thriller series.

• Morgan Jeffery
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With The Tourist season 2 about to arrive on Netflix in the US, having debuted in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer earlier this year, fans on both sides of the Atlantic will soon be able to catch up with the latest misadventures of Jamie Dornan's Elliot Stanley .

Season 2 follows Elliot as he returns home to Ireland alongside his girlfriend Helen Chambers (Danielle MacDonald), with the duo hoping to find out more about his past following the dramatic season 1 finale .

Dornan and MacDonald are joined in the new season by another returning cast member, Greg Larsen, while the rest of the cast is filled out with new characters played by Conor MacNeill, Olwen Fouéré and Mark McKenna.

But who else stars in The Tourist season 2 and who do they all play? Read on for everything you need to know about the full list of cast and characters.

Who's in the cast of The Tourist season 2?

Here are the main cast members and characters in The Tourist season 2 . Read on below for more info about who they are and where you've seen the actors before.

More like this

• Jamie Dornan as Elliot Stanley
• Danielle Macdonald as Helen Chambers
• Conor MacNeill as Detective Ruairi Slater
• Olwen Fouéré as Niamh Cassidy
• Mark McKenna as Fergal McDonnell

Nessa Matthews plays Orla McDonnell

• Diarmaid Murtagh as Donal McDonnell
• Francis Magee as Frank McDonnell

Greg Larsen plays Ethan Krum

Jamie dornan plays elliot stanley.

Who is Elliot Stanley? In the first season, Elliot woke up in Australia with no memory of who he was or how he got there. Over the season he learned that he had previously worked as accountant for international criminal and drug lord Kostas, and that he had committed heinous acts such as forcing people to smuggle drugs across borders in their stomachs. In season 2 he is now in a relationship with Helen and trying to put the past behind him.

What else has Jamie Dornan been in? Dornan first became well-known for his role as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey film series, while he has since starred in Belfast, Robin Hood, Wild Mountain Thyme, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and Heart of Stone. On TV he has starred in The Fall and Once Upon a Time.

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Danielle Macdonald plays Helen Chambers

Who is Helen Chambers? In season 1, Helen was a Probationary Constable assigned to Elliot Stanley's case and was engaged to her longtime boyfriend Ethan. By the end of the season she had ended her engagement to Ethan, and in season 2 she is travelling the world with Elliot, who is now her boyfriend.

What else has Danielle Macdonald been in? Macdoanld is an Australian actress, known for her lead roles as Patricia "Patti" Dombrowski in the film Patti Cake$ and Willowdean Dickson in Dumplin'. She also appeared in Netflix movie Bird Box as Olympia and in the Netflix series Unbelievable as Amber, as well as in an episode of Poker Face .

Olwen Fouéré plays Niamh Cassidy

Who is Niamh Cassidy? Niamh is the fierce and ruthless head of the Cassidys, a family that has rivalled and fought with the McDonnell family for generations, but her power in the area is dwindling.

What else has Olwen Fouéré been in? Fouéré has appeared in series including Striking Out, Brassic , Holding and The Crown , as well as films such as Mandy, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald , Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Northman.

Mark McKenna plays Fergal McDonnell

Who is Fergal McDonnell? Fergal is the youngest McDonnell, who cares little for the generational feud that came before him. He is soft and uninterested in violence, and therefore has grown up alienated from the other men in his family.

What else has Mark McKenna been in? McKenna has previously appeared in films and series including Sing Street, Overlord, One of Us is Lying and The Miracle Club.

Conor MacNeill plays Detective Ruairi Slater

Who is Ruairi Slater? Ruairi is a police officer who is brought in by Helen to look into Elliot's disappearance at the start of season 2. However, he is battling with loneliness and struggling to stay afloat, and when his close relationship to Helen causes his own secrets to come to light, he realises he must protect them at any cost.

What else has Conor MacNeill been in? MacNeill has appeared in series including An Crisis, Peep Show , The Fall, No Offence, Derry Girls , Industry and The Sixth Commandment , as well as the films including Love & Friendship, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre and Belfast.

Who is Orla McDonnell? Orla is the one of the McDonnells, who can be just as brutal as her brother Donal is pursuing the family feud.

What else has Nessa Matthews been in? The Tourist season 2 is one of Matthews's first on screen roles.

Diarmaid Murtagh plays Donal McDonnell

Who is Donal McDonnell? Donal is the eldest McDonnell brother, who is fully wrapped up in the feud and wants to impress Frank.

What else has Diarmaid Murtagh been in? Murtagh has previously appeared in Camelot, Vikings, Grantchester , Chernobyl, Grace , Young Wallander, Bloodlands, Outlander and the film Uncharted.

Who is Ethan Krum? Ethan is Helen's ex-fiancée. Helen broke off her engagement at the end of season 1 in response to Ethan's controlling and manipulative behaviour.

What else has Greg Larsen been in? Larsen rose to fame for co-creating and directing stage show award-winning Fancy Boy Variety Show, which was later spun off into a TV series. He has also written and performed on the Australian series Get Krack!n, and Tonightly with Tom Ballard.

Francis Magee plays Frank McDonnell

Who is Frank McDonnell? Frank is the cold, calm and authoritative patriarch of the McDonnells, who takes a more considerate approach to the Cassidy feud than some, and is keen to avoid further bloodshed where possible.

What else has Francis Magee been in? Magee has previously been seen in series including EastEnders , Hustle, No Angels, Peep Show, Game of Thrones , House of Anubis, Death in Paradise , Outlander, Black Mirror , White Lines, Brassic, The Witcher , Vera , Kin and Then You Run , as well as films such as Zack Snyder's Justice League and Rogue One .

Season 1 characters

Shalom brune-franklin plays luci.

Who is Luci? Luci is a waitress who The Man meets whilst trying to find out more about his identity. Luci agrees to help The Man figure himself out – but does she know more than she's letting on?

What else has Shalom Brune-Franklin been in? Brune-Franklin is best known for playing Private Maisie Richards in BBC drama Our Girl and DC Chloe Bishop in the sixth series of Line of Duty , while she was recently seen in Great Expectations .

Olafur Darri Olafsson plays Billy

Who is Billy? Billy is a mysterious American living in the Outback, who tries to visit The Man in hospital.

What else has Olafur Darri Olafsson been in? The Icelandic-American actor starred in mystery drama Trapped from 2015 to 2021 and previously collaborated with the Williams brothers on The Missing, playing Stefan Anderson. He also played The Wall in 2018 film The Meg, Skender in 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Neils Brongus in 2020's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Genevieve Lemon plays Sue

Who is Sue? Sue is a local woman who agrees to house The Man while he figures out who he is.

What else has Genevieve Lemon been in? Lemon played Zelda Baker in The Young Doctors, Marlene "Rabbit" Warren in Prisoner: Cell Block H, Brenda Riley in Neighbours, and Hazel Easton on Home and Away. She has also appeared in a number of films directed by Jane Campion – Sweetie, The Piano, Holy Smoke!, and most recently The Power of the Dog .

Danny Adcock plays Ralph

Who is Ralph? Ralph is Sue's husband, who The Man stays with whilst learning about his identity.

What else has Danny Adcock been in? Adcock's past roles including playing Geoff Carlson in Prisoner: Cell Block H, Co-Kura Strappa in Farscape, and Bishop Pitt in Home and Away.

Damon Herriman plays Lachlan

Who is Lachlan? Lachlan is a detective inspector and the head of Major Crime for the state police who becomes involved in The Man's case. Hugo Weaving was originally cast in the role, however he had to pull out of the project due to scheduling conflicts.

What else has Damon Herriman been in? Herriman has twice played cult leader and criminal Charles Manson, in Netflix series Mindhunter and Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He also played Dewey Crowe on Justified and recently appeared in The Serpent and The Underground Railroad.

Kamil Ellis plays Sergeant Rodney Lammon

Who is Sergeant Rodney Lammon? Rodney Lammon is a police officer working on The Man's case under the instruction of Lachlan.

What else has Kamil Ellis been in? Ellis has appeared on TV in Cleverman, Nowhere Boys, Bushwhacked!, and SeaChange.

Alex Dimitriades plays Kostas

Who is Kostas? Kostas is a mysterious figure who seems to be connected to The Man and his accident in some unknown way.

What else has Alex Dimitriades been in? Dimitriades is best known for his roles as Nick Polides in the 1993 romantic comedy film The Heartbreak Kid, and as Nick Poulos in the series Heartbreak High. In 2018, he played Detective Peter Alexiades in BBC One drama The Cry.

The Tourist seasons 1 and 2 are available in full on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

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'The Tourist' Cast and Character Guide: A Recap of Who's Who Before Season 2

Jamie Dornan leads the stellar cast of the hit BBC series.

A thought-provoking mystery akin to the likes of Christopher Nolan's Memento , The Tourist hit the BBC back in January 2022, with its critical and public acclaim across the pond soon translating into praise in the US following its debut on HBO Max. A whirlwind adventure that also showcases its gorgeous Australian backdrop, it came as no surprise to many when the series was picked up for a second outing . However, Max shockingly dropped the show from their catalog, with Netflix swooping in and saving the day, providing the upcoming second season with a rightful home. With that in mind, here is a look at some of the incredible cast of characters The Tourist has to offer.

The Tourist

When a man wakes up in the Australian outback with no memory, he must use the few clues he has to discover his identity before his past catches up with him.

Jamie Dornan

The man/elliot stanley.

Known initially only as The Man, The Tourist begins with this mysterious stranger ominously waking up in an Australian hospital with a severe case of amnesia. Although it soon becomes clear his real name is Elliot Stanley, the gripping puzzle surrounding his identity creates the backbone of the show as Stanley's troubled Irish past swiftly begins to catch up with him. As the series continues, Dornan becomes a pensive, steadfast action hero, although, unlike a series such as Reacher , this masculine lead is allowed the time to be vulnerable, thrusting the classic male hero into a progressive 2024 role model. In Season 2, The Man has traveled back to his home country with filming in Dublin beginning in 2023 .

With a screen career that dates back to Sofia Coppola 's Marie Antoinette in 2006, Jamie Dornan 's rise to the top has been swift, with his portrayal of Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades franchise solidifying him as a household name. Among his high-profile career to date, Dornan has starred alongside Cillian Murphy in the World War Two spy thriller Anthropoid , portrayed the spiritual precursor to Ryan Gosling's Ken in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar , and acted opposite Gillian Anderson in the tense crime thriller The Fall . A captivating performer with an eye-catching range, Dornan is merely at the beginning of what looks to be an incredible career with many an iconic role still to come. Dornan discussed his time on the series and more in an interview with Collider's Christina Radish back in 2022.

Danielle McDonald

Helen chambers.

Helen's face is the first The Man sees following his sudden awakening, with that moment cementing her as a crucial component to the enigma's journey. At the bottom of the professional ladder, Helen Chambers will stop at nothing to prove she is an expert law enforcement officer, although sometimes her dedication to her job, and specifically the case involving The Man, puts her livelihood and her marriage in jeopardy, which eventually leads to a surprising and show-stealing romance with The Man.

With a career that has only spanned just over a decade to date, Danielle McDonald has already made a name for herself, with both the public and critics alike regularly praising her impressive range of performances. From her beginning on Glee in 2011 through to American Horror Story , McDonald has delighted on the small screen, but perhaps her film work in the likes of Bird Box and Patti Cake$ showcases the best of her talents. To find out more about the actress and her thoughts on playing Helen Chambers in The Tourist , check out her interview with Collider's Christina Radish .

Victoria Haralabidou

Lena pascal.

Lena's journey in The Tourist 's first season is as unique as they come, first appearing as a vision in the dreams (or nightmares) of The Man. As time goes by, these visions become stronger and more detailed, with the puzzle of Lena's identity slowly being pieced together. By season's end, it becomes clear that Lena marks the darkest secret from The Man's past, with Season 2 likely to involve The Man's attempts at redemption.

A star of both stage and screen, the Russian-born Victoria Haralabidou has impressed immensely across a 25-year-long acting career, with highlights including the likes of Brides , The Secrets She Keeps , and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart . In the near future, Haralabidou will be playing Jacinta Brightface in two episodes of Zombie Therapy .

Shalom Brune-Franklin

Luci miller.

Luci Miller's part in the plot of The Tourist 's first season is critical, with the waitress helping The Man piece together his past in the hope of protecting his future. However, Luci is hiding secrets of her own, with her growing bond with The Man soon seeming to have an ulterior motive. Sadly, Luci's involvement in the story is limited to just the first season, but her influence on the second season's plot shouldn't be underestimated.

A young actress with the world at her feet, Shalom Brune-Franklin , although she has a cameo role in Thor: Ragnarok , is best known for her work on television. Whether it's The Tourist , Doctor Doctor , Bad Mothers , or Line of Duty , Shalom never looks out of place alongside actors twice her age, with her future certainly looking bright.

Greg Larsen

Ethan Krum is the fiancée of Helen Chambers and symbolizes the familial cost of the young policewoman's dedication to her profession. A patient and kind man at heart, and never far from a moment of absurdist comic relief, watching Ethan slowly lose faith in the woman he loves is heartbreaking, with The Tourist 's dedication to showcasing both the mystery at its center and the ripple effects of such a tough task one of its best features. Interestingly, despite Helen and The Man now being a romantic item, Ethan is confirmed to appear in Season 2.

Perhaps the most experienced actor in The Tourist 's talented cast, Greg Larsen is a legendary Australian performer with a back catalog that includes the likes of Hug the Sun , How Not to Behave , and Young Rock .

The second season of The Tourist will officially premiere on February 29 on Netflix , with the trailer available to watch above. All episodes of The Tourist Season 1 are available to stream right now on Netflix.

Watch on Netflix

Jamie Dornan Among Four Cast in Limited Series ‘The Tourist,’ HBO Max to Co-Produce and Stream in U.S.

By Joe Otterson

Joe Otterson

TV Reporter

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Jamie Dornan has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming limited series “The Tourist.” In addition, HBO Max has boarded the project and will co-produce along with Two Brothers Pictures as well as serve as the show’s streaming home in the U.S.

Alongside Dornan, the six-episode series will star Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin, and Hugo Weaving . Filming is set to begin soon in Australia. The show was commissioned last year by BBC One, Stan, and ZDF. It hails from writers Harry and Jack Williams.

“Harry and Jack’s talents are as vast as the Australian outback, and this thriller will leave viewers on the edge of their seat piecing together the puzzle,” said Jeniffer Kim, senior vice president of international originals at HBO Max. “We are delighted to have Jamie, Danielle, Hugo and Shalom join the cast for this compelling addition to our slate of international original series.”

Dornan stars as a British man who finds himself in the glowing red heart of the Australian outback being pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road. An epic cat and mouse chase unfolds and the man later wakes in hospital, hurt, but somehow alive. Except he has no idea who he is. With merciless figures from his past pursuing him, The Man’s search for answers propels him through the vast and unforgiving outback.

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Macdonald will star as Helen Chambers, a fledgling Probationary Constable, and Brune-Franklin is set to play Luci, a waitress who’s swept into The Man’s journey for answers. Weaving plays Agent Lachlan Rogers, one of the most highly regarded detective inspectors in Australia, leading Major Crime for the state police.

“We’re hugely excited about this show. It’s tonally breaking new ground for us and having Jamie Dornan on board is the icing on the Australian cake. Thrilled to be working with Chris Sweeney again as well as the BBC, HBO Max and Stan,” said Harry and Jack Williams, writers and managing directors of Two Brothers Pictures.

“The Tourist” is a Two Brothers Pictures (an All3Media company) production for the BBC, in association with Highview Productions, All3Media International, the South Australian Film Corporation, HBO Max, Stan and ZDF.

The Williams brothers will executive produce along with Christopher Aird and Andrew Benson of Two Brothers Pictures. Tommy Bulfin executive produces for the BBC. Lisa Scott will produce and Chris Sweeney will executive produce and direct. International sales will be handled by global partner All3Media International.

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A British man finds himself in the glowing red heart of the Australian outback being pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road.

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The Tourist review – Jamie Dornan is intense in explosively entertaining outback thriller

An Irishman wakes up in Australia with amnesia in this pulse-pounding series packed with humour and philosophical questions

F anging it down an outback road when he is rammed by a truck driver from hell, Jamie Dornan experiences a terrible accident that gives him amnesia – making him forget about all that bondage paraphernalia from Fifty Shades of Grey .

In the explosively entertaining six-part series The Tourist, created and written by Harry and Jack Williams, the Irish actor and former Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein studmuffin plays a louche loner who can’t remember who is he, what he is doing in Australia or why he appears to have “kill me” stamped figuratively speaking across his forehead.

Dornan joins a coterie of famous foreign actors who have been plonked in the thick of arid, unforgiving Australian land and left to fry in the sun for our dramatic amusement. See also: Gary Bond in Wake in Fright , who drank a lot of beer and went mad; Dennis Hopper in Mad Dog Morgan , who drank a lot of moonshine and went mad; Johnathon Schaech in Welcome to Woop Woop , who spent a lot of time with the locals and went mad; and soon to be Zac Efron in Gold, who, the trailer suggests, finds gold in them thar desert and then goes mad.

Come to think of it, Dornan’s character in The Tourist – billed as “The Man” – is pretty sane compared with these rather rabid fellows. He’s like Guy Pearce in Memento in that he’s determined but displaced (in this instance geographically as well as mentally) and constantly banging against the walls of his own mind. If the whole being rammed into near-oblivion wasn’t enough, “The Man” is also a mite concerned when, after meeting the friendly and charming Luci (Shalom Brune-Franklin) at a diner, there appears to be another (rather spectacular) attempt on his life.

The show’s central mystery has something to do with a man who has been buried alive and calls “The Man” from inside a barrel, begging to be found post-haste. Director Chris Sweeney (who helmed episodes one to three, with Daniel Nettheim steering the others) shoves a camera inside a tight coffin-esque space, evoking memories of Ryan Reynolds in Buried.

A big, beefy, cowboy shirt-wearing villain emerges in Billy (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), who whistles cheerfully but with absolute menace, his merry tune a harbinger of impending doom. In the series’ second half, Alex Dimitriades emerges as another prominent bad guy, hamming it up in super-villain style.

Certain characters aren’t who they say they are, though that does not apply to Helen Chambers – a fair dinkum what-you-see-is-what-you-get probationary constable battling with low self-esteem. She is superbly portrayed by Danielle Macdonald (who played the gossip columnist Lillian Roxon in I am Woman ), bringing loads of colour and detail to what could have been the simple sweet hick. Macdonald’s performance vividly contrasts with the rough and tough Dornan – also perfect in a high-intensity role as a man who is something of a blank slate, frightened by who he is or who he may be. There are philosophical questions about identity to ponder – if viewers pause for a breather and stop chewing their nails – including to what extent each of us are defined by our past actions.

There’s also an oddly good performance from the ever-reliable Damon Herriman, offsetting his recent menacing work by playing a detective inspector in a way that’s both funny weird and funny ha-ha, suiting the show’s quite dry approach to comedy. Many scenes are humorous in a cagey way, sans explicit signposting: at one point for instance we discover a traffic pile-up has been created by two turtles rooting in the middle of the road. Elsewhere, in the aftermath of an intense confrontation, in a shot one could imagine belonging to a Coen brothers movie, the show cuts to a framed picture on a wall bearing the following message: “LIFE IS MADE OF CHOICES. WIPE YOUR FEET OR SCRUB THE FLOOR.”

The Tourist is very well shot by Ben Wheeler and Geoffrey Hall (who was also the cinematographer for Chopper , Red Dog: True Blue and Eden ), with colour grading that’s a little off, a little sickly, as if the blues and greens (hard to find in arid outback) in particular have been poisoned from the inside. This is a clever way of visualising the feeling that something isn’t quite right. Sweeney and Nettheim (whose directorial work includes episodes of Halifax: Retribution , Tidelands and Line of Duty) establish a cracker pace that creeps, creeps, creeps up on you, then explodes with a great big thunderclap of action then creeps, creeps, creeps up again.

The “bugger me dead, it’s hot!” action-thriller, as it shall henceforth be known, is by now very familiar, but The Tourist is different: a pulse-pounder that feels fresh despite many genre elements, particularly of the neo-noir variety. The show has a great forwards and backwards momentum, contrasting cliffhanger moments with questions about the past and the ambiguities therein. It’s a vision of Australiana that’s less “ where the bloody hell are you? ” than who the bloody hell are you, and what the bloody hell will happen next? And – summarising my personal response – bloody hell, this is good.

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BBC and HBO Max's The Tourist starring Jamie Dornan: What you need to know

The makers of The Missing are back with another thriller.

British actor Dornan ( The Fall , Fifty Shades of Grey ) will take the in the series from Jack and Harry Williams described as a "character-driven, mystery-packed, six-part thriller charting one man's search for his identity".

Here's what we know about the series so far...

The Tourist: What's it about?

Dornan stars as a "British man who finds himself in the glowing red heart of the Australian outback, being pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road. An epic cat-and-mouse chase unfolds and the man later wakes in hospital, hurt, but somehow alive. Except he has no idea who he is. With merciless figures from his past pursuing him, The Man’s search for answers propels him through the vast and unforgiving outback," the BBC explained.

"Full of shocking, surprising, funny and brutal turns, The Tourist is set in a world populated by quirky, enigmatic characters and off-beat black comedy punctuates high-stakes action. At its heart however, is a story of self-discovery with a ticking timebomb underneath: as The Man starts to uncover the mystery of who he was, he’s also forced to ask who he is now - and fast."

The big question is, will he unlock the secrets of his identity before those who are trying to kill him finally catch up with him?

Jamie Dornan said of the project: " The Tourist are some of the most exciting scripts I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to go to Australia with such a talented group of people."

Harry and Jack Williams, Writers and Managing Directors of Two Brothers Pictures, have given a hint that their latest thriller will 'break new ground'.

"We're hugely excited about this show. It's tonally breaking new ground for us, and having Jamie Dornan on board is the icing on the Australian cake," they said.

The Tourist: Who's in it?

As well as Dornan, Danielle Macdonald ( Unbelievable ) will star as Helen Chambers, a fledgling Probationary Constable, and Shalom Brune-Franklin ( Line Of Duty ) is set to play Luci, a waitress who’s swept into The Man’s journey for answers. Damon Herriman ( Mindhunter ) replaces Hugo Weaving as Agent Lachlan Rogers, one of the most highly regarded detective inspectors in Australia, leading Major Crime for the state police.

Further casting will be announced in due course.

The Tourist: When's it on TV?

That's not clear just yet, but we do know the show will head into production in 2021.

The Tourist will air on BBC One and HBO Max in the US.

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The Tourist

Where to watch.

Watch The Tourist with a subscription on Netflix.

Cast & Crew

Jamie Dornan

Danielle Macdonald

Helen Chambers

Shalom Brune-Franklin

Luci Miller

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson

Billy Nixon

Geneviève Lemon

Danny Adcock

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Who Is in the Cast of 'The Tourist' on HBO Max?

Hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed movie Belfast , Jamie Dornan is back with a brand-new thriller called The Tourist. Four years after he last appeared on the small screen, Dornan has returned to TV as a car-crash victim who wakes up in hospital with amnesia. As he tries to piece who he was before the accident, his character who is named "The Man," realizes he was actually the victim of attempted murder.

Shot and filmed in Australia, the movie features a host of up-and-coming talent from across the globe. Newsweek has everything you need to know about the cast of The Tourist and their characters.

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Meet the Cast of 'The Tourist'

The Man — Jamie Dornan

Jamie Dornan stars as The Man in The Tourist , an amnesiac trying to discover the truth about his past. In a terrifying twist of events along the way, he realizes there is somebody out there who wants him dead but why?

Dornan rose to fame by playing Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey film franchise and Sheriff Graham Humbert in Once Upon a Time.

He is also well known for playing killer Paul Spector in BBC 's The Fall and most recently, he starred as Pa, in Kenneth Branagh's Oscar-nominated film, Belfast, and as Edgar in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.

Constable Helen Chambers — Danielle Macdonald

Danielle Macdonald portrays Probationary Constable Helen Chambers in The Tourist.

She is a police officer assigned to The Man's case but quickly finds herself becoming consumed by his mystery and getting to the bottom of who he really is.

Speaking to Newsweek and other outlets about the character Helen, writer Jack Williams shared: "She's very believable, very relatable and you feel very warm. You just want her, this character to realize herself to be a better version of herself and I think Danielle brings that amazing relatability and warmth."

Macdonald, who is Australian but lives in the U.S. gets to use her native accent in the show, which may stun viewers who know Macdonald best as New Jersey rapper in Patti Cake$ and Texas-born Willowdean in Dumplin'.

Her other well-known credits include Bird Box, Unbelievable, and Lady Bird.

Luci Miller — Shalom Brune-Franklin

Actress Shalom Brune-Franklin stars as Luci Miller, who has an unexpected connection to The Man and a very dark past.

Speaking to Newsweek and other outlets about her character, Brune-Franklin said: "She's a waitress. There's a really interesting dynamic going on between the two of them whilst Jamie's character is sort of trying to unveil the truth, she is maybe trying to hide it."

Brune-Franklin is an English-born Australian actress, best known for playing Private Maisie Richards in Our Girl and Aoife in Doctor Doctor.

Most recently, she starred in Season 6 of Line of Duty as Chloe Bishop.

Billy Nixon — Ólafur Darri Ólafsson

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson stars as Billy Nixon, the truck driver who tries to kill The Man in Episode 1.

Ólafsson is an Icelandic-American actor, best known for playing Andri Ólafsson in Trapped and Skender in Fantastic Beats: The Crimes of Grindelwald .

His other credits include The Missing, The Meg, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Ethan — Greg Larsen

Greg Larsen stars as Helen's intolerable fiancé Ethan in The Tourist.

Ethan and Helen's relationship may seem stable on the surface, but behind closed doors, Helen is starting to find her husband-to-be, intolerable.

Larsen is best known for co-creating and directing the award-winning stage show Fancy Boy .

He is also known for writing and performing on the Australian series Get Krack!n.

Kosta Panigiris — Alex Dimitriades

Australian actor Alex Dimitriades stars as Greek gangster Kosta Panigiris who has tried to keep a respectable distance from his corrupt business.

Dimitriades is best known for his role as Nick Polides in The Heartbreak Kid and Detective Peter Alexiades in The Cry.

Detective Inspector Lachlan Rogers — Damon Herriman

Damon Herriman takes on the role of Detective Inspector Lachlan Rogers, who is sent by the Major Crimes Unit to investigate what happened to The Man.

Herriman is best known for portraying cult leader and the late convicted murderer Charles Manson inboth Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Most recently, he starred as Laver in The Serpent and Martin in The Underground Railroad.

Sergeant Lammon — Kamil Ellis

Australian actor Kamil Ellis plays Sergeant Lammon, a small-town police officer working on The Man's case.

However, when Major Crimes steps in, Lammon is forced to work alongside them and is seriously out of his depth.

Ellis is best known for appearing in the series Cleverman, Nowhere Boys and SeaChange.

The Tourist is streaming on HBO Max now.

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About the writer

Molli Mitchell is a Senior SEO TV and Film Newsweek Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on culture and entertainment. She has covered the world of Film and TV extensively from true-crime dramas to reality TV and blockbuster movies. Molli joined Newsweek in 2021 from the Daily Express. She is a graduate of The University of Glasgow. Languages: English.

You can get in touch with Molli by emailing [email protected].

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• Why <i>The Tourist</i> Should Be Your Next Netflix Binge–And What to Know Before Watching

Why The Tourist Should Be Your Next Netflix Binge–And What to Know Before Watching

T ake a break from endlessly scrolling through Netflix searching for something new to watch and just press play on The Tourist, the BBC series which stars Jamie Dornan as a mysterious Irishman who wakes up in an Australian hospital with amnesia.

The wry thriller isn’t necessarily new—it premiered on the BBC in 2022 and quickly became one of the U.K.’s most-watched dramas of that year—but it is a recent addition to Netflix, which acquired the exclusive rights to the series last year and started streaming it in February. (Season 1 of The Tourist was previously available to stream in the U.S. on Max.) 

At just six episodes, The Tourist is a low-risk, high-reward viewing experience full of twists and turns that are sure to keep you on your toes. Think Memento if directed by the Coen Brothers . Even better, if you like what you see, you can launch right into season 2, which is now streaming.

Here is what you need to know about your next great Netflix binge . 

What is The Tourist about?

The Tourist begins with an Irish guy (played by Dornan) making a pit stop at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, Australia. Nothing seems too out of the ordinary; he fills up his car, questions the gas station attendant’s bathroom key policy, visits the absolutely filthy restroom, and is on his way. But things get weird once he gets back on the road. He finds himself being harassed by a tractor trailer that seems hellbent on mowing him down. Just when it appears that he’s in the clear, he’s T-boned by the truck and left for dead on the side of the dirt road. 

When he wakes up, he’s in the hospital and has no memory of the accident or who he is. He doesn’t have a wallet or ID or phone on him to help jog his memory. This nameless man is now a tourist in his own life, struggling to understand who he was and why someone wanted him dead so badly. With help from a few kind, but not necessarily trustworthy strangers including Probationary Constable Helen Chambers (Danielle Macdonald), local waitress Luci (Shalom Brune-Franklin), and Detective Inspector Lachlan Rogers (Damon Herriman), he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leaves him with more questions than answers about his dark past. 

Why it’s worth your time

Let’s start with Jamie Dornan. He played the leading man in the Fifty Shades trilogy and the Academy Award-nominated 2021 drama Belfast , but The Tourist feels like the first time he’s been able to truly show his range as an actor. It’s hard to resist that Irish brogue, but it’s even harder to resist his “ get you a man that can do both ” charm. Fans of the superbly silly Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar already know how funny he can be—not to mention, what a great singer he is. But The Tourist lets him show off his dry, dark wit, while also letting him show off his romantic side. By the end of the series, you’ll be left wondering why he hasn’t yet been cast in a good rom-com. (Sorry, not sorry Wild Mountain Thyme .) In the show’s most gripping action sequences, he manages to channel another amnesiac with killer instincts, Jason Bourne. But thanks to his hangdog expression, Dornan is also able to pull off the existential dread his character feels after realizing he’s not the person he hoped he would be.

Obviously, it’s hard to take your eyes off Dornan, but the scenery in The Tourist isn’t too bad to look at either. The show, set in the Australian outback—like way, way out back—was filmed on location in South Australia around Adelaide, a city known for its coastline. (Adelaide's North Haven Beach serves as the show’s stand-in for Bali’s Kuta Beach.) It was also shot in the Flinders Ranges , the largest mountain ranges in South Australia, and in Peterborough, a small town in an area near Adelaide known as wheat country, which stood in for the sandy outback scenes. (Season 2 takes place in Ireland, so prepare yourself for greenery as far as the eye can see.) Despite all the drama onscreen, The Tourist makes Australia look like a nice place to visit.

What to remember before watching The Tourist season 2

Whether you’ve already finished the first season and need a bit of a refresher or you’re planning to skip straight to Season 2, this is what you need to know before watching the second season. 

Warning: major spoilers for The Tourist Season 1 ahead.

The Irish guy with amnesia is actually Elliot Stanley, and he’s done some really bad things in his life. 

While in the hospital, Elliot finds a note in his pants pocket with an address for a diner in a tiny town called Burnt Ridge. It’s there he meets Luci (Brune-Franklin), a waitress who is actually his ex-girlfriend. She only chooses to tell him his name and their relationship to one another after they discover a man’s dead body stashed in an oil drum that had been buried. The man was Marko (Damien Strouthos), who, like Elliot, worked for Kostas (Alex Dimitriades), an international drug lord and Luci’s fiancé.

Luci isn’t exactly who she claims to be. She’s a scammer who stole a rather sentimental bag of money from Kostas in order to run off with Elliot. Now the Greek gangster is back to collect. But Kostas isn’t all that interested in the cash; a million dollars is chump change to a guy like him. This is about ego. Kostas, a maniac who spikes his water with LSD to be able to speak with his dead brother, wants to punish Elliot for successfully stealing his girl.

Kostas decides to kidnap the wife of Detective Inspector Lachlan Rogers (Herriman) in hopes that it will scare the decorated officer into doing his bidding. It does; Lachlan apprehends Elliot and kills a young sergeant in the process, becoming one of the bad guys. But is Elliot also a bad guy? Probationary Constable Helen Chambers (Macdonald), the ambitious cop-in-training assigned to his case, doesn’t think so. She believes the fact that he was willing to save her from being shot by Kostas’ henchman means there is good in there somewhere, even if he has done bad things. But Elliot isn’t convinced that someone can really change. 

After drinking from Kostas’ LSD-laced water bottle, he has visions that offer some insight into who he may have been. He sees his first meeting with Kostas, where he’s hired as his accountant. He is able to relive his meet-cute with Luci and sees how toxic their relationship was. He discovers where he buried the bag of money and dreams of laying in bed with Helen. He also speaks to a Russian woman named Lena Pascal, who he’s seen before in his dreams. She tells him she’s in Adelaide and claims that she can help him “fill in the colors” of his past. 

Elliot worries that what he has seen aren’t memories, but hallucinations. When he finds the bag of money in the same spot he had envisioned it though, he believes that Lena may be real, too. Unfortunately, he can’t go looking for her just yet. After Kostas and Luci are killed in a shootout over the million dollars, Lachlan lies to the police in hopes of saving himself. He claims that Elliot and Helen kidnapped him and went on a shooting rampage à la Bonnie and Clyde, killing the young sergeant. Luckily, Helen is able to access the CCTV footage that shows Lachlan transporting Elliot in handcuffs, catching him in his lie. It saves both her and Elliott from going to jail and allows Elliot a chance to speak with Lena, who was not a figment of his imagination—though after their chat he wishes she was.

When Lena comes to meet him at the jail, she reveals that he wasn’t just Kostas’ accountant as he had dreamt, but helped train the drug mules, mostly young immigrant women who swallowed bags of heroin to transport across the globe. Lena tells a story of two girls who died instantly after the bags Elliot gave them exploded in their stomachs. Lena lived, but not without literal scars. She shows him the long gash across her stomach where she was cut open to retrieve the drugs. She claims Elliot was the one who ordered her to be butchered, worried the heroin would go to waste. He apologizes for his cruelty, but she doesn’t absolve him of his guilt. “You have to live with yourself,” she tells him as she leaves.

Elliot doesn’t think he can and attempts to have himself arrested, but Lena won’t press charges. He then attempts to lose his memory again by getting into another car crash. He flips his car over, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work. He can’t forget what Lena told him and neither can Helen, who after learning the evil that Elliot was capable of decides she can no longer see him. But she can’t stop thinking about him and wondering whether he or anyone should be defined by their worst mistakes. 

Elliot wonders the same, but the guilt is just too much. He decides that he can no longer live with himself and attempts to take his life with vodka and pills. Laid out on his bed, waiting to die, he gets a text: a burrito emoji from Helen.

The burrito references a scene earlier in the show, when Elliot and Helen were eating together in a Mexican restaurant. Helen is his hostage, but the night plays out like a first date. Elliot can’t remember what kind of food he likes so she suggests they order everything on the menu so he can figure out his taste now. She encourages him to stop thinking about who he was and start becoming the person he is meant to be. He later tells her that he equates burritos with happiness and her text becomes a lifeline. He might not be able to forget what he’s done, but she believes he has the capacity to change. The joy on his face when he sees her message makes it seem as if Elliot finally believes he can change too. But fans will have to wait until Season 2 to see if he’s able to become a better person.

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‘Baby Reindeer’ Cast and Character Guide: Who’s Who in the Netflix Limited Series?

Creator Richard Gadd and actress Jessica Gunning lead the ensemble of the disturbing stalker saga

“Baby Reindeer” is the surprise television hit of the spring, and Netflix’s latest must-see title. 

The seven-episode limited series, created by and starring comedian Richard Gadd, follows a fictionalized retelling of his experiences being stalked by a deranged fan. Based on Gadd’s one-man show of the same name, momentum for the show has been growing substantially in the two weeks since its release.

For a full breakdown of the characters in “Baby Reindeer” — and where you might have seen them before — see below.

Richard Gadd as Donny Dunn

Richard Gadd stars as Donny Dunn, a stand-up comedian with dreams of making it big while making ends meet working at a pub. A small moment of kindness from Donny in the pub catches the attention of convicted stalker Martha, whose invasive and abusive behavior towards Donny threatens to disintegrate his life.

Gadd previously had roles in “Wedding Season,” “Code 404,” “Outlander,” “Clique,” “Urban Myths” and “Against the Law.”

Jessica Gunning as Martha Scott

Jessica Gunning stars as Martha Scott, a convicted stalker who takes special notice of Donny when he offers her a gesture of kindness at the pub. Spewing lies about her career as a high-powered lawyer, Martha grows obsessed with Donny — whom she calls “baby reindeer” — and begins intertwining herself and invading his privacy in all aspects of his life.

Aside from this breakout performance, Gunning is best known for starring in “Pride,” “What Remains,” “Back,” “White Heat” and “The Outlaws.”

Nava Mau as Teri

Nava Mau plays Teri, a therapist Donny meets on a trans dating site to whom he takes a particular liking. Donny, who used a fake name and profession in his profile, begins dating Teri just as Martha’s stalking kicks into high gear, endangering their blossoming relationship. Teri is initially unafraid of Martha, and finds herself unpacking why Donny was drawn to such a twisted relationship in the first place.

You might have seen Mau as Ava in “Generation,” or in short films “Work,” “Sam’s Town” and “Waking Hour.”

Tom Goodman-Hill as Darrien O’Connor

Tom Goodman-Hill plays Darrien O’Connor, a well-known TV writer who promises fame and success to Donny after meeting him at an exclusive club. Darrien attends a couple of Donny’s comedy sets before going dark and resurfacing when Donny is in acting school with the promise of working together. Instead, Darrien leads Donny down a road of drugs, manipulation and abuse.

Goodman-Hill can be seen in “Rebecca,” “The Imitation Game,” “The War Below” and “Homebound.”

Nina Sosanya as Liz

Nina Sosanya as Liz, Donny’s landlady and the mother of his ex-girlfriend, Keeley. Donny and Keeley moved in with Liz while they dated and, when they broke up, Keeley moved out and Donny remained living with Liz as he worked at the pub and pursued stand-up on the side.

Sosanya is best known for her role in “Love Actually,” and can also be seen in “Nathan Barley,” “Five Days,” “Code 46,” “His Dark Materials,” “Good Omens” and “Screw.”

Shalom Brune-Franklin as Keeley

Shalom Brune-Franklin plays Keeley, Donny’s ex-girlfriend who he met during acting school and dated while being entangled in his toxic relationship with Darrien. Despite moving out of Liz’s house after she and Donny broke up, Keeley comes back into the picture as she begins spending more time at her home.

Brune-Franklin has appeared in recent TV series “Great Expectations,” “Love Me,” “The Tourist” and “War of the Worlds.”

Danny Kirrane as Gino

Danny Kirrane plays Gino, Donny’s coworker at the pub who witnesses Donny’s twisted relationship with Martha continue to devolve. Gino initially brushes most of Donny’s concerns off and jokes about the situation, unaware of the extent of the abuse Donny is facing or his past.

You might recognize Kirrane from “The Serpent Queen,” “The Sandman,” “Wasted” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.”

Michael Wildman as Greggsy

Michael Wildman as Greggsy, Donny’s coworker who, like Gino, fails to take Martha’s stalking of Donny seriously, despite seeing Martha come to the pub every single day.

Wildman has appeared in “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “Ready Player One,” “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “MI-5.”

Mark Lewis Jones as Gerry

Mark Lewis Jones appears as Gerry, Donny’s Father, who quickly becomes heavily agitated by Martha’s stalking of Donny.

Jones is best known for his roles in “Gangs of London,” “Chernobyl,” “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” and “The Crown.”

Amanda Root as Elle

Amanda Root plays Elle, Donny’s Mother who becomes deeply concerned about her son’s troubling situation and supports him in any way she can.

You might recognize Root from “The Forsyte Saga,” “The Iron Lady,” “The Black Prince” and “Daniel Deronda.”

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10 TV Shows That Perfectly Cast Beloved Book Characters

• Henry Cavill's portrayal of Geralt in The Witcher perfectly captures the character's essence and physique.
• Walker Scobell's performance as Percy Jackson showcases the character's growth and struggle from a child to a hero.
• Ben Barnes's depiction of The Darkling in Shadow and Bone captures the character's mysterious and manipulative nature.

Adapting novels to TV comes with several challenges, but one of the most important to get right is casting the beloved characters from the source material. Books create entire worlds and stories around fictional characters that people can become attached to. Upon reading a book, many people will begin to formulate ideas about their favorite characters and have an idea of how they look, how they sound, and any defining features and characteristics.

Of course, these ideas are also shaped by the author and the narrative, but everyone's perception will highlight different elements. So, when it comes to casting these beloved characters for a TV adaptation, there is a lot of weight hanging onto the decision. Fortunately, there are also incredible actors who love the source material or are exceptionally talented at emulating the characters and bringing them to life. Some book adaptations of beloved characters are absolutely spot on, and the actors appear to be the perfect person to take on the role.

Henry Cavill As Geralt

The witcher (2019 - present), the witcher.

Based on the novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and the video games, The Witcher follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. "Ciri" Cirilla is the Princess of Cintra, who has magical abilities and whose fate has been linked to Geralt's. Yennefer of Vengerberg, a sorceress who trains to become a mage before deserting her duties and going solo, is also a main character in the Netflix series. The show's storylines are intertwined but told throughout different timelines, all of which eventually catch up to Ciri's, whose timeline of events is the most recent. Set on the Continent where men, monsters, and elves exist together, the characters all have separate journeys, though their destinies bring them into each others' orbits.

Henry Cavill is notoriously a famous nerd, who is incredibly passionate about gaming, computers, and many other aspects of fandoms. This lived experience made him the ideal person for tackling the role of Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher novels written by Andrzej Sapkowski. Cavill was very familiar with the novels and games and thus, able to contribute ideas from the source material and really get a feel for the character as he was originally intended. In addition, Cavill is an absolute hunk and a man with an impressive physique which ticked boxes for the heroic figure he was playing.

Walker Scobell As Percy Jackson

Percy jackson and the olympians (2023 - present), percy jackson & the olympians.

Based on the novel series by Rick Riordan Percy Jackson & the Olympians is an action-adventure fantasy television series created for Disney+. When Percy Jackson is framed for the theft of Zeus' almighty thunderbolt, Percy must clear his name, all while harnessing the powers inherited by his father, Poseidon, at a camp created for demi-gods.

The best-selling book series by Rick Riordan combined popular Greek mythology with modern storytelling. The books were adapted for a series of Percy Jackson movies in 2010 starring Logan Lerman , but the movies didn't entirely capture the struggle and youth of the titular character. Percy is just a child when he discovers his heritage, but with some help, he learns to slowly grow in confidence and accept his destiny to become a hero among gods. Scobell is an incredibly talented young actor who fits the bill perfectly, delivering a complex and layered performance while still being just a kid.

11 Book Adaptations To Get Second Chances As TV Shows

Ben barnes as the darkling, shadow and bone (2021 - 2023), shadow and bone.

Based on Leigh Bardugo's bestselling Grishaverse novels, Netflix's Shadow and Bone follows the story of Alina Starkov, an orphan and soldier who has released a power that could potentially set her country free. Instead, Alina joins an elite army of soldiers known as the Grisha as the Shadow Fold, an area of mysterious darkness that grows each year, threatening to envelop her world. Alina quickly learns that nothing is as it seems, and it will take more than the power of magic to make it through.

Ben Barnes is an English actor who rose to prominence for playing Prince Caspian in the Chronicles of Narnia films. Barnes is a talented actor who is able to perfectly emulate the dark, mysterious, and manipulative nature of The Darkling, without appearing inherently evil. The character certainly doesn't view themselves as evil as they seek to change Ravka for the betterment of Grisha. The Darkling is powerful, elusive, and full of intrigue, as well as possessing a gift for getting his own way, and Barnes perfectly captures that in his performance.

Mads Mikkelsen As Hannibal Lecter

Hannibal (2013 - 2015).

Created for TV by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a TV adaptation/reimagining of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel. The show follows the exploits of FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and their perpetual game of cat and mouse that unfolds over the series. When a string of murders in Minnesota requires a brilliant mind to crack the case, Will Graham is called in to investigate - but due to the intimate and terrifying nature of the crimes, he is appointed Dr. Lecter to act as his psychiatrist. The truth of Dr. Lecter is that he is Will's target - but to complicate matters, he's the only person that can truly understand him.

Hannibal found a perfect casting when the original movies cast Anthony Hopkins , but when a new TV series was being made to explore the origins of the character and his relationship with Will Graham, the series perfectly cast its leading duo. Mads Mikkelsen is one of the best character actors in Hollywood with his natural talent for exploring and developing villains as incredibly realistic and visceral. However, he does his best work in the role of Hannibal, a brilliant, but deeply secretive man, who has a love for fine art, classical music, and excellent cuisine.

Gwendoline Christie As Brienne Of Tarth

Game of thrones (2011 - 2019), game of thrones.

Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones is a TV series based on the book “A Song of Ice of Fire” by George R. R. Martin. It tells the story of the ongoing battle between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros - as they fight for control of the coveted Iron Throne. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the far north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, led by House Stark's Jon Snow, is the first to encounter icy horrors that threaten all realms of men. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and quickly became one of the biggest event series in the "Golden Age" of TV. Winner of 38 Primetime Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base.

Game of Thrones featured several actors who were perfect for their roles, but one that easily stands out for their portrayal was Gwendoline Christie in the role of Brienne of Tarth. Gwendoline may be a perfect physical match for the character of a broad and tall, powerful woman who could overpower most men with ease, but Christie goes further in capturing the personality and complexity of Brienne . Brienne faces regular struggles daily in a world ruled by men, and despite her size, she still suffers abuse by those who wish to fight her or fetishize her.

Tom Sturridge As Dream

The sandman (2022 - present), the sandman.

The Sandman is a Supernatural Horror and Superhero television series developed by Neil Gaiman, Allan Heinberg, and David S. Goyer. The series is based on the original Superhero Comic Book series created by Neil Gaiman and follows the fictional Lord Morpheus as he attempts to regain control of his realm.

The Sandman , a series of graphic novel stories by Neil Gaiman , finally received an on-screen adaptation in 2022. The series is a fantasy adventure, and many of the actors cast were perfect in their roles, but Tom Sturridge did an outstanding job as Dream . The character suffered through being trapped for decades by humans, before finally breaking free and seeking to restore his powers and his kingdom in the land of sleep. Sturridge does a great job of showing just enough emotion and expression in the right moments, to not diminish Dream's status as a god, but still emulate his struggles.

10 TV Adaptations That Were Better Than The Source Material

Ruth wilson as mrs. marisa coulter, his dark materials (2019 - 2022), his dark materials.

Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.

The character of Mrs. Coulter in Philip Pullman's popular book series is an integral part of the story and incredibly challenging as she displays different faces in different scenes to get her intended results. Coulter is sweet, kind, and unassuming when she wants to appear that way, but bubbling just below the surface is a woman who is powerful, intelligent, and calculating. She engineers others' behaviors with precision and exactness, and Ruth Wilson perfectly encapsulates all of these qualities in a natural way that brings out the best of each side of the character from scene to scene.

Neil Patrick Harris As Count Olaf

A series of unfortunate events (2017 - 2019).

Count Olaf is a character that is larger than life, and full of bravado, which makes it a perfect role for the equally charismatic Neil Patrick Harris. However, the character also possesses exceptional greed, cruelty, and a degree of naivety that makes him seem almost childlike. As quirky and zany as he is, his motivations are purely selfish, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to claim the Baudelaire fortune for himself. Harris does a great job playing the many faces of Olaf as he puts on several poorly conceived costumes and seeks to dupe the authorities.

Michael Sheen As Aziraphale

Good omens (2019 - present).

Based on the bestselling novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Good Omens follows an angel and demon as they attempt to defy the forces of Heaven and Hell in order to avert the apocalypse. With Pratchett and Gaiman's funny and irreverent style shining through, Good Omens stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant as Aziraphale and Crowley, with a larger cast that includes John Hamm, Francis McDormand, and Michael McKean.

Another story from the mind of Neil Gaiman, Good Omens , is an intricate and delightfully twisted look at an impending apocalyptic event from the perspective of an angel and a demon. Both Michael Sheen and David Tennant perfectly capture Aziraphale and Crowley respectively, but Sheen's development from a non-questioning angel to one that begins to exercise free will is beautifully captured and performed. Sheen hits all the right notes as the nervous angel who wishes to simply lead a happy life of choice, instead of bearing the crushing weight of fate.

Penn Badgley As Joe Goldberg

You (2018 - 2024).

You is a drama-thriller series based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes that follows an obsessive and dangerous bookstore owner known as Joe Goldberg. The show sees Joe meeting women that he becomes transfixed with and goes to terrifying lengths to insert himself into their lives. To accomplish his goal, Joe will remove each obstacle - and person- in his way.

Caroline Kepnes' series of books about the murderous obsessive stalker that is Joe Goldberg was perfectly emulated by Penn Badgley in You . The character is a delusional man who becomes attached and obsessed with women at an alarmingly fast pace and then does all he can to insert himself into their lives. However, despite his best efforts, the relationship usually sours, and Joe convinces himself that killing his beloved is the only answer. Badgley gives off all the charm and charisma of the character, while still showing his dark side and how close he always is to flipping a switch .