Based on Emily St. John Mandel's novel of the same name, HBO miniseries Station Eleven boasts a talented cast of actors, including both notable faces and relative newcomers. Station Eleven balances the dystopian and sci-fi elements of a post-apocalyptic scenario, as it deals with human civilization and culture in the wake of a flu pandemic. A diverse collective of characters helps Station Eleven flesh out the plight of the survivors and ultimately offer hope for the uncertain future that lies ahead. And of course, its parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic weren't lost on anyone.
Many of Station Eleven's main characters are self-professed Shakespeare fanatics, reinterpreting some of the playwright's best writings, while the protagonist is a member of an artistic collective named the Traveling Symphony, which performs plays in the post-pandemic era. Offering a much-required distraction to the survivors, Station Eleven's theatrical troupe prove that the performing arts must be preserved in case humanity reaches the brink of extinction. It is this preservation of art that is manifested in different degrees by the cast and characters of Station Eleven.
Mackenzie Davis As Kirsten Raymonde
Mackenzie Davis leads the Station Eleven cast as the series protagonist Kirsten Raymonde. A ionate actress with theater experience since her childhood, Kirsten is a lead performer for the Traveling Symphony. One of the most likable characters of Station Eleven, she also uses acting as a means to get over the general anxiety that has set in after the flu pandemic. Davis has received critical acclaim for playing LGBTQ+ lead characters Yorkie in Black Mirror season 3, episode 4 "San Junipero" and Harper Caldwell in Happiest Season. She also starred in Terminator: Dark Fate as the super-soldier Grace Harper.
Himesh Patel As Jeevan Chaudhary
Jeevan Chaudhary had a largely meaningless life as a paparazzo before the pandemic. But an accidental encounter with Kirsten makes him an unlikely mentor as he makes it his mission to ensure her safety. Even when he gets separated from her and his brother Frank, Jeevan finds a new purpose as he provides medical and emotional aid to survivors. For his emotional performance as Jeevan, Himesh Patel earned himself an Emmy nomination. The British actor broke out as the singer-guitarist Jack Malik in the Beatles-inspired romance movie Yesterday. Patel has also had ing roles as the fixer Mahir in Tenet and as yet another journalist in Don't Look Up.
Matilda Lawler As Young Kirsten Raymonde
When Kirsten is introduced as a child actor in a Shakespeare production, she makes for an ominous character. Her parents are never revealed on-screen but with the pandemic wreaking havoc, she develops an unlikely friendship with Jeevan, who becomes her new guardian. She continues to commit herself to the arts as she writes and performs her own wildly imaginative plays with him. Matilda Lawler's performance is as impactful as Davis', adding important context behind Kirsten's psyche. Before she ed the Station Eleven cast, Lawler earned rave reviews for her starring role as Flora, a cynical 10-year-old obsessed with comics, in the Disney superhero comedy Flora & Ulysses.
David Wilmot As Clark Thompson
Formerly a close friend of Arthur Leander's, Clark Thompson was initially a talented actor. However, in the post-apocalyptic reality of Station Eleven, Clark almost develops a dictatorial tendency to control people as he leads the survivors at the Severn City airport. The Shakespeare purist makes it his mission to preserve the arts and even sets up the Museum of Civilization. Arguably the most intelligent character in Station Eleven, the ruthless and paranoid actor is played by David Wilmot. Having portrayed many real-life figures on screen, Wilmot has previously played the pirate Israel Hands in Black Sails and British trade unionist Arthur Scargill in The Crown.
Nabhaan Rizwan As Frank Chaudhary
Frank is a reclusive writer and Jeevan's brother who preferred to stay aloof from the world long before the pandemic. After the flu, Kirsten and Jeevan crash at Frank's home. This extended stay goes on to give Frank a new perspective on his life and he ends up becoming more open with his emotions. He occasionally also acts in young Kirsten's plays. The Station Eleven character is played by Nabhaan Rizwan. Before acting in the HBO miniseries, Rizwan made his screen debut in the war drama 1917 as Sepoy Jondalar. His next film was the Riz Ahmed-starring Mogul Mowgli in which he played a rapper called RPG.
Daniel Zovatto As Tyler Leander
An integral member of the Station Eleven cast is Daniel Zovatto as the antagonist Tyler Leander. Tyler styles himself as "the Prophet" and leads a group of rogue children. However, the TV series fixes Station Eleven fixes a major Tyler problem from the book by humanizing the Prophet and touching on more of his backstory. Zovatto has had roles in notable horror movies, including Greg Hannigan in It Follows and Money in Don't Breathe. The actor is also known for playing Jack in Fear the Walking Dead and Detective Vega in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
Lori Petty As Sarah
Sarah is the friendly and kind-hearted co-founder of the Traveling Symphony. An enthusiastic play director and conductor, she often serves as Kirsten's mentor throughout the series. Sarah's contributions help in providing some form of entertainment to a humanity struggling with the collapse of civilization. The character is played by Lori Petty who has had quite a multi-genre career since the 1990s. One of her earliest roles included the surfer Tyler Endicott in the action thriller Point Break. Subsequent appearances included the baseball pitcher Kit Keller in A League of Their Own, the titular comic book character in Tank Girl, and the inmate Lolly Whitehill in Orange Is the New Black.
Gael García Bernal As Arthur Leander
One of the most acclaimed stars on the Station Eleven cast is Gael García Bernal who plays the theater actor Arthur Leander who dies onstage right before the pandemic. He is a strong presence right from episode 1 "Wheel of Fire", which opens with Arthur's rousing performance in a production of King Lear. Arthur features in crucial flashback sequences that shed light on his state of mind as a tormented artist and his dysfunctional family life. Some of Bernal's other iconic roles include Rodrigo de Souza in Mozart in the Jungle, Che Guevara in The Motorcycle Diaries, Octavio in Amores perros, and the titular werewolf in Werewolf By Night.
Danielle Deadwyler As Miranda Carroll
Portrayed by Danielle Deadwyler, Miranda Carroll is Arthur's first wife who, after the failure of her tumultuous marriage, goes on to write the graphic novel, Station Eleven. Even with limited screentime, her artistic genius can be felt in the miniseries. This is because it is Miranda's book that becomes a significant text for all the survivors of the flu. Deadwyler started out in theater and moved on to shows and films. Her most well-known roles include the outlaw Cuffee in The Harder They Fall and civil rights activist Mamie Till in the biopic Till. For Till, Deadwyler went on to earn BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics' Choice award nominations.
Caitlin FitzGerald As Elizabeth
Played by Caitlin FitzGerald, Arthur's second wife and Tyler's mother, Elizabeth was once a prominent actor in German cinema. In the post-pandemic world, she unites with her husband's old friend Clark to set up the Museum of Civilization. But unlike Clark, Elizabeth can tolerate change and adjusts with the needs of the Traveling Symphony. FitzGerald is no stranger to television, as she's best known for playing the role of Libby Masters in Masters of Sex. The actress also drew praise for playing Simone in the drama series Sweetbitter.
Station Eleven ing Cast & Characters
Philippine Velge as Alexandra: Alexandra, a young and cheerful member of the Traveling Symphony, is played by Philippine Velge. Velge has previously acted in Summer of 85 and the fantasy series The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself.
Andy McQueen as Sayid: Another member of the Traveling Symphony, Sayid is played by Andy McQueen. The Canadian actor is known for appearances in the thriller Disappearance at Clifton Hill, Jack Ryan, The Handmaid's Tale and the 2018 adaptation of Fahrenheit 451.
David Cross as Gil: Stand-up comedian David Cross plays Gil, Sarah's former lover and one of the founders of the Traveling Symphony. Best known as the hilariously eccentric Tobias Fünke in Arrested Development, Cross voiced Crane in the Kung Fu Panda franchise and played Ian Hawke in the first three Alvin & The Chipmunks films.
Enrico Colantoni as Brian: Brian is Elizabeth's close associate and a representative of the Museum of Civilization. The character is played by Enrico Colantoni, a character actor who has appeared in Veronica Mars, Westworld, Contagion, and A.I. Artificial Intelligence. The Canadian actor also served as director for two episodes of iZombie.
Deborah Cox as Wendy: The Station Eleven cast boasts many Canadian artists as Traveling Symphony , one of them being Deborah Cox, who plays Wendy. The singer and actress has starred in a stage musical adaptation of The Bodyguard and has also served as a guest host on Canada's Drag Race.