We need to talk about Adolescence. No, not the actual stage of life (though, let's be honest, we could all write a book on that), but the Netflix series that has everyone talking. The Adolescence cast brings together some big names and makes for powerful viewing.
The show tackles serious and very real issues, namely male violence against women and girls - but among young boys. While it's not based on a true story exactly, the crime drama aims to highlight real cases where boys have attacked and even murdered girls, and tries to address what is happening in society to make this happen.
It spotlights the current crisis of masculinity and the epidemic of violence against women and girls.
It's chilling, shocking, eye-opening TV that is definitely a must-see. Let's take a look at the full Adolescence cast, plus where you've seen them before - because you'll definitely recognise a few faces.
It follows the unravelling of a family after a young boy is accused of murdering a teenage girl.
Adolescence cast: full line-up
Here is the full cast list for Netflix's Adolescence:
- Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller
- Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller
- Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller
- Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston
- Ashley Walters as DI Luke Bascombe
- Faye Marsay as DS Misha Frank
- Mark Stanley as Paul Barlow
Adolescence cast and where you've seen them before
Jamie Miller is the main character in the show. He's a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a girl in his class. Jamie Miller is played by Owen Cooper, a young actor starring in his first role. Although this is the first time he's landed a major TV job, he's booked to play young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights which is due to be released in 2026.
Stephen Graham is, by now, a pretty recognisable British actor. Fans of Peaky Blinders will recognise him from his role as Hayden Stagg, while anyone who's watched Line of Duty will remember Graham's character, John Corbett, and his tragic fate in season five. In Netflix's Adolescence, Stephen Graham plays Eddie Miller, Jamie's dad, as well as being the co-writer of the show.
You can probably guess from the shared surname, but the character of Manda Miller is Jamie's mum and Eddie's wife. If you're wondering where you recognise actor Christine Tremarco from, the answer is: everything. She played Davina Shackleton in Waterloo Road from 2007 to 2009, Linda Andrews in Casualty from 2010 to 2013, as well as Marie Thompson in ITV drama Little Boy Blue (alongside on-screen Adolescence husband Stephen Graham), Sinead Kovac in prison-based drama series Clink, and DCI Betsy Chambers in dark comedy Wolfe.
Erin Doherty is a British actress perhaps best known for playing young Princess Anne in The Crown. She previously starred alongside Stephen Graham in period TV drama A Thousand Blows, so Adolescence is a bit of an on-screen reunion for the pair. Doherty plays Briony Ariston, the clinical psychologist assigned to Jamie’s case.
In Netflix's Adolescence cast, Ashley Walters plays Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe, the officer in charge of investigating the tragic and shocking case. You may recognise Walters from his starring role in Top Boy, as well as the adaptation of Harlan Coben's Missing You.
In Adolescence, Detective Sergeant Misha Frank works alongside DI Luke Bascombe to investigate Jamie Miller's case. Actor Faye Marsay will be recognisable to many for her role as Candice in the coming-of-age comedy Fresh Meat, as well as starring as Anne Neville in The White Queen and, of course, playing The Waif in Game of Thrones.
Paul Barlow is the solicitor assigned to Jamie Miller's case, and tensions rise from the very first episode. You may recognise Mark Stanley, who plays Barlow, from his role as DCI Thom Youngblood in the heart-stopping ITV thriller Trigger Point, or as Rob Hepworth in Happy Valley. Stanley also appeared in Game of Thrones, as well as films like Little Women and Hellboy.
