Critics and viewers are in agreement: Netflix's The Beast In Me is one of the best psychological thrillers of the year – perhaps even the decade. And God knows we're always in need of some decent telly.
The Beast In Me is a psychological thriller that follows Aggie (Claire Danes), a writer who is struggling with writer's block following the death of her son. When multimillionaire Nile (Matthew Rhys) moves in next door with his second wife, Nina (Brittany Snow) to seemingly hide out after (potentially) killing his first wife, Aggie thinks she's found the inspiration she needs. Their thorny, antagonistic connection fuels the taut, tense eight episodes that follow.
It's a brilliant piece of writing, made even more brilliant by a sparkling, sparking cast.
The Beast In Me Cast List
- Claire Danes as Aggie Wiggs
- Matthew Rhys as Nile Jarvis
- Brittany Snow as Nina Jarvis
- Natalie Morales as Shelley
- Bill Irwin as James Ingram
- Amir Arison as Frank Breton
- Will Brill as Chris Ingram
- Kate Burton as Mariah Ingram
- Julie Ann Emery as Lila Jarvis
- David Lyons as Brian Abbot
- Tim Guinee as Wrecking Ball
- Hettienne Park as Agent Erika Breton
- Aleyse Shannon as Olivia Benitez
- Deirdre O'Connell as Carol McGiddish
- Jonathan Banks as Martin Jarvis
Below, we explore the main cast members in Netflix's The Beast In Me, including when and where you've seen them before.
Meet The Beast in Me cast
Who does she play? Danes stars as writer Aggie Wiggs. Following the tragic death of her eight-year-old son, Aggie has split from her wife, Shelley, and is struggling to get a handle on her next book, which charts the unlikely friendship between supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fellow judge, the right wing Antonin Scalia.
Where have you seen her before? Danes sprung onto the scene in the ‘90s, starring in My So-Called Life and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. She also played the tragid Beth in the 1994 Little Women. Since then, she's starred in The Hours, Shopgirl, The Family Stone and Homeland.
Who does he play? Nile Jarvis is Aggie's unlikely sparring partner – a multimillionaire real estate developer who arrives to seemingly hide out amid the suspicious death of his first wife. “He’s this unlikely catalyst and muse, and she’s just so relieved to finally have access to her creative self again that she kind of can’t help it," Danes said of Nile.
Where have you seen him before? Matthew Rhys is perhaps best-known for his starring role in The Americans opposite his real-life wife Keri Russell. Other roles include 1998's Elizabeth, The Edge of Love, Brothers &Sisters, Death Comes to Pemberley, Cocaine Bear and Watchmen.
Who does she play? Nina Jarvis is the second wife of Rhys's Nile. The pair have a strained relationship, and while she may initially seem like a submissive, wilting flower of a character, it soon becomes clear that Nina should not be underestimated
Where have you seen her before? Pitch Perfect, anyone? You may also recognise her from Hairspray, Prom Night, The Hunting Wives and Red, White and Blue. Gossip Girl fans will also remember her as young Lily van der Woodsen.
“I really wanted to be involved with everyone: Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, the creator of Homeland, Howard Gordon,” Snow said to Tudum. “And I really respected the type of show they were trying to create. It was this cat-and-mouse, Hitchcockian, slow-burn thriller that I really appreciate and always like to watch.”
Who does she play? Shelley is Aggie's ex-wife – the pair divorced two years after the death of their son, Cooper. Shelley is a painter now living in Brooklyn and rediscovering her artistic passion.
Where have you seen her before? Best-known as Dr. Monica Beltran in Grey's Anatomy, you might also recognise Morales from The Middleman, Trophy Wife, The Grinder , Parks and Recreation or The Morning Show.
Who does he play? Brian is the FBI agent tasked with investigating the Jarvis family – and he's extremely suspicious of Nile following the disappearance of his first wife Madison.
Where have you seen him before? You may remember Lyons from Safe Haven, Game of Silence, Revolution or Sea Patrol.
Who does he play? Frank is Agent Erika Breton’s ex-husband.
Where have you seen him before? Arison is known for Dope Thief and asAram Mojtabai in The Blacklist.
Who does she play? An FBI agent and Brian's partner.
Where have you seen her before? Park stars in Hannibal, Black Rabbit and Sorry, Baby.
Who does he play? Martin Jarvis is Nile's father, a mega wealthy real estate magnate.
Where have you seen him before? You may know Jonathan Banks as Agent Frank McPike from Wiseguy or as Mike in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
Who does she play? Martin's current wife.
Where have you seen her before? Emery also starred in Better Call Saul as Betsy Kettleman. She also starred as Ida in Fargo and Lara in Preacher.
Who does he play? Nile's uncle, “Wrecking Ball” is just as dangerous as he sounds.
Where have you seen him before? You may have seen Guinee in Sweet Land, Broken English or The Punisher. He also appears in the MCU as Major Allen.
Who does he play? The father of Madison Jarvis, Nile's first wife.
Where have you seen him before? Irwin appears in 2008's Rachel Getting Married, 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2006's Lady in the Water and 2022's The Dropout, amongst many other projects. He is also a Tony Award-winning stage actor, choreographer, dancer and clown.
Who does he play? Madison's brother – and he's on the case.
Where have you seen him before? Will Brill previously played Tobe in Monser, Roy Cohn in Fellow Travelers, Nah Weissman in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Ben in The Time Traveler's Wife.
Who does she play? Madison Jarvis's mother.
Where have you seen her before? Daughter of Richard Burton, Kate has appeared in Scanal, Ransom Canyon and Grey's Anatomy.
Who does she play? The city counciller going up against Nile's real estate plans.
Where have you seen her before? You may recognise Shannon from Black Christmas, Decibel or Charmed.
Who does she play? Carol is Aggie's literary agent and old friend.
Where have you seen her before? A Tony and Emmy Award winning actor, O'Connell has appeared in L.A. Doctors, The Practice, Six Feet Under, Law & Order and as Francis in The Penguin.
For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
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