Stay Close, the Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben’s novel, features a rich ensemble of characters, each portrayed with depth and subtle nuance. This breakdown dives into the full cast and who they play—bringing in some chatter, yes, and a few unexpected asides, because, well, real reviews don’t always read like polished PR sheets.
Main Cast Overview
Cush Jumbo as Megan Pierce / Cassie Morris
Megan is a married, seemingly ordinary mom who’s engaged to Dave and raising three kids. Beneath that suburban veneer, there’s Cassie Morris—her former exotic dancing identity at the shadowy Vipers club. It’s a layered role, and Jumbo pulls it off with authenticity and grit, making you root for a woman trying to run from her past yet inevitably pulled back in.
James Nesbitt as DS Michael Broome
Broome is the detective haunted by a cold case: the disappearance of Stewart Green almost two decades earlier. When new disappearances mirror that old case, he can’t resist diving back in, personally and professionally. Nesbitt makes that obsessive, near-woebegone detective feel real—plus, there’s subtle chemistry and tension with his ex, Erin.
Richard Armitage as Ray Levine
Ray is a broken photographer turned paparazzo, drowning in regret over a lost love. His life intersects with Megan’s in ways that feel both coincidental and fateful. Armitage delivers his usual seriousness, grounding Ray’s anguish while threading hints of something more hopeful.
Supporting Roles That Matter
Sarah Parish as Lorraine Griggs
Lorraine knew Megan back in the Vipers days. She drops a bombshell: Stewart Green might not be dead after all. Not only that, but she’s entwined in the murders themselves. Parish brings a cold confidence to the role, a perfect foil to Megan’s trembling uncertainty.
Jo Joyner as DC Erin Cartwright
Erin is Broome’s ex-wife and partner on the police force. Their rapport—tinged with both affection and frustration—provides emotional ballast to the procedural arc. Joyner keeps Erin sharp and deeply human.
Daniel Francis as Dave Shaw
Dave, Megan’s fiancé, presents the domestic normalcy she craves. But there’s tension beneath the surface—Francis teases hints of protective menace, hinting that he knows more than he lets on.
Eddie Izzard as Harry Sutton
Harry is Megan’s confidant and longtime lawyer. Izzard’s charm brightens the show—until, well, spoiler alert, things go dark.
Youssef Kerkour as Fester
Fester is Ray’s friend, a sort of grounding presence in Ray’s chaotic world. Kerkour adds warmth and a touch of grounded realism to Ray’s narrative thread.
Bethany Antonia, Dylan Francis, Tallulah Byrne as the Shaw children
Kayleigh (Bethany Antonia), Jordan (Dylan Francis), and Laura (Tallulah Byrne) round out the family unit. They’re caught in the orbit of their parents’ secrets, and Antonia especially turns Kayleigh into more than just “the daughter”—she’s a character in her own right.
The Infamous “Barbie” & “Ken”
Poppy Gilbert as Barbie & Hyoie O’Grady as Ken
Ah, Barbie and Ken—creepy, melodic assassins in sequins. These “musical theatre” hitmen are, yes, bizarre—and that’s part of the point. Their dance routines and unsettling performances embody twisted theatrics, turning them into one of the show’s most divisive elements. Gilbert’s Barbie is unsettlingly angelic, while O’Grady’s Ken plays along with unnerving precision.
Additional Faces You Should Recognize
- Ross Boatman as Del Flynn – Carlton’s father, grieving and deeply involved in the mystery.
- Jack Shalloo as DCS Brian Goldberg – Broome’s superior, navigating departmental drama amid the case.
- Rachel Andrews as Bea – Kayleigh’s best friend, a confidante with her own perspective.
- Andi Osho as Simona Farr – Ray’s former protector, now pregnant and bringing quiet strength to the proceedings.
- Lindsay Armaou as Marlene Flynn – Carlton’s stepmother, balancing grief and pragmatism.
- Leon Annor as Jamal, Alibe Parsons as Frances Shaw – small parts that add texture to the supporting world.
Why This Cast Works
The ensemble is a clever mix of familiar faces and emerging talent. There’s seasoned gravitas in Nesbitt, Armitage, and Parish; freshness and unpredictability in Gilbert and O’Grady; emotional complexity in Jumbo and Francis. It’s a cast that, like its characters, keeps shifting—never fully predictable, often unsettling. And yes, sometimes that imperfection—the odd delivery, the trembling flash of regret—feels delightfully human.
“The richness of Stay Close lies in its ability to weave every character’s past—and motivations—into a tense, urgent mystery.”
Conclusion
Stay Close delivers not just a mystery, but a mosaic of complicated people. From Megan’s hidden past to Broome’s unresolved grief, from musical murderers to domestic discord, this is a show that builds depth through its cast’s layered performances. They tumble, they stagger, they surprise—and that’s exactly the kind of human-making-it-through-it-all imperfection the best dramas thrive on.
FAQs
Who plays Megan in Stay Close?
Cush Jumbo portrays Megan Pierce, a suburban mother hiding a dramatic past as an exotic dancer named Cassie Morris.
Who are Barbie and Ken in the series?
Barbie (Poppy Gilbert) and Ken (Hyoie O’Grady) are musical-theater-style assassins whose eerie routines make them unforgettable adversaries.
Who investigates the disappearances?
DS Michael Broome, played by James Nesbitt, is the detective determined to crack a cold case that’s haunted him for years.
Is Lorraine the killer?
Yes, Sarah Parish’s Lorraine Griggs turns out to be the serial killer targeting abusive men—one of Stay Close’s darker twists.
What role does Richard Armitage play?
Richard Armitage plays Ray Levine, a devastated ex-photographer now working as a paparazzo, drawn into Megan’s turbulent world.
Who are the Shaw children?
The three Shaw kids—Kayleigh (Bethany Antonia), Jordan (Dylan Francis), and Laura (Tallulah Byrne)—are central to Megan and Dave’s family dynamic and the emotional tension of the story.
