Meet The Star-Studded Cast Of Netflix’s The Beast In Me

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Netflix’s new thriller, , is notable for its incredibly talented cast. Claire Danes makes a welcome return to television as Aggie Wiggs, a writer struggling with grief who finds a new focus when her neighbor, real estate tycoon Nile Jarvis (played by Matthew Rhys), arrives.

Okay, so Nile, the star of the new thriller The Beast in Me, is a fascinating, and frankly, complicated figure. He’s a public person shadowed by a really dark past – his first wife vanished years ago, and he was the main suspect. But putting all that aside for a moment, the film itself is good. Like, really good. Early reviews are pouring in, and it’s currently sitting at a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes – that’s almost unheard of! Everyone’s talking about the intense back-and-forth between Danes and Rhys, and their chemistry is clearly working. But honestly, it’s not just those two; the whole cast is delivering phenomenal performances.

Claire Danes As Aggie Wiggs

Date Of Birth: April 12, 1979

Claire Danes is widely considered one of the best TV actors working today. She first became famous for her thoughtful portrayal of Angela Chase in the popular, but short-lived, teen drama My So-Called Life. She later earned even more praise – and Emmy Awards – for her roles as Temple Grandin in the 2010 HBO film of the same name, and as the complex CIA agent Carrie Mathison in the hit series Homeland.

Claire Danes just has this incredible ability to completely captivate you, even when she’s not the lead. I remember being blown away by her performance as Rachel in Fleishman Is in Trouble a couple of years ago. And of course, who could forget her as Juliet opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet? That was a classic! She’s also fantastic in Brokedown Palace and Stardust – she really brings a special quality to every role she takes on.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

  • My So-Called Life (1994-1995)
  • Romeo + Juliet (1996)
  • Homeland (2011-2020)

In the film The Beast in Me, Mary Danes portrays Aggie Wiggs, a celebrated author struggling with grief and writer’s block after losing her son, Cooper, and getting divorced. Her new neighbor, a real estate developer named Nile Jarvis, offers a much-needed distraction and helps her overcome her creative slump.

I’m completely captivated by Aggie’s determination to uncover what really happened to Nile’s first wife. It’s a dangerous quest, and what’s even more surprising is how she’s starting to connect with Nile himself. I just have a feeling this growing friendship could put her in serious danger, and I’m on the edge of my seat to see what happens!

Matthew Rhys As Nile Jarvis

Date Of Birth: November 8, 1974

I always love spotting familiar faces in films, and Matthew Rhys, who worked with Danes in The Beast in Me, is a perfect example. He really started to get noticed when he played Kevin Walker on Brothers & Sisters, but for me, it was his role as Philip Jennings in The Americans that truly cemented him as a star. That show was fantastic, and he absolutely deserved the Emmy he won for it – he completely nailed playing one half of a Russian spy couple!

Rhys has continued to find success on television, notably as the lead in HBO’s Perry Mason and through voice work in animated shows like Bojack Horseman and Tuca & Bertie. He’s also appeared in two well-known films directed by Tom Hanks, both based on real-life events: he played Daniel Ellsberg in The Post (2017) and Lloyd Vogel in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019).

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

  • The Americans (2013-2018)
  • A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
  • Perry Mason (2020-2023)

Rhys portrays Nile Jarvis in The Beast in Me, a successful real estate mogul who is also suspected of having harmed his first wife. Still haunted by the scandal surrounding his first wife, Madison’s, disappearance, Nile has moved to Long Island and becomes Aggie’s neighbor with his new wife. Despite his questionable reputation, Nile’s business is doing well, and he manages to win Aggie over, even though she doesn’t fully trust him.

Brittany Snow As Nina Jarvis

Date Of Birth: March 9, 1986

Brittany Snow began her acting career on the soap opera Guiding Light from 1998 to 2001, playing the character Susan “Daisy” Lemay. She later became well-known to younger viewers for her role as Meg Pryor, a dancer on American Bandstand, in the NBC family drama American Dreams.

I have to say, I was completely hooked by Netflix’s thriller, The Hunting Wives, and a lot of that is thanks to Snow’s incredible performance as the complex and unpredictable Sophie O’Neil. She really brought that character to life! And good news for fans – it’s been renewed for a second season! We don’t have a date yet, but I’m already counting down the days.

If you’re a fan of Brittany Snow and need something to watch while you wait for her next project, I highly recommend checking out some of her most popular roles. You can’t go wrong with Hairspray (2007), where she’s delightfully villainous as Amber Von Tussle, or the entire Pitch Perfect series (2012-2017) – she’s fantastic as Chloe Beale and really brings the energy!

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

  • American Dreams (2002-2005)
  • Hairspray (2007)
  • The Hunting Wives (2025-Present)

In Snow’s novel The Beast in Me, Nina Jarvis is Nile’s second wife. She’s transformed from a modest background into a highly refined and educated woman who works as an art gallery owner in New York City. Despite the circumstances, she firmly believes in her husband’s innocence regarding the disappearance of his first wife.

Natalie Morales As Shelley

Date Of Birth: February 15, 1985

Natalie Morales is a busy and talented television actress who you might recognize from several popular shows. She’s known for her roles as Anne Garcia in the horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet, Michelle Gutierrez in Dead to Me, and Claire Lacoste in The Grinder. But many viewers will remember her best as Dr. Monica Beltran, the pediatric surgeon she played on Grey’s Anatomy.

While often appearing in supporting roles, Morales has been seen in films like Stuber (2019), where she played the daughter of Dave Bautista’s character, and No Hard Feelings (2023) as Jennifer Lawrence’s best friend. More recently, she starred in the lead role in My Dead Friend Zoe (2024).

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

  • Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)
  • No Hard Feelings (2023)
  • Grey’s Anatomy (2024-2025)

In the film The Beast in Me, actress Morales portrays Shelley, the former wife of Aggie. Shelley is an abstract painter who lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and she recently started painting again after stopping when her and Aggie’s son passed away. Shelley offers a peaceful and grounded contrast to Aggie’s fiery personality.

David Lyons As Brian Abbott

Date Of Birth: April 16, 1976

David Lyons first became well-known in Australia for his part as Josh “E.T.” Holiday in the naval drama Sea Patrol. He later gained wider recognition among American viewers for playing Dr. Simon Brenner during the later seasons of the popular show E.R.

While not known for a large number of film roles, Cobie Smulders appeared in the 2011 Nicholas Sparks adaptation, Safe Haven, where she played Kevin Tierney, a husband who is both abusive and a dishonest police officer.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

  • Sea Patrol (2007-2009)
  • E.R. (2008-2009)
  • Safe Haven (2013)

Okay, let me tell you about Brian Abbott in The Beast in Me. He’s played by Lyons, and he’s an FBI agent haunted by a cold case – the disappearance of Nile Jarvis’s first wife. Abbott is absolutely convinced Nile did something wrong, and this unresolved case is really getting to him, consuming his thoughts. It’s a key part of his character and drives a lot of the tension.

Jonathan Banks As Martin Jarvis

Date Of Birth: January 31, 1947

Jonathan Banks is a well-known actor who initially gained recognition for his role as FBI Agent Frank McPike in the TV series Wiseguy (1987-1990). But he became a major star thanks to his portrayal of Mike Ehrmentraut in the Breaking Bad universe – a complex character who worked as a loyal investigator, problem-solver, and enforcer for Gus Fring.

Giancarlo Esposito is known for playing Gus Fring in the Breaking Bad universe, appearing in the original series, Better Call Saul, and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. He frequently portrays law enforcement or criminals in other roles, such as Zack in Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Paolo in Identity Thief (2013), and Detective Hatcher in Horrible Bosses 2 (2014).

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

  • Breaking Bad (2009-2012)
  • Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
  • El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

In the film The Beast in Me, actor Banks portrays Martin Jarvis, a powerful New York real estate mogul and the father of the main character, Nile. Martin is a cold and calculating man who often questions the choices his son makes as his intended successor.

The Beast In Me Supporting Cast

Hettienne Park plays Agent Erika Breton, who works alongside Abbott at the FBI, specializing in financial crimes. Viewers might remember Park from Jason Bateman’s shows – she was Tamika Collins in The Outsider and Detective Ellen Seung in Black Rabbit.

Deirdre O’Connell plays Carol McGiddish, a literary agent and close friend of Aggie. Carol is in a difficult position, wanting Aggie to complete her next book while also being a supportive friend. O’Connell is a well-known stage actress in New York who also received an Emmy nomination for her television role as Francis Cobb in The Penguin.

I always enjoy spotting familiar faces in movies, and Tim Guinee is definitely one of those actors! He plays Rick “Wrecking Ball” Jarvis, who’s Martin’s brother and a really dependable guy – he’s an ex-con now working security for Nile. You might recognize him from Stargate SG-1 where he played Tomlin, or even from Homeland, where he had a role as Scott Ryan. He’s a solid character actor who always brings something great to his performances.

Aleyse Shannon plays Olivia Benitez, a New York City politician who stands against Nile Jarvis’s newest project. Though relatively new to acting, Shannon first appeared on screen in the Charmed reboot as Jada Shields. Before The Beast in Me, she most recently played Breanna Caesy in Leverage: Redemption.

Will Brill plays Chris Ingram, Madison’s brother, who is determined to uncover the truth about what happened to her. Brill is well-known for his role as Scott Brown in The OA. He also portrayed horror director Tobe Hooper in the film Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which sparked some controversy.

I’m so excited to see Kate Burton join the cast as Madison’s mom, Mariah Ingram! She’s a Shondaland favorite – I remember her amazing work as Ellis Grey on Grey’s Anatomy and as Vice President Langston on Scandal. Plus, she was great on Homeland as Doris Warner, so she really knows how to bring a character to life. I think she’s going to be fantastic!

Bill Irwin plays James Ingram, the father of the missing Madison. Irwin is an acclaimed actor, having won a Tony Award, and he recently voiced Andy Warhol in the documentary series The Andy Warhol Diaries.

I have to say, I was really impressed with Amir Arbison as Frank Breton! He played Erika Breton’s ex-husband, and honestly, he’s a fantastic actor. A lot of you might recognize him as Aram from The Blacklist – that’s probably his biggest role so far, and he totally killed it there, just like he did as Frank.

Julie Ann Emery plays Lila Jarvis, who is Martin’s wife and the mother of his seven-year-old twins. Interestingly, Emery also appeared in Better Call Saul, playing the character Betsy Kettleman. Before The Beast in Me, her most recent role was as Cynthia in an episode of the Netflix series Pulse, which didn’t last long.

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2025-11-13 23:24