Summerwater cast: Who stars in the Channel 4 drama?

The Channel 4 drama Summerwater, adapted from Sarah Moss’s novel, explores the growing unease and complex relationships between families and couples on vacation in Scotland.

Every episode takes place during the same day, but shows events from a new character’s point of view. As the story progresses, it builds to a powerful climax that dramatically alters everyone’s lives.

When describing the atmosphere of Summerwater, Shirley Henderson explained it felt like a fleeting memory or a gentle breeze – something just out of reach of full understanding.

It’s a strange feeling—a sense of unease, like you’re afraid of something unknown. It feels like a pull from the past, and you’re not sure if it’s unpleasant or strangely comforting.

Everyone experiences and shares their stories uniquely. Some questions find resolution, while others remain unanswered.

The show has a really interesting structure – it’s like a series of interconnected stories with a large cast. There isn’t one central character; instead, the focus shifts between different people and their perspectives. A lot of the drama comes from characters observing each other, and often assuming they understand what’s happening in others’ lives, when they really don’t.

“They’re always glancing at each other.”

The movie stars Henderson and features both well-known actors and some new faces.

Read on for a rundown of the major and minor players.

Summerwater cast

Valene Kane as Justine Tindall
Daniel Rigby as Steve Tindall
Dougray Scott as David Campbell
Shirley Henderson as Annie Campbell
Shereen Cutkelvin as Millie Nkene
Anders Hayward as Josh Gilmour
Anna Próchniak as Alina Piotrowska
Arnas Fedaravičius as Marijonas Zaliskevicius
Shauna Macdonald as Rachel Henderson
Jamie Sives as Ian Henderson
Calum Ross as Alex Henderson
Silvie Furneaux as Becky Henderson
James Harkness as Gavin

For more information about the characters and where you’ve seen the cast before, read on.

Valene Kane plays Justine Tindall

Justine is a character who becomes deeply resentful when a younger coworker, Maya, is promoted instead of her. Her increasingly unpredictable actions cause problems, and she hopes to find a fresh start in Summerwater. However, trying to keep her past hidden only creates more difficulties for her family, including her children, Lola (played by Emily Briscoe) and Jack (played by Bertie Wallwork).

You may know Valene Kane from her roles in popular shows and films like The Fall, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Gangs of London.

Daniel Rigby plays Steve Tindall

Steve is Justine’s husband, and he’s upset that his wife seems distant and emotionally unavailable. He often goes to the bar at the Summerwater hotel to vent his frustrations, where he starts talking to Alina, a waitress from Eastern Europe. He sees her as different, but this creates tension with others at the cabins due to his underlying prejudices.

Besides his well-known roles, Daniel Rigby has also appeared in shows like Eric & Ernie, Big School, Undercover, and Flowers.

Dougray Scott plays David Campbell

David is a retired doctor who has been visiting Summerwater with his wife for many years. Now that their children are grown, he’s hoping to enjoy an active and healthy vacation. However, it quickly becomes clear that they haven’t left their troubles behind, as David grows increasingly frustrated with his wife’s health issues during the trip.

Dougray Scott is recognizable from roles in films like Ever After, Mission: Impossible 2, and Hitman. He also played Jacob Kane in the TV series Batwoman.

Shirley Henderson plays Annie Campbell

Annie is David’s wife and she’s recently been diagnosed with a serious medical condition that’s making her health decline, creating tension in their marriage. After making a difficult decision about her future, she asks David for help, forcing them to confront issues from their past and the painful experiences that have shaped her life.

Shirley Henderson is known for her roles in films like Trainspotting and the Bridget Jones’s Diary series. However, many fans recognize her as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Shereen Cutkelvin plays Millie Nkene

Millie is currently on vacation with her boyfriend, Josh, but she’s starting to question their relationship. She’s realizing they have different ideas about the future – specifically, when and if they want to settle down and have a family – and she’s unsure if her feelings for Josh are strong enough to build a life with him.

What else has Shereen Cutkelvin been in? You might know her from Crime.

Anders Hayward plays Josh Gilmour

Josh is Millie’s boyfriend. He’s a good person at heart, but his idea to try and have simultaneous orgasms during their vacation – believing it would guarantee a happy, lasting relationship – doesn’t go as planned.

What else has Anders Hayward been in? His CV includes Guilt, Silent Witness and Life After Life.

Anna Próchniak plays Alina Piotrowska

I’m really drawn to Alina’s story. She’s a talented photographer, but right now she’s working as a waitress at the Summerwater hotel to make ends meet. She’s a mom and has a partner, and honestly, dealing with family drama – especially her mother-in-law – sounds all too familiar! She and her family are hoping Summerwater will be a fresh start, a place they can finally call home, but it’s clear there’s a lot of friction between the locals and the vacationers, and that’s creating some real tension for them.

Anna Próchniak is an actress who has appeared in several popular shows and films, including The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Showtrial, The Innocents, Bad Day for the Cut, and Baptiste.

Arnas Fedaravičius plays Marijonas Zaliskevicius

Marijonas is Alina’s husband, and his noisy parties often bother their neighbors at Summerwater, making him a frequent source of conflict.

If you enjoyed Arnas Fedaravičius’s performance, you might also recognize him from shows like The White Lotus, The Last Kingdom, The Wheel of Time, Shetland, and Thicker Than Water.

Jamie Sives plays Ian Henderson

Ian is a husband and father of two who is currently facing challenges in his marriage. Despite having good intentions, his financial choices have created hardship for his family, and his private investments have caused his wife to lose trust in him. He now needs to work on rebuilding their relationship and becoming the partner she needs.

Jamie Sives has also appeared in shows and films like Dept Q, Shetland, Guilt, Annika, and Crime.

Calum Ross plays Alex Henderson

Alex is Ian’s son, and was once considered perfect by his parents. However, he’s recently started acting out. Feeling restless and guilty about hurting a girl he had a crush on in school, Alex goes kayaking on the lake. He has a frightening experience while on the water, one he keeps secret because he feels he deserves any punishment for how he treated her.

What else has Calum Ross been in? He appeared in Wednesday.

Silvie Furneaux plays Becky Henderson and James Harkness plays Gavin

Becky is Ian’s daughter. She finds the family’s Summerwater cabin incredibly dull and prefers to spend her time with a secretive older man she meets in the woods.

What else has Silvie Furneaux been in? You might have watched her in Annika and Red Rose.

Gavin is a former soldier struggling with PTSD who left his family and now lives in the woods near Summerwater.

James Harkness has appeared in several productions, including The Victim, The English Game, and The Bombing of Pan Am 103.

Additional Summerwater cast includes:

Shauna Macdonald (known for her roles in The Scotts and Spooks) plays Rachel Henderson, the mother of Becky and Alex. Rachel is exhausted and frustrated with life, and while she tries to help her family, her efforts unintentionally make Becky feel ignored, creating more conflict at home.

Summerwater airs on Channel 4 from Sunday 16th November.

2025-11-16 12:11