Screenwriter Abi Morgan’s drama The Split, about a family of high-flying divorce lawyers, is packed full of familiar faces.
- First look: BBC divorce drama The Split is sharp, smart and entertaining
- Watch the first trailer for new BBC1 drama The Split starring Nicola Walker
Six-part drama The Split tells the story of the Defoe family – and what happens after leading divorce lawyer Hannah leaves the family firm. She now faces her sister Nina and mother Ruth on the opposing side of high-profile divorce cases. On top of that, her father has returned after 30 years without a word of explanation.
Here are all the characters you need to meet – and where you’ve seen the actors before:
Nicola Walker plays Hannah Sterne
Who is Hannah? Talented divorce lawyer Hannah Sterne recently left the Defoe family law firm to join their rivals at Noble & Hale. To say the least, this has strained her relationship with her single mother Ruth and her sisters Nina and Rose. Hannah has three kids with her husband, Nathan – who is also a lawyer.
What else has Nicola Walker been in? We recently saw Nicola as gay vicar Jane Oliver in Collateral. She also stars as DCI Cassie Stuart in Unforgotten, and plays Gillian in Last Tango in Halifax – a role which earned her a Bafta nomination. You may also remember Nicola from spy drama Spooks, where she played Ruth Evershed.
Stephen Mangan plays Nathan Sterne
Who is Nathan? Hannah’s husband Nathan is also a lawyer. He is friendly and charming and gets on well with her family.
What else has Stephen Mangan been in? Stephen starred as Guy Secretan in hospital comedy Green Wing, as Dan Moody in I’m Alan Partridge, and as Dirk Gently in Dirk Gently. He later teamed up with his Green Wing co-star Tamsin Greig for the TV series Episodes.
Barry Atsma plays Christie
Who is Christie? Hannah’s colleague at Noble & Hale, the law firm she has just joined. The two share some kind of romantic history.
What else has Barry Atsma been in? Dutch actor Barry Atsma rose to fame in Holland in the TV series Rozengeur & Wodka Lime. Since then he has appeared in Bad Banks, Klem, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Black Widow, and Stephen Mangan comedy drama Episodes – as Arjen Van Der Linden.
Deborah Findlay plays Ruth Defoe
Who is Ruth? The first time we meet her, it’s Ruth’s 70th birthday. As the head of a family of female divorce lawyers, Ruth has her own firm and raised her three daughters all by herself after her husband walked out when they were children, never to be seen again. Until now.
What else has Deborah Findlay been in? Recently we saw Deborah as Sandrine’s cold, distant, grief-stricken mother Eleanor Shaw in the TV series Collateral. Over the last few years she’s appeared in Jackie, The Lady in the Van, and Hampstead.
Annabel Scholey plays Nina Defoe
Who is Nina? Hannah’s younger sister Nina works at the Defoe family law firm. She’s talented, tough, and flirtatious.
What else has Annabel Scholey been in? Recent roles have included Amena in Britannia, Contessina in Medici: Masters of Florence, and Gemma Nunn in Inspector George Gently.
Fiona Button plays Rose Defoe
Who is Rose? The youngest of Ruth’s three daughters and the only one who’s not a divorce lawyer – instead she’s currently working as a nanny and figuring out what she wants from life. Rose is engaged to be married to James (Rudi Dharmalingam).
What else has Fiona Button been in? Fiona’s CV includes roles in Grantchester, My Mother and Other Strangers, You Me and the Apocalypse, and Lip Service.
Anthony Head plays Oscar
Who is Oscar? Hannah, Nina and Rose’s long-lost dad. He walked out of the family home 30 years ago and never returned, but now he’s back on the scene – tracking eldest daughter Hannah down in the park to hand over a 70th birthday card for Ruth. But why has he returned after so long and what does he want?
What else has Anthony Head been in? Remember Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer? That was Anthony. He’s also known for his roles as Uther Pendragon in Merlin, the Prime Minister in Little Britain, and John in Girlfriends. He’ll next be seen on screen in the TV mini-series Vanity Fair, as Lord Steyne.
Rudi Dharmalingam plays James
Who is James? The fiancé of the youngest Defoe sister, Rose. He’s kind-hearted, good with kids, and grounded. He dose suffer from an unfortunate sinus condition which leaves him constantly sniffing and using nasal sprays. As the young couple prepares for marriage, they are discovering they have different ideas about what the future holds.
What else has Rudi Dharmalingam been in? You may remember Rudi from Our Girl, where he played the character Milan. His other credits include Alex in the BBC drama Rellik and Bob Paine in Electric Dreams episode The Commuter.
Claire Rushbrook plays Emma Graham
Who is Emma Graham? Hannah is summoned to Downing Street for a very early morning meeting with Foreign Secretary Emma Graham as the story breaks that her husband was using an illicit dating website called Indiana Ray (sound familiar?). Now the whole world knows about his S&M fetish and his many affairs, and a heartbroken Emma wants a divorce.
What else has Claire Rushbrook been in? Recently she has starred in Requiem (as Rose Morgan), Kiri (as Julie) and Genius (as Pauline Einstein). Other credits include Home Fires, My Mad Fat Diary, Death in Paradise and Black Mirror.
Nicholas Gleaves plays Bill Graham
Who is Bill Graham? The Foreign Secretary’s cheating husband.
What else has Nicholas Gleaves been in? Notable roles include Trevor Green in Cold Feet, DS Andy Roper in Scott & Bailey, and Tom Bedford in The Chase. He is married to his Scott & Bailey co-star, Lesley Sharp, and recently appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode Death By Persuasion.
Tamara Lawrence plays Jaynie Lee
Who is Jaynie Lee? A very, very wealthy businesswoman and a cancer survivor. Before her treatment, she and her husband had embryos frozen; now they are divorcing, those “assets” are in bitter dispute as Jaynie desperately wants to have children of her own.
What else has Tamara Lawrence been in? Tamara Lawrence made her TV debut in BBC thriller Undercover in 2016 as Clemency Johnson. She has also appeared on stage at the National Theatre.
Stephen Tompkinson plays Davey McKenzie
Who is Davey? A sportswear mogul who approaches Hannah’s law firm Noble & Hale to handle his divorce from childhood sweetheart, Goldie.
What else has Stephen Tompkinson been in? You may recognise Stephen Tompkinson as DCI Alan Banks, star of TV series DCI Banks, or as Damien Day from Drop the Dead Donkey. He has also appeared in Truckers, Trollied, and the TV movie Eric, Ernie and Me.
Meera Syal plays Goldie McKenzie
Who is Goldie? Poor Goldie is blindsided when husband Davey McKenzie suddenly announces he wants a divorce. It soon becomes a painful battle for control over the family business.
What else has Meera Syal been in? Since rising to fame as one of the Goodness Gracious Me creators, Meera has played grandmother Sushil ‘Ummi’ Kumar in The Kumars at No. 42 and Judge Sonia Sharma in the TV series Broadchurch. More recently she has appeared in Paddington 2 (as the Prosecutor) and Doctor Strange (as Dr Patel).
Ruth Bradley plays Lauren Brooker
Who is Lauren Brooker? The lawyer facing Hannah across the negotiating table turns out to be Christie’s ex-wife. Since their split she has found a new partner and is five months pregnant, but there are clearly some lingering feelings for Christie.
What else has Ruth Bradley been in? Humans (as DI Karen Voss) and The Fall (as Wallace). She also recentl appeared in Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams as Yaro.
Chanel Cresswell plays Kelsey Ashworth
Who is Kelsey Ashworth? Kelsey is engaged to top footballer Diallo Diopo, but before they tie the knot their lawyers are negotiating a pre-nup – a process that has become fraught and emotional as the couple’s representatives go head-to-head. Hannah is Kelsey’s lawyer and is determined to get her a good deal.
What else has Chanel Cresswell been in? The actress is perhaps best known for her role as Kelly in This Is England. She’s also starred as Katie in Trollied, and as Paulette in The Aliens.
Thierry Mabonga plays Diallo Diopo
Who is Diallo Diopo? An extremely wealthy footballer who is engaged to Kelsey. His lawyer, Lauren Brooker, is standing firm on the terms of the pre-nup.
What else has Thierry Mabonga been in? The actor played Alex Constantine in Jodie Whittaker drama Trust Me. He’s also appeared in The Replacement and T2 Trainspotting.
Chukwudi Iwuji plays Alex ‘Zander’ Hale
Who is Zander? Hannah’s boss at her new law film, Noble & Hale.
What else has Chukwudi Iwuji been in? Chukwudi’s screen credits have included John Wick, Murder in Manhattan, and Doctor Who (as Carl). He is better known for his theatre work, including the title role in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Henry VI trilogy.
Ellora Torchia plays Maggie Lavelle
Who is Maggie? Another lawyer at Noble & Hale, junior to Hannah. Together they form an impressive team.
What else has Ellora Torchia been in? Ellora played Vishka in Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, and Sita in Indian Summers.
Mathew Baynton plays Rex Pope
Who is Rex Pope? A well-known stand-up comedian who is going through a nasty divorce – all fodder for his act. His new show, My Ex-Wife’s A Bitch, has not gone down too well with said ex-wife Sarah who is now denying him access to their son. Rex is represented by Nina and Sarah is represented by Hannah, pitting the two sisters against each other.
What else has Mathew Baynton been in? Younger viewers will know Mathew Baynton for his hilarious appearances in Horrible Histories. His other projects have included Yonderland, Quacks, You Me and the Apocalypse, The Wrong Mans, Will, Spy, and Peep Show.
Tanya Franks plays Sarah Pope
Who is Sarah Pope? Sarah is the estranged wife of Rex Pope and is also his former comedy agent. Together they have a young son.
What else has Tanya Franks been in? You may remember Tanya Franks as Broadchurch’s Lucy Stevens. She has also starred as Rainie in EastEnders, Mandy in Chewing Gum, and Carol in Mum.
This article was originally published in April 2018
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