The Thursday Murder Club cast: Who stars in the Netflix film?
A who's who of British and Irish acting talent.
There's been a lot of hype around Netflix's adaptation of Richard Osman’s best-selling novel The Thursday Murder Club – and now the film is playing in select UK cinemas ahead of its streaming release next week.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the film is just how many greats from the British and Irish acting world have been brought together for starring roles, with the lead parts for Dame Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie, Sir Ben Kingsley and Pierce Brosnan just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the talent involved.
There are also key parts for the like of Sir Jonathan Pryce, Naomie Ackie, Richard E Grant and David Tennant, among all manner of other recognisable faces.
Adapted from Osman’s novel, the film is set in a peaceful retirement village where a group of four elderly friends – Elizabeth (Mirren), Joyce (Imrie), Ibrahim (Kingsley) and Ron (Brosnan) – take on cold cases for fun.
However, when a property developer is found dead, the four find themselves in the middle of their first live crime.
Osman previously said of the adaptation when it was announced back in April: "I’m so proud of this book, so it is a dream to see The Thursday Murder Club in such incredible hands. From Chris Columbus to Amblin to Netflix, there are geniuses everywhere I look. And what a cast. I’m pinching myself."
Wondering who all the stars play and where you've seen them before? Read on for everything we know so far about the cast of the Netflix film.
The Thursday Murder Club cast: Who stars in the Netflix film alongside Helen Mirren?
The confirmed cast members are as follows:
- Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best
- Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie
- Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif
- Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft
- Naomi Ackie as Donna de Freitas
- Jonathan Pryce as Stephen Best
- David Tennant as Ian Ventham
- Daniel Mays as DCI Chris Hudson
- Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Bogdan Jankowski
- Geoff Bell as Tony Curran
- Richard E Grant as Bobby Tanner
- Tom Ellis as Jason Ritchie
- Paul Freeman as John Grey
- Ingrid Oliver as Joanna Meadowcroft
Read on for everything you need to know about the cast and who they're playing.
Helen Mirren plays Elizabeth Best
Who is Elizabeth Best? Elizabeth is an ex-spy, resident at the retirement home and founder of the Thursday Murder Club.
What else has Helen Mirren been in? Mirren has enjoyed an impressive career full of iconic movies including The Long Good Friday, Excalibur, 2010, Gosford Park, The Queen and Hitchcock in addition to a legendary TV role in Prime Suspect. The star made her acting debut in the late 1960s in a number of films, but it was the 1969 film Age of Consent that catapulted her to fame. She has also claimed several awards over the years including an Oscar, BAFTAs and Golden Globes.
Pierce Brosnan plays Ron Ritchie
Who is Ron Ritchie? Ron is a former union activist and member of the Thursday Murder Club.
Where else have I seen Pierce Brosnan? Brosnan is known for being at the forefront of four James Bond films in his tenure as the British secret agent, while other major roles include Mrs Doubtfire, Mamma Mia! and more recently the TV series MobLand.
Ben Kingsley plays Ibrahim Arif
Who is Ibrahim Arif? An ex-psychiatrist and another member of the Thursday Murder Club.
What else has Sir Ben Kingsley been in? The actor has previously appeared in a host of movies including Jules, Shutter Island, Iron Man 3 and Sexy Beast, as well as winning an Oscar for his lead role in Gandhi.
Celia Imrie plays Joyce Meadowcroft
Who is Joyce Meadowcroft? An ex-nurse and the newest member of the Thursday Murder Club.
Where else have I seen Celia Imrie before? Imrie is known for starring in a number of movies including Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Bridget Jones's Diary, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, St Trinian's, Nanny McPhee and Calendar Girls. The star has also appeared in a handful of TV series including After You've Gone, Patrick Melrose, Keeping Faith, Better Things and The Diplomat.
Naomi Ackie plays Donna de Freitas
Who is Donna de Freitas? A junior policewoman who the Thursday Murder Club recruit as their woman on the inside of the investigation.
Where have I seen Naomi Ackie before? Ackie has previously appeared in Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, BBC One's Small Axe and Netflix black comedy drama The End of the F***ing World, for which she won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. Ackie also led the cast of the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody and has recently starred in Blink Twice and Mickey 17.
Jonathan Pryce plays Stephen Best
Who is Stephen Best? Elisabeth's husband, who is suffering from dementia but is often still very lucid.
Where else have you seen Jonathan Pryce before? The veteran Welsh actor has appeared in countless iconic films including Brazil, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Evita, Tomorrow Never Dies, The Age of Innocence, and The Two Popes, to name a few. The star has also had numerous television roles, including Slow Horses and starring as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in the final two seasons of The Crown.
David Tennant plays Ian Ventham
Who is Ian Ventham? The dodgy owner of retirement village Cooper's Chase – who is a controversial figure with the residents.
Where have I seen David Tennant before? The actor is best known for his role as the Tenth (and also Fourteenth) Doctor in Doctor Who. Tennant has previously starred in numerous projects including Amazon's Good Omens, Broadchurch, Deadwater Fell, Netflix's Criminal, Casanova, Jessica Jones (as Kilgrave), the film Mary Queen of Scots, Inside Man, Litvinenko and There She Goes.
Daniel Mays plays DCI Chris Hudson
Who is DCI Chris Hudson? Chris is a detective who is overseeing the murder case which the Thursday Murder Club are looking into – and isn't always best pleased with their interference.
Where have I seen Daniel Mays before? The actor rose to fame as Kat Slater’s boyfriend Kevin in EastEnders in 2000. Since then he’s racked up an impressive acting career and has appeared in projects including Line of Duty, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Ashes to Ashes, Code 404, White Lines, Moonflower Murders and A Thousand Blows among many others.
Henry Lloyd-Hughes plays Bogdan
Who is Bogdan? Bogdan is a hard-working Polish labourer who previously worked for Tony Curran but has more recently become Ian's right-hand man.
Where else have I seen Henry Lloyd-Hughes before? The Inbetweeners fans will recognise the actor from his role as the shaven-headed school bully Mark Donovan in the series. The actor has also appeared in Parade's End and ITV drama The Long Shadow.
Tom Ellis plays Jason Ritchie
Who is Jason Ritchie? Ron’s son who visits his dad several times a week and is a world-famous ex-boxing champion. Forced to retire due to injury, he's now become a fixture of reality TV shows.
Where else have I seen Tom Ellis before? Ellis is known for playing the titular role in Lucifer and Gary in Miranda, while he has also appeared in series and films including Vera Drake, EastEnders, Doctor Who, Merlin, Players and Exploding Kittens.
Richard E Grant plays Bobby Tanner
Who is Bobby Tanner? A mysterious figure with ties to Ian Ventham and Tony Curran, who becomes a person of interest in the investigation.
Where else have I seen Richard E Grant before? Grant is known for his roles in films such as Withnail & I, Gosford Park, The Iron Lady, Jackie, Logan, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, The Lesson, Saltburn and Argylle, and series such as Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Loki, Suspect and The Outlaws.
Geoff Bell plays Tony Curran
Who is Tony Curran? One of the co-owner's of Cooper's Chase, whose death sets the Thursday Murder Club's investigation in motion.
Where else have I seen Geoff Bell before? Bell has previously had roles in Stardust, RocknRolla, Top Boy, War Horse, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Suffragette, Rogue One, His Dark Materials, The Curse and Death in Paradise.
Paul Freeman plays John
Who is John? The loyal husband of former Thursday Murder Club member Penny, who is now in a coma.
Where else have I seen Paul Freeman before? Freeman is known for his roles in films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Hot Fuzz and The Long Good Friday, while he has also appeared in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Monarch of the Glen, A Very English Scandal, Absentia and The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Ingrid Oliver plays Joanna Meadowcroft
Who is Joanna Meadowcroft? Joyce's daughter, who isn't initially sure about her mother's decision to move into Cooper's Chase.
where else have I seen Ingrid Oliver before? Richard Osman's wife, Oliver plays Osgood in Doctor Who, and is also known for her collaboration with Lorna Watson in Watson & Oliver. She has also had roles in Peep Show, Silent Witness, The Hustle, Last Christmas, Beyond Paradise and Father Brown.
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The Thursday Murder Club is now showing in select UK cinemas and will be available to stream on Netflix from Thursday 28th August 2025. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
