Adolescence cast: Stephen Graham and Ashley Walters star in Netflix drama

"I was never seduced by a life of crime. The trouble I got into was because I fell into the wrong crowd."

But the four-part series isn't your average crime drama. It's also about online incel culture and the 'manosphere', and the devastating, sometimes fatal real-world impact of that on women and girls.

"It really baffled me, but it just shows how complex and how deep that world is, and how much these kids are having to put up with and think about in order to not be bullied, to not be a victim," said the Top Boy star.

"I did worry a lot about my boys [Walters has four sons] going through their teenage years. There were scrapes here and there, but I’m very proud that they were able to get through unscathed.

"Managing to get them through without anything major happening was tough. There is still a fear, because I have an eight-year-old, but the idea [as a parent] is to be present, give them your time and listen."

A number of recognisable faces appear alongside Graham and Walters, plus some you might not recognise.

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Adolescence.

Adolescence cast

The following stars feature in the Adolescence cast:

• Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller
• Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller
• Christine Tremarco as Manda Miller
• Ashley Walters as DI Luke Bascombe
• Faye Marsay as DS Misha Frank
• Mark Stanley as Paulie Barlow
• Amari Bacchus as Adam Bascombe
• Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston
• Amélie Pease as Lisa Miller
• Faye McKeever as Erica
• Jo Hartley as Mrs Fenumore
• Hannah Walters as Mrs Bailey
• Fatima Bojang as Jade
• Kaine Davis as Ryan
• Douglas Russell as Victor

Here is all you need to know about the major players...

Owen Cooper plays Jamie Miller

Who is Jamie Miller? Jamie is a 13-year-old who is accused of murdering a girl called Katie, who also goes to his school.

What else has Owen Cooper been in? Adolescence is Cooper's first on-screen role.

Stephen Graham plays Eddie Miller

Who is Eddie Miller? Eddie is the father of Jamie, a boy accused of murdering a female pupil from his school.

What else has Stephen Graham been in? Graham has had a prolific and acclaimed career, with notable roles in films such as Gangs of New York, The Irishman, Venom: The Last Dance, Blitz and This Is England, as well as the latter's subsequent TV series.

Graham has also starred in series including Boardwalk Empire as Al Capone, Line of Duty, The Virtues, Time, Peaky Blinders, The Walk-In, Code 404 and Boiling Point, Bodies and A Thousand Blows.

Christine Tremarco plays Manda Miller

Who is Manda Miller? Manda is Jamie's mum and Eddie's wife.

What else has Christine Tremarco been in? Tremarco has had roles in series including Waterloo Road, Casualty, Clink, Wolfe, The Responder, The Gathering, Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story and Emmerdale.

Ashley Walters plays DI Luke Bascombe

Who is DI Luke Bascombe? A detective inspector heading up the investigation into the murder of a school girl.

What else has Ashley Walters been in? Walters is perhaps best known for playing Dushane in Top Boy, while he has also had roles in other series including Grange Hill, Hustle, Outcasts, Doctor Who, Silent Witness, Cuffs and Bulletproof. He has appeared in films such as Goal! and Stormbreaker, too.

Faye Marsay plays DS Misha Frank

Who is DS Misha Frank? Misha is a detective sergeant working alongside DI Bascombe.

What else has Faye Marsay been in? Marsay has previously had roles in series including Fresh Meat, Glue, Doctor Who, Vera, Game of Thrones, Black Mirror, Bancroft, McMafia, Deep Water, Andor and Ten Pound Poms, as well as films such as Pride, Darkest Hour, A Private War and Lady Chatterley's Lover.

Mark Stanley plays Paulie Barlow

Who is Paul Barlow? Jamie's lawyer.

What else has Mark Stanley been in? Stanley has had roles in series including Game of Thrones, Dickensian, Broken, Sanditon, White House Farm, Criminal: UK, The Bay, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, Happy Valley, The Reckoning, Trigger Point and A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, as well as films such as Mr Turner and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Amari Bacchus plays Adam Bascombe

Who is Adam Bascombe? DI Bascombe's teenage son. He attends the same school as the victim and accused.

What else has Amari Bacchus been in? This is his first major role.

Erin Doherty plays Briony Ariston

Who is Briony Ariston? Briony is the clinical psychologist assigned to Jamie’s case.

What else has Erin Doherty been in? Doherty recently starred alongside Graham in A Thousand Blows, while she has also had roles in series including The Crown, Call the Midwife, Les Misérables and Chloe.

Additional cast includes:

• Amélie Pease plays Lisa Miller - Jamie's older sister.
• Faye McKeever (Trollied, The Responder, A Confession, Time) plays Erica - the nurse who assesses Jamie after his arrest.
• Jo Hartley (After Life, Bank of Dave, In My Skin, Passenger, David Brent: Life on the Road) plays Mrs Fenumore - the headteacher at Katie and Jamie's school.
• Hannah Walters (Whitechapel, No Offence, Boiling Point, A Thousand Blows) plays Mrs Bailey - a teacher at Katie and Jamie's school who comforts Katie's best friend.
• Fatima Bojang plays Jade - Katie's best friend.
• Kaine Davis plays Ryan - Jamie's best friend.
• Douglas Russell (Payback) plays Victor - he works at the secure training centre where Jamie is being remanded.

Adolescence will stream on Netflix from Thursday 13th March 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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