Ripley cast: Full list of characters in Netflix series starring Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott leads the cast of Netflix's handsome adaptation of the Ripley novels.
Tom Ripley is back on our screens in Netflix’s Ripley, the latest adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s iconic novel, The Talented Mr Ripley.
The eight-part series stars Andrew Scott as the titular con artist, Johnny Flynn as Richard 'Dickie' Greenleaf and Dakota Fanning as Marjorie 'Marge' Sherwood – roles previously played by Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow in the 1999 film version.
Ripley comes from The Night Of and Schindler's List screenwriter Steven Zaillian and retells the classic tale of a roguish loner who seizes a chance to dramatically alter his lifestyle when he heads to Europe to bring home the errant scion of a shipping construction business.
Once in Italy, Tom slots into his new lifestyle, but it soon becomes apparent that not all is as it seems.
Speaking about his decision to cast Scott as the lead character, writer-director Zaillian told Netflix: "The right actor for me is always a good one, which Andrew obviously is.
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"He has the range to play the many personas of Ripley over the course of the story, beginning as a petty criminal who feels he deserves better than his meager circumstances, to someone who can be whatever he needs to be in order to improve that condition.
"At one point he says he’s not one of those people who takes advantage of people. But he’d also tell you he doesn’t lie, which is just as untrue."
Here's your guide to the cast of the series Ripley on Netflix.
Ripley cast: Full list of characters in Netflix series starring Andrew Scott
The central cast of Ripley is as follows.
- Andrew Scott as Thomas 'Tom' Ripley
- Dakota Fanning as Marjorie 'Marge' Sherwood
- Johnny Flynn as Richard 'Dickie' Greenleaf
- Eliot Sumner as Frederick 'Freddie' Miles
- Maurizio Lombardi as Inspector Pietro Ravini
- Margherita Buy as Signora Buffi
- Renato Solpietro as Carlo
- Louis Hofmann as Max Yoder
- Vittorio Viviani as Matteo
- Bokeem Woodbine as Alvin McCarron
- John Malkovich as Reeves Minot
- Kenneth Lonergan as Herbert Greenleaf
- Ann Cusack as Emily Greenleaf
- Fisher Stevens as Edward T. Cavanagh
Here's all you need to know about the key players in Ripley.
Andrew Scott plays Thomas 'Tom' Ripley
Who is Tom Ripley? An unsettling con artist who is tasked with tracking down a wealthy American acquaintance named Dickie Greenleaf in Italy and persuading him to return home to New York.
However, once in Italy, Tom becomes focused on achieving a luxurious life for himself with Dickie, but mostly for himself - by any means necessary.
It's not the first villainous role Scott has played, and fans might be quick to make comparisons between Ripley's Tom and Sherlock's Jim Moriarty.
But speaking recently on on Radio 4's Today programme, Scott said the roles are "very different".
"Of course there are elements... it's dark, it's very dark, and it's very different to my own genial kind of personality," he said.
"But it does feel different. I felt like when I was playing James Moriarty that I was playing a villain, and for some reason I really retreat against calling Tom Ripley a villain."
What else has Andrew Scott appeared in? Irish actor Scott is best known for his BAFTA-winning role as Moriarty in the BBC's Sherlock series, as well as his turn as the 'Hot Priest' in the second run of Fleabag.
Andrew Scott has also had film roles in Pride, the James Bond film Spectre, and the war film 1917. Recently, he won acclaim for his turn in the drama All of Us Strangers and won plaudits for his performance in Vanya on the West End stage.
Johnny Flynn plays Richard 'Dickie' Greenleaf
Who is Dickie Greenleaf? The heir to an American shipping fortune, a bohemian and a wannabe painter, the charming and handsome Dickie is living a comfortable life on the Amalfi Coast when Tom arrives on a mission to persuade him to come home.
However, instead the pair soon form a strong friendship. Will Dickie soon begin to suspect that Tom is not the good friend he appears to be?
What else has Johnny Flynn appeared in? The half-brother of Game of Thrones actor Jerome Flynn, Johnny has made an illustrious career of his own with turns in the Netflix series Lovesick, the BBC adaptation of Les Misérables and film roles in Emma., as David Bowie in Stardust, The Dig, Operation Mincemeat and One Life.
Dakota Fanning plays Marjorie 'Marge' Sherwood
Who is Marge Sherwood? An American writer living on the Amalfi Coast who has a casual romantic relationship with Dickie, and who swiftly becomes suspicious of Tom's presence in their lives. Will Marge be the one to uncover Tom's actions?
Dakota Fanning told Netflix of her role: "I was also excited that Marge gets the honour of being one of the only people that is dubious of Tom Ripley, so it’s very much this cat and mouse relationship between the two of them."
What else has Dakota Fanning appeared in? A child star from a young age with film roles in I Am Sam, Man on Fire, The Cat in the Hat and The War of the Worlds, Dakota Fanning has continued to be a star in adulthood with roles in films such as The Runaways, The Twilight Saga, Night Moves, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and The Equalizer 3.
On television, Fanning has starred in The Alienist and The First Lady.
Maurizio Lombardi plays Inspector Pietro Ravini
Who is Inspector Pietro Ravini? A member of the police force in Rome who investigates a shocking crime, and soon ends up in a cat-and-mouse game with Tom Ripley.
What else has Maurizio Lombardi appeared in? Lombardi is an Italian actor and theatre director, best known to English-speaking audiences for roles in series such as Riviera, The Young Pope and The New Pope, as well as The Name of the Rose and Matteo Garrone's Pinocchio.
Margherita Buy plays Signora Buffi
Who is Signora Buffi? The landlady of an apartment building in Rome where Tom stays for a time.
What else has Margherita Buy appeared in? The award-winning and renowned Italian actress is best known for her film roles in The Station, Not of this World, Days and Clouds, A Five Star Life, My Mother, Caterina in the Big City and Manual of Love.
Renato Solpietro plays Carlo
Who is Carlo? A criminal in Atrani who crosses paths with Ripley and presents him with an opportunity - but this does not go down so well with Dickie.
What else has Renato Solpietro appeared in? The Italian actor is best known for his roles in Quando si diventa grandi, The Competition and The Librarians,
Eliot Sumner plays Frederick 'Freddie' Miles
Who is Freddie Miles? An American playwright who moves among Dickie's friendship circles and is instantly distrustful of Tom Ripley.
What else has Eliot Sumner appeared in? Sumner is the child of musician Sting and actress Trudie Styler, and Sumner is best known for their career as a singer-songwriter.
Sumner has only had small acting roles before, having appeared in Me Without You, Stardust and Guy Ritchie's film The Gentlemen, as well as their small appearance in the James Bond film No Time to Die as a SPECTRE guard.
Steven Zaillian said of casting Sumner: "Eliot, too, auditioned, along with 200 other actors. Almost all of them played Freddie as a loud obnoxious American, which is understandable since that’s basically how Highsmith described him in the book.
"Instead, Eliot chose to play Freddie as quiet, knowing, sophisticated, which I found more interesting, and more of a formidable threat to Tom than some loudmouth."
Kenneth Lonergan plays Herbert Greenleaf
Who is Herbert Greenleaf? The wealthy shipbuilder hires Tom Ripley to visit Italy and persuade Dickie to come home.
What else has Kenneth Lonergan appeared in? Lonergan is an American director, playwright and screenwriter who co-wrote Gangs of New York, as well as wrote and directed You Can Count on Me, Margaret and Manchester by the Sea, as well as numerous other plays.
Zaillian told Netflix: "I’d seen Kenneth in the films he’d written and directed and found his performances in them very down to earth."
Ann Cusack plays Emily Greenleaf
Who is Emily Greenleaf? Herbert's wife and the mother of Dickie, Emily Greenleaf is unwell with leukaemia and longs to see her wayward son.
What else has Ann Cusack appeared in? Cusack is best known for her roles in the films Multiplicity, A League of Their Own and The Informant!, along with various other television roles.
Of Cusack's casting, Zaillian told Netflix: "Ann I’d seen in many things, but it was an amazing scene she did with Kieran Culkin in the first episode of season 2 of Fargo that really struck me as extraordinary."
John Malkovich plays Reeves Minot
Who is Reeves Minot? A mysterious American man in Europe who befriends Tom. The character first appears in the Ripley novels in the second volume, Ripley Under Ground.
What else has John Malkovich appeared in? Malkovich is an American actor of incredible renown, having won an Emmy and been nominated for two Oscars, a BAFTA, two SAG awards and three Golden Globes.
Malkovich's film roles include Places in the Heart, In the Line of Fire, The Killing Fields, Empire of the Sun, Dangerous Liaisons, Of Mice and Men, Con-Air, Rounders, Being John Malkovich, Shadow of the Vampire, Burn After Reading and Red.
Malkovich also portrayed Tom Ripley in a film adaptation of the third Ripley novel, Ripley's Game.
Steven Zaillian noted to Netflix: "John had played Tom Ripley in a version of Ripley’s Game about 20 years ago. I thought it would be fun to see him in another role from that and other Ripley novels." The role of Minot was portrayed in that film by actor Ray Winstone.
Fisher Stevens plays Edward T. Cavanagh
Who is Edward T Cavanagh? An employee of an American bank who questions the validity of forgeries of Dickie Greenleaf's signature.
What else has Fisher Stevens appeared in? The American actor-director has had numerous roles over the years, most recently as Hugo in Succession.
Louis Hofmann plays Max Yoder
Who is Max Yoder? A wealthy close friend of Freddie Miles who attempts to get in touch with Dickie Greenleaf in Rome.
What else has Louis Hofmann appeared in? A German actor, Hofmann is best known for roles in the German film Tom Sawyer, the Danish film Land of Mine, and the German Netflix series Dark.
Bokeem Woodbine plays Alvin McCarron
Who is Alvin McCarron? A private detective hired by Herbert Greenleaf who crosses paths with Tom Ripley on more than one occasion.
What else has Bokeem Woodbine appeared in? An American actor, Woodbine is best known for roles in Jason's Lyric, Fargo season 2, Underground, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Ray.
Vittorio Viviani plays Matteo
Who is Matteo? An Italian shopkeeper and post office worker who lives in Atrani.
What else has Vittorio Vivani appeared in? An Italian actor best known for roles in Elisa di Rivombrosa, Cronaca di una passion and Mille bolle blu.
Cristina Fondi plays Aunt Dottie
Who is Aunt Dottie? The unloving aunt and guardian of Tom Ripley whom he still writes letters to.
What else has Cristina Fondi appeared in? An Italian actress best known for Don Giovanni, Gli angeli di Borsellino and Raffaello.
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Ripley arrived on Netflix on Thursday 4th April. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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