Created by Brad Ingelsby (The Way Back) and directed by Craig Zobel (Compliance), Mare of Easttown, HBO's latest limited series, appears to be the next great prestige drama. Led by Kate Winslet, this detective drama doesn't sound especially original from its synopsis, but critics have praised the mini-series for its great understanding of tone, character, and sense of place. Likewise, the performances are also highlighted. With a supporting cast that includes Guy Pierce, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, Cailee Spaeny, and Evan Peters, this is an A-list ensemble, and you've certainly seen their work in the past. If the Mare of Easttown cast looks familiar, here's why!
Kate Winslet (Mare Sheehan)
As Mare Sheehan, a small-town police detective navigating her own personal traumas while investigating her most recent case, Kate Winslet plays the titular protagonist in Mare of Easttown. Previously, Winslet won an Emmy for another title role in another HBO mini-series, Mildred Pierce, which also co-starred Guy Pierce. This limited series marks their reunion. She was also Emmy-nominated for her guest appearance in HBO's Extras. Her other TV credits include Get Back, Dark Season, Casualty, and Anglo-Saxon Attitudes. Additionally, Winslet lent her voice to the animated series, Moominvalley.
Outside of television, Kate Winslet won an Oscar for The Reader. Most famously, she's known for her Oscar-nominated performance as Rose DeWitt Bukater in 1997's Best Picture-winning mega-hit, Titanic. Additionally, the acclaimed actress received Oscar nominations for her lead roles in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Little Children and her supporting turns in Sense and Sensibility (1996), Iris, and Steve Jobs.
Kate Winslet's other notable film credits include Heavenly Creatures, Revolutionary Road, Finding Neverland, Carnage, Labor Day, The Holiday, Contagion, Hamlet (1996), Divergent, Quills, Enigma, and last year's Ammonite. Away from acting, Winslet won a Grammy for her work in Listen to the Storyteller. Next, she'll be seen in Avatar 2, Lee, and Fake! She will also be heard in Naya Legend of the Golden Dolphin.
Julianne Nicholson (Lori Ross)
In the role of Lori Ross, Mare's childhood best friend, Julianne Nicholson is a close companion in HBO's Mare of Easttown. Notably, Nicholson played NYPD Detective Megan Wheeler in NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Jenny Shaw in Fox's Ally McBeal. Also, she appeared in HBO's Boardwalk Empire and Showtime's Master of Sex. Additionally, the TV actress had main roles in NBC's Conviction, USA Network's Eyewitness, NBC's The Others, CBS's Presidio Med, and NBC's Law & Order: True Crime. Last year, Nicholson played the part of Glory Maitland in HBO's The Outsiders. Her other TV credits include The Red Road, The Good Wife, ER, Covert Affairs, and Royal Pains.
Outside of TV, Julianne Nicholson is seen in August: Osage County, Kinsey, Seeing Other People, Little Black Book, Keep the Lights On, Novitiate, Monos (which she also produced), and Togo. Her other film credits include Who We Are Now (which she also produced), From Nowhere, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, and I, Tonya. Next, she will appear in Blonde and the anthology film, With/In, where she also writes and directs.
Jean Smart (Helen Sheehan)
Playing the part of Helen Sheehan, Mare's imposing mother, Jean Smart plays a stern character in Mare of Easttown. Most notably, Smart is known for her two-time Emmy-winning performance as Lana Gardener in NBC's Frasier. She also won an Emmy for playing Regina Newley in ABC's Samantha Who? Additionally, Smart was Emmy-nominated for playing Floyd Gerhardt in FX's Fargo Season 2. She's also recognized for playing Martha Logan in Fox's 24, as well as the lead role in CBS's Designing Women. Her other notable television credits include Watchmen, Legion, Halt and Catch Fire, Psych, Hawaii Five-0, and Arrested Development. Additionally, Smart voiced Dr. Ann Possible in Disney Channel's Kim Possible and Depression Kitty in Netflix's Big Mouth.
Outside of TV, Jean Smart was nominated for a Tony Award for her lead performance in Broadway's 2000 revival of The Man Who Came To Dinner. Her film credits include I Heart Huckabees, Garden State, The Accountant, Hope Springs, Homeward Bound, The Odd Couple II, and Life Itself, as well as Youth in Revolt, Sweet Home Alabama, A Simple Favor, and Superintelligence. Most recently, Smart starred in Senior Moment.
Angourie Rice (Siobhan Sheehan)
As Siobhan Sheehan, Angourie Rice plays Mare's teenage daughter in HBO's Mare of Easttown. Most notably, Rice is known for her breakout role as Holly March in The Nice Guys. Additionally, the actress plays the part of Betty Brant in MCU's Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Also, she played the lead role in 2018's Every Day. The actress's other film credits include The Beguiled, Walking with Dinosaurs, These Final Hours, Jaspar Jones, Ladies in Black, and Nowhere Boys: The Books of Shadows. Most recently, Rice voiced the title character in Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal. Outside of film, she can be seen in Black Mirror, as well as Mako: Island of Secrets, Worst Year of My Life Again, and The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
Evan Peters (Detective Colin Zabel)
In the role of Detective Colin Zabel, a county detective who's called in to assist Mare in her investigation, Evan Peters plays an inquisitive character looking from the outside in in Mare of Easttown. Most notably, Peters plays Peter Maximoff, i.e. Quicksilver, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, along with X-Men: Apocalypse, Deadpool 2, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. His other film credits include American Animals, Kick-Ass, The Lazarus Effect, Sleepover, Adult World, Elvin & Nixon, Never Back Down, and Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown. Also, he appeared in The Pirates of Somalia, Safelight, The Good Doctor, Gardens of the Night, and An American Crime. Recently, Peters starred in I Am Woman.
Outside of film, Evan Peters is most well-known for playing an assortment of characters in various seasons of FX's American Horror Story. Additionally, the actor earned praise for his performance as Stan Bowes in FX's Pose. He also played Jack Daniels in The CW's One Tree Hill. His other notable TV credits include Phil of the Future, Invasion, The Office, House, Monk, and The Days. Most recently, Peters reprised his role as Quicksilver in Disney+'s WandaVision. Next, he'll play Jeffrey Dahmer in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Also, the actor will star in American Horror Story: Double Feature.
Guy Pearce (Richard Ryan)
Playing the part of Richard Ryan, a local creative writing professor who crosses paths with Mare during her investigation, Guy Pearce plays a lead role in HBO's Mare of Easttown. Most notably, Pearce is an Emmy winner for his supporting performance in HBO's Mildred Pierce, which also starred Kate Winslet. Additionally, Pearce played Mike Young in nearly 500 episodes of Seven Network's soap opera, Neighbours. Furthermore, the actor appeared in Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, Home and Away, When We Rise, Jack Irish, The Wizards of Aus, The Innocents, and BBC One's A Christmas Carol.
Furthermore, in film, Guy Pearce starred in Christopher Nolan's Memento. He was also acclaimed for his performance in L.A. Confidential. His other notable film performances include King Edward VIII in The King's Speech and Staff Sergeant Matt Thompson in The Hurt Locker. Also, Pearce can be seen in Ravenous, The Rover, Lockout, Lawless, Animal Kingdom, Iron Man 3, Factory Girl, Brand New World, and The Time Machine. Most recently, Pearce starred in The Last Vermeer. Next, the actor appears in Tom Clancy's Without Remorse, Zone 414, Back to the Outback, Memory, and Poor Boy, which he'll also direct.
Cailee Spaeny (Erin McMenamin)
As Erin McMenamin, an isolated teen with a tragic fate, Cailee Spaeny plays a haunting supporting character in Mare of Easttown. Most recently, Spaeny was among Zoe Lister Jones' The Craft: Legacy cast. Additionally, the actress reunited with the writer-director for How It Ends, which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Also, Spaeny played Jane Ginsburg in On the Basis of Sex and Young Lynne Cheney in Vice. Her other film credits include Pacific Rim: Uprising and Bad Times at the El Royale. Furthermore, Spaeney played one of the main characters in FX's limited series, Devs. Additionally, the actress can be seen in The All-American Rejects' "Send Her to Heaven" music video.
David Denman (Mark Sheehan)
In the role of Mark Sheehan, Mare's ex-husband, David Denman plays a distant paternal character in HBO's Mare of Easttown. Most notably, Denman is known for playing Roy Anderson in NBC's The Office. He also had a recurring role as Ed in NBC's Parenthood. Additionally, Denman had main parts in Fox's Traffic Light and Cinemax's Outcast. His other notable television credits include Drop Dead Diva, Angel, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, ER, The X-Files, Grey's Anatomy, and Mad Men. The TV actor was also seen in True Detective, Angel From Hell, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, and Two and a Half Men.
Outside of TV, David Denman can be seen in Big Fish, Brightburn, The Replacements, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Power Rangers, Puzzle, The Gift, Out Cold, and Logan Lucky. The actor's other big-screen credits include Shutter, Smart People, Fanboys, Jobs, When a Stranger Calls, The Nines, Fair Game, and Men, Women, and Children. Most recently, Denman provided a supporting turn in Greenland.
Phyllis Somerville (Betty Carroll)
Playing the part of Betty Carroll, a sweet, elderly lady who can take up a lot of Mare's time, Phyllis Somerville gave her final screen performance in Mare of Easttown. The veteran actress passed away on July 16th, 2020. She was 76. Most notably, Somerville played a recurring role as Marlene in Showtime's The Big C. Her other television credits include Daredevil, Outsiders, NYPD Blue, Law & Order: SVU, The Good Wife, and Castle Rock. She also appeared in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Madam Secretary, and Chappelle's Show, as well as two HBO favorites: The Sopranos and Sex and the City.
Additionally, in film, Phyllis Somerville appeared in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Little Children, Stoker, The Double, Broken English, Bringing Out the Dead, and Surviving Family. Her other movie credits include Arthur, Leap of Faith, The Imposters, Diane, Simply Irresistible, and Our Souls At Night. Somerville's final film was Poms.
John Douglas Thompson (Chief Carter)
As Chief Carter, Mare's boss at the Easttown police department, John Douglas Thompson plays an authoritative character in Mare of Easttown. Most notably, Thompson is a Tony-nominated actor for his lead performance in Broadway's 2017 revival of Jitney. The acclaimed actor has garnered many other awards and nominations for his stage work throughout the years. Outside of this HBO miniseries, Thompson can be seen in ABC's For Life. He also guest-starred in Bull, Madam Secretary, Conviction, Law & Order, Person of Interest, and Law & Order: SVU. Additionally, Thompson was seen in HBO's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Next, he'll appear in HBO's The Gilded Age, which is expected to premiere later this year.
Recently, in film, John Douglas Thompson appeared in HBO Max's Let Them All Talk and the Oscar-nominated short film, The Letter Room. His other film credits include Michael Clayton, The Bourne Legacy, A Most Violent Year, Wolves, and 21 Bridges.
Mare of Easttown premieres on April 18th on HBO.
