Meet the cast of ITV's Butterfly ahead of Netflix release
Who's who in ITV's landmark drama about a transgender child, coming to Netflix in September 2024.
ITV drama Butterfly is set to find a new lease of life on Netflix, where it will be released on Wednesday 11th September.
It follows trans 11-year-old girl Maxine, whose parents are fundamentally divided on what they think is best for her.
On the one hand, there's her father (played by Emmett J Scanlan), who doesn't support her transition.
On the other, her mother (played by Anna Friel), who is supportive of Maxine and wants to protect her mental health, and her protective sister, played by Doctor Who's Millie Gibson.
The three-parter was hailed by trans activist and journalist Paris Lees as "the best thing that's happened to the trans community for years" when it first came out in 2018.
But who else is in it and who do they play?
Meet the cast of Butterfly
Find the full cast of Butterfly below. Read on for more on the characters and the actors who portray them.
- Anna Friel as Vicky Duffy
- Emmett J Scanlan as Stephen Duffy
- Callum Booth-Ford as Maxine Duffy
- Millie Gibson as Lily Duffy
- Alison Steadman as Barbara
- Sean McGinley as Peter Duffy
Anna Friel as Vicky Duffy
Who is Vicky? Maxine and Lily’s mother Vicky is determined not to let her separation from husband Stephen get in the way of raising a happy family. She wants what is best for Maxine and is extremely supportive, but is struggling to navigate the huge life changes her child wants to make.
Where do I recognise Anna Friel from? Best known for playing troubled detective Marcella on ITV, Friel has also appeared in The Girlfriend Experience, Broken and Pushing Daisies, to name but a few. She is also set to star in a new TV series, Deep Water, alongside Sinead Keenan.
Emmett J Scanlan as Stephen Duffy
Who is Stephen? As Vicky’s estranged husband and the father of Maxine and Lily, Stephen is desperate to still be involved in his children’s lives. He finds it very difficult and frustrating to face up to the fact that his youngest is transgender, and is reluctant to support her.
Where do I recognise Emmett J Scanlan from? Irish actor Scanlan played Brendan Brady in Hollyoaks until 2013, and has since starred in The Fall and Safe. He is also appeared in Sharon Horgan’s Women on the Verge, and recently starred in The Teacher.
Callum Booth-Ford as Maxine Duffy
Who is Maxine? 11-year-old Maxine was born as Max but has been identifying as a girl since a young age. Maxine is bullied at school and at home feels the need to suppress feelings of gender dysmorphia so as not to anger Stephen.
Where do I recognise Callum Booth-Ford from? This was Booth-Ford's first major role and was followed by an appearance in Peaky Blinders as Ada and Freddie's son Karl Thorne.
Millie Gibson as Lily Duffy
Who is Lily? Maxine’s older sister Lily is very protective of her sibling and always has Maxine’s back at school. She is also very close to Vicky and has a wicked sense of humour that keeps the family in high spirits even in the trickiest of times.
Where do I recognise Millie Gibson from? Gibson is best known for starring as companion Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who opposite Ncuti Gatwa and as Kelly Neelan in Coronation Street.
Alison Steadman as Barbara
Who is Barbara? Vicky’s mother Barbara is very loving but has an old school way of thinking and is struggling to wrap her mind around the changes in her grandchild’s life.
Where do I recognise Alison Steadman from? Steadman is best known now playing Pam in Gavin & Stacey, but has had a long and celebrated career. She was nominated for a BAFTA for her role in 1986 BBC drama The Singing Detective, and again for her performance in ITV's Fat Friends.
Sean McGinley as Peter Duffy
Who is Peter? Stephen’s father Peter has a cracking Irish sense of humour and he likes to use it to lighten the mood when it comes to Maxine’s tough situation.
Where do I recognise Sean McGinley from? Irish actor McGinley has starred in Shetland, Paula and Love/Hate, and also appeared in the movie Braveheart as MacClannough.
This article was originally published in October 2018
Butterfly will be available to stream on Netflix UK from Wednesday 11th September. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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