Meet the cast of The Diplomat season 2
Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell star in the Netflix political drama series.
The Diplomat season 2 has landed on Netflix, launching Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell back on our screens as Kate and Hal following the first season's dramatic cliffhanger finale, and hooking viewers in with various twists and turns.
The second season follows Kate (Russell) as she adjusts to her new job as the United States' ambassador to the UK amid an international crisis, while also trying to navigate her turbulent marriage to fellow career diplomat Hal (Sewell).
Also returning to join Russell and Sewell are the likes of David Gyasi and Rory Kinnear, while Allison Janney is joining to play the previously off-screen US Vice President.
But who else stars in the series and who do they all play? Read on for our guide to the cast and characters of The Diplomat season 2.
The Diplomat cast: who stars in the Netflix series?
Here are the main cast members and characters in The Diplomat. Read on below for more info about who they are and where you've seen the actors before.
- Keri Russell as Kate Wyler
- Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler
- David Gyasi as Austin Dennison
- Ali Ahn as Eidra Park
- Rory Kinnear as Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge
- Ato Essandoh as Stuart Hayford
- Michael McKean as President William Rayburn
- Nana Mensah as Billie Appiah
- Celia Imrie as Meg Roylin
- Allison Janney as Vice President Grace Penn
Rufus Sewell plays Hal Wyler
Who is Hal Wyler? Hal is Kate's husband, a top US diplomat himself and a political heavyweight, who is known to be successful yet manipulative and ruthless. At the end of season 1 he was caught up in an explosion as he attempted to get sensitive information from Conservative MP Merrit Grove.
Russell recently spoke with RadioTimes.com about how Kate and Hal's relationship will be impacted by the end of season 1, which saw Hal caught up in a car bomb which was seemingly targeting Conservative MP Merrit Grove.
Russel said: "I think that's going to be pretty monumental, as it is in life when a big life moment like that happens. And I think it raises the stakes of every single thing Kate is dealing with professionally.
"And we just get right into it, you know, versus season 1 – you're building a whole world, you're introducing characters, you're introducing style and language and jargon and a world of diplomacy and kind of teaching people about that, and season 2, we just jump head first right into it."
Where have I seen Rufus Sewell? Sewell is known for his roles in films including The Father, Old, Judy, Hercules, A Knight's Tale, The Illusionist and Scoop, as well as his roles in series such as The Man in the High Castle, Victoria, and Kaleidoscope.
Keri Russell plays Kate Wyler
Who is Kate Wyler? Kate is a US diplomat who has built a career working in war zones and was due to be sent to Afghanistan. However, at the last moment she was told that she would instead become to the ambassador to the UK, a role she had serious reservations about.
Where have I seen Keri Russell? Russell is known for her roles in films including Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Mission: Impossible III, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Cocaine Bear, as well as the series Felicity, The Americans and Extrapolations.
Ali Ahn plays Eidra Park
Who is Eidra Park? Eidra is chief of the CIA in London. She was in a secret relationship with Stuart in season 1, but they broke up at the end of the season.
Where have I seen Ali Ahn? Ahn is best-known for her roles in series including Raising Dion, Next, Orange is the New Black, Billions, The Path, Supernatural and Agatha All Along.
Rory Kinnear plays Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge
Who is Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge? Nicol Trowbridge is the hawkish, volatile Conservative Prime Minister of the UK. At the end of season 1 Kate came to believe he may have been behind an attack of his own people on board the HMS Courageous, in order to boost his own popularity and stop Scotland from leaving the union.
Where have I seen Rory Kinnear? Kinnear is a prolific film and TV actor, perhaps best-known for his roles as Bill Tanner in the James Bond film series.
He also had major roles in films such as The Imitation Game, Men, Bank of Dave and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and series such as Black Mirror, Our Flag Means Death, Years and Years, Inside No 9, Penny Dreadful and The Rings of Power.
David Gyasi plays Austin Dennison
Who is Austin Dennison? Austin is the UK's foreign secretary who became an ally to Kate in season 1, and they developed feelings for one another. He often disagrees with the Prime Minister's position on serious matters and his conduct.
Where have I seen David Gyasi? Gyasi has had roles in films including Cloud Atlas, Interstellar, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, The Dark Knight Rises, and Annihilation, as well as in series such as Doctor Who, The A Word, The Sandman, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself and Carnival Row.
Ato Essandoh plays Stuart Hayford
Who is Stuart Hayford? Stuart is Kate's right hand man and her deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in London. He was caught up in an explosion at the end of season 1, along with Hal.
Where have I seen Ato Essandoh? Essandoh has had roles in series including Extrapolations, Chicago Med, Altered Carbon, Elementary, and Vinyl, and in films including Hitch, Blood Diamond, Django Unchained, Jason Bourne, X-Men: Dark Phoenix and Reptile.
Michael McKean plays President William Rayburn
Who is President William Rayburn? William Rayburn is the President of the United States who is trying to restore the country's standing on the world stage, but who is often undermined because of his age.
Where have I seen Michael McKean? McKean is best-known for his roles in This is Spinal Tap and Better Call Saul, while he has also appeared in films such as Clue and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, as well as series such as Breeders, Good Omens, Grace and Frankie, Dead Ringers and many more.
Nana Mensah plays Billie Appiah
Who is Billie Appiah? Billie is the White House Chief of Staff who is attempting to get Kate to take up the role of Vice President when Grace Penn steps down.
Where have I seen Nana Mensah? Mensah is known for appearing in series such as New Amsterdam, 13 Reasons Why, The Chair and Presumed Innocent, and in films such as After Yang, Queen of Glory, and The King of Staten Island.
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Celia Imrie plays Meg Roylin
Who is Meg Roylin? Meg is a Conservative Party operative who ran Trowbridge's campaign.
Where have I seen Celia Imrie? Imrie is known for her roles in films 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, Calendar Girls and Good Grief, as well as in series such as After You've Gone, Patrick Melrose, Keeping Faith, and Better Things.
Alison Janney plays Vice President Grace Penn
Who is Grace Penn? Grace is the Vice President of the USA, who is planning to step down, with Kate being primed as her potential replacement.
Where have I seen Allison Janney? Janney is known for her roles in series including The West Wing, Mr Sunshine, Mom and Palm Royale, as well as films such as Miracle on 34th Street, 10 Things I Hate About You, American Beauty, Finding Nemo, Hairspray, Juno, The Help, I, Tonya, To Leslie and The Creator.
The Diplomat Season 2 will debut on Netflix on Thursday 31st October 2024 and season 1 is streaming now – sign up from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
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.
