Meet the cast of A Very Royal Scandal
In the new three-part series, Wilson and Sheen are joined by Joanna Scanlan, who takes on the role of Amanda Thirsk, a character previously portrayed by Keeley Hawes. The cast also includes talents such as Alex Jennings and Éanna Hardwicke.
Continue reading to discover all the essential information about the main characters in A Very Royal Scandal.
Here’s the primary cast for A Very Royal Scandal, which is currently available for streaming on Prime Video.
Keep reading to discover more about the actors and their roles.
Ruth Wilson Stars As Emily Maitlis
Emily Maitlis and Ruth Wilson. BBC, Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Emily Maitlis? Emily Maitlis is a journalist and documentary filmmaker, best known for her role as the chief presenter on Newsnight until late 2021. She also co-hosts a daily award-winning podcast called The News Agents alongside fellow journalists Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall.
Where else have I encountered Ruth Wilson? Wilson is primarily recognized for her roles in TV shows such as Luther, The Affair, Mrs Wilson, His Dark Materials, and The Woman in the Wall. In addition to her television work, she has been featured in movies like Dark River and See How They Run.
Michael Sheen Portrays Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew and Michael Sheen. BBC, Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Prince Andrew? Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. He is the sibling of King Charles III and is part of the British royal family.
Where else might I have come across Michael Sheen? He is most recognized for his portrayals of historical characters in productions like Quiz, Frost/Nixon, The Queen, and Vardy v Rooney. Additionally, Sheen has appeared in films and shows such as Midnight in Paris, The Good Fight, Masters of Sex, The Sandman, Good Omens, Staged, Best Interests, The Way, and Last Train to Christmas.
Joanna Scanlan Portrays Amanda Thirsk
Amanda Thirsk and Joanna Scanlan. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images, Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Amanda Thirsk? Amanda Thirsk is the previous private secretary to Prince Andrew, having held that role from 2012 until 2020.
Where might I recognize Joanna Scanlan from? She is probably most famous for playing Terri in The Thick of It. Additionally, she has been featured in Big School, The Bad Education Movie, Bridget Jones's Baby, No Offence, Dracula, Gentleman Jack, The Larkins, Wicked Little Letters, Boat Story, and Slow Horses, along with various other shows and films.
Alex Jennings Portrays Sir Edward Young
Edward Young and Alex Jennings. Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images, Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Sir Edward Young? Edward Young, currently known as Baron Young of Old Windsor, served as the private secretary to the monarch from 2017 to 2023. He initially worked for Queen Elizabeth II and later for King Charles III.
Where else have I encountered Alex Jennings? He has appeared in significant roles in several productions such as The Crown, Unforgotten, A Very English Scandal, This Is Going to Hurt, The New Look, and Mr. Bates vs the Post Office. Additionally, he has been featured in films like The Lady in the Van and Your Christmas of Mine?.
Éanna Hardwicke Stars As Stewart Maclean
Stewart Maclean and Éanna Hardwicke. BBC, Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Stewart Maclean? Stewart Maclean served as the deputy editor of Newsnight from 2018 to 2022. After that, he took on the role of editor for the program until October 2023.
Where else might I recognize Éanna Hardwicke? He gained notable attention for his performance in The Sixth Commandment, but he has also appeared in shows like Normal People, Smother, Fate: The Winx Saga, and The Doll Factory.
Lydia Leonard Stars As Esme Wren
Esme Wren and Lydia Leonard. Photo credits: Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA, Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Esme Wren? Esme Wren previously served as the editor of Newsnight from 2018 until 2022.
Where else might I have recognized Lydia Leonard? She has appeared in several shows such as Jericho, Apple Tree Yard, Quacks, Absentia, Gentleman Jack, Flesh and Blood, Red Election, Ten Percent, The Crown, McDonald & Dodds, and We Are Lady Parts.
Honor Swinton Byrne Stars As Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice and Honor Swinton Byrne. Photos by Karwai Tang/WireImage and Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Princess Beatrice? She is the firstborn child of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Where might I have encountered Honor Swinton Byrne before? She is the daughter of actress Tilda Swinton and playwright John Byrne, and she has appeared in the films The Souvenir parts one and two, as well as Drift and the series The Crown.
Sofia Oxenham Stars As Princess Eugenie
Princess Eugenie and Sofia Oxenham. Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images, with additional images by Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Princess Eugenie? She is the younger child of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Where might I have come across Sofia Oxenham before? She's appeared in shows like Grantchester, Poldark, Doc Martin, Dracula, Cursed, Soulmates, and Extraordinary.
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Claire Rushbrook Portrays Sarah Ferguson, Duchess
Sarah Ferguson and Claire Rushbrook. Images by Julia Reinhart/Getty Images, Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Sarah Ferguson? Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was once married to Prince Andrew and is the mother of their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie. The couple tied the knot in 1986 but separated in 1992 and finalized their divorce in 1996.
Where else have I come across Claire Rushbrook? She has appeared in various TV shows such as Doctor Who, Whitechapel, My Mad Fat Diary, Home Fires, Black Mirror, No Offence, Temple, Magpie Murders, Inside No. 9, Wilderness, and Sherwood. In addition, she has acted in films like Spider-Man: Far From Home, Ammonite, Enola Holmes, Ali & Ava, and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
Clare Calbraith Stars As Sam McAlister
Sam McAlister and Clare Calbraith. Photos by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Netflix and Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television.
Who is Sam McAlister? Sam McAlister is a former television producer and author who dedicated a decade to working on Newsnight. She gained fame for conducting the notable interview with Prince Andrew and later penned an autobiographical book titled *Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC's Most Shocking Interviews*. This book was turned into a Netflix film called *Scoop* earlier this year.
Where else might I recognize Clare Calbraith? She has appeared in several television series such as Heartbeat, Doctors, Downton Abbey, Vera, Home Fires, Baptiste, Unforgotten, Anne, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, Tell Me Everything, Grace, and The Jetty.
A Very Royal Scandal will be available to watch on Amazon Prime Video starting September 19, 2024. You can also enjoy a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime Video. Don’t forget to check out our recommendations for the top series and movies on the platform!
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