'Barkskins': Meet the cast of National Geographic's historical drama set in 1690s New France
National Geographic's new historical drama is an exciting adaptation of the 2016 best selling novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx. Offering an exploration into the deforestation of North America, the text spans a period of 300 years and traces the story of America's deforestation and is often called as a towering work of environmental fiction. It narrates the tale through two characters, two immigrants who come from France to New France as indentured servants and for want of a better life.
Before the show premieres on National Geographic, be acquainted with the cast because you might need this guide when it airs – we follow not one but multiple characters of importance in the plot.
Aneurin Barnard as Hamish Goames
As Hamish Goames, Barnard plays the role of a mysterious agent of the rapacious Hudson's Bay Company. He is now in Wobik to investigate the whereabouts of the agent who went missing in the settlement massacre. Early on, however, it is evident that he has ulterior motives what they are, we will only know as the series progresses.
The actor is known for playing the role of Davey in 'Hunky Dory', Claude in 'The Truth About Emanuel', Bobby Willis in 'Cilla', Tim in 'Thirteen', and the role of King Richard III in 'The White Queen'. His most recent work is that of Gibson in 'Dunkirk'. In 2016, for his role of Boris Drubetskoy in BBC's 'War & Peace,' he was nominated for the best actor for BAFTA Cymru Awards.
Christian Cooke as Rene Sel
As Rene, Cooke plays the role of one of the two immigrants who we follow in the series. An uncynical and morally sound indentured servant, he is honest in wanting to spend the three years working for his master and then rightfully own his freedom. He wants to work the land and start a new family here. Cooke is known for playing Luke Kirkwall in 'Where the Heart Is', Luke Rutherford in 'Demons', Dorian Gaudain in 'Trinity', Freddie Taylor in 'Cemetery Junction' and Len Matthews in the 'The Promise'.
Cooke's most recent roles are that of ex-soldier Graham Connor in 'The Art of More' and Mickey Argyll in BBC's adaptation of 'Ordeal by Innocence'.
Interestingly, 'Prodigal Son' star Tom Payne had previously auditioned for the role. He had taken to Instagram to share his audition tape for the series ahead of the series premiere. While he congratulated Cooke for bagging the role, the actor expressed keen interest in wanting to play the role.
David Thewlis as Monsieur Claude Trepagny
As Trepagny, Thewlis plays the role of perhaps the most eccentric character on Nat Geo's historical series. He is a wealthy landowner with grand visions for New France.
Thewlis requires no introduction. The English actor-director screenwriter and author is known for his performance in the movie 'Naked', a role for which he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. Perhaps his most popular role is back of Remus Lupin in the 'Harry Potter' franchise and Sir Patrick Morgan in 'Wonder Woman'.
He is also known for his role in 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', 'War Horse', 'The Theory of Everything', 'Avatar 2' and 'Avatar 3'. He currently voices the character of Shame Wizard in Netflix's 'Big Mouth'.
James Bloor as Charles Duquet
As Duquet, Bloor plays the role of a scrappy, industrious person who is signed to servitude under Trepagny. But he quickly realizes that he is not cut out for manual labor and eventually plots his escape, which leads to his complete reinvention.
The actor is best known for his role in 'Banks', 'The Total Princess', and 'Leatherface'.
Marcia Gay Harden as Mathilde Geffard
Harden plays the role of an innkeeper in the town of Worbik, Mathilde Geffard. She is described to be a burgeoning power player in this dirty town, and one who is very well aware of everyone's secrets.
In an interview ahead of the premiere of the series, the actress had spoken about how the character was first written keeping in mind a young woman. "I knew they were writing it for someone who would have child-bearing abilities, and when you cast me that's not going to happen," she says. "So that changed a lot and opened up a whole world of excitement, of what [Mathilde's] power source is if she’s not pumping out babies - which is what all the other women were there to do," she had said.
Lily Sullivan as Delphine
Delphine is among the group of young women brought in from France. Here, she is set to meet a rightful husband, marry him and bear his children. Unlike her companion Melissande, she is not exactly looking for a rich husband to marry. But what exactly it is that she is looking for is also unknown.
The Australian actress is best known for her debut film role as Coral in 'Mental', a role of which she earned herself an AACTA Award nomination for Best Young Actor and a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award nomination for Best Performance by a Young Actor. The actress is also known for her appearance in the second season of 'Rake'.
Tallulah Haddon as Melissande
As Melissande, Tallulah plays the role of calculating young French Filles du Roi, who is set to marry a French Man and help populate the new land. She is smart and intelligent and is not looking to settle for a man who just earns mere pennies.
The actress is best known for playing the role of Harriet in 'The Living and the Dead' and the role of Pearl in 'Taboo'. She has also played the role of Kitty in 'Black Mirror's standalone interactive film 'Bandersnatch'.
Zahn McClarnon as Yvon
Yvon is described as a Harvard-educated Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) man of the Hudson's Bay Company. He accompanies Hamish when they arrive in Wobik to investigate the disappearance of an Englishman.
The actor is best known for his role of Police Chief Mathias in 'Longmire', Hanzee Dent in the second season of 'Fargo', and Akecheta in the second season of 'Westworld'.
When filming for 'Westworld' in late 2017, the actor fell at his home and suffer a brain injury that required immediate hospitalization. This accident had caused a brief shutdown of production for 'Westworld'.
Thomas M. Wright as Elisha Cooke
As Cooke, Wright plays the role of a cutthroat English barrel maker and smuggler who has schemed his way into new France. He often clashes with the French locals. As the series progresses, we will come to see him as an evil, scheming man who will leave no stone unturned to get what he wants.
The actor is best known for his work on 'Top of the Lake', for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the (US-Canadian) Critics' Choice Awards. For this year, he was set to direct a new thriller starring Joel Edgerton, which was titled 'The Unknown Man'. However, because of the global pandemic, all plans seem to be on hold. It looks like the work on the movie will resume as soon as Covid-19 restrictions in Australia are lifted.
Kaniehtiio Horn as Mari
As Mari, Kaniehtiio is a French and Wendat Nation woman who lives with Trepagny. She is suspicious that he is planning to marry off French Filles du Roi ('King's daughters') and takes matters into her own hands.
The actress is best known for her role in the television film 'Moccasin Flats: Redemption', for which she was nominated for a Gemini Award. In the same year, she also appeared in 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' alongside Brendan Fraser. She is also known for 'Leslie', 'My Name Is Evil', and 'The Wild Hunt', 'Letterkenny', and 'Hemlock Grove'.