‘The Undoing’: Meet Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Matilda De Angelis and rest of the cast in David E Kelly's HBO show
Who doesn't love a whodunnit? HBO's ‘The Undoing’ opens a vault of secrets in its premiere episode. From ‘Big Little Lies’ writer David E Kelley and director Susanne Bier, the new limited series focuses on Nicole Kidman’s Grace Fraser — a successful therapist, her devoted husband, Jonathan — played by Hugh Grant, and their young son Henry, who attends an elite private Reardon School in New York City.
A chasm opens in Grace's seemingly perfect life: a violent death, a missing spouse and a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster and horrified by the ways in which she has failed to heed her own advice, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child and her family.
Not just Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, the series stars several other stellar actors including Donald Sutherland, Matilda De Angelis and Édgar Ramírez. Here's a glance at the full list of performers from the thriller and read a little about their characters and careers.
Nicole Kidman
Grace Fraser
One of the 100 most influential people in the world, Nicole Kidman can steal hearts with just a smile. Not just the Tom Cruise romance or Keith Urban love story, she is known for her brilliant performances in films like ‘Batman Forever’ (1995), ‘To Die For’ (1995), ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ (1999), ‘The Hours’ (2002) and ‘Lion’ (2016). An Oscar winner, the Australian actress born on 20 June 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and has also starred in HBO's ‘Big Little Lies’ created by Kelley.
What's her role in ‘The Undoing’? A respected and connected therapist in New York City, Grace has a picture-perfect life. She’s married to Dr Jonathan Fraser, and the two have a gifted son, Henry.
Hugh Grant
Dr Jonathan Fraser
Born on September 9, 1960, in London, Hugh Grant made a name with films like ‘The Remains of the Day’ (1993) and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ (1995) and as a romantic lead in classics like Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funera,l but soon shifted towards darker characters. He is best known for his performances in ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ (2016) and the BBC miniseries ‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018). Most recently, he was seen in ‘The Gentlemen’ (2019).
What does he play in ‘The Undoing’? Dr Jonathan Fraser is a well-known oncologist, active in the high society of New York City with his wife, Grace. Together, the two have a son, Henry.
Noah Jupe
Henry Fraser
Wondering where you've seen him? Born to filmmaker Chris Jupe and actress Katy Cavanagh, the teen actor also starred in ‘The Night Manager’ (2016), ‘Wonder’ (2017), the horror film ‘A Quiet Place’ (2018). In 2019, Jupe starred in ‘Honey Boy’ opposite Shia LaBeouf.
What's his role in ‘The Undoing’? The son of Grace and Jonathan Fraser, Henry attends a prestigious New York City private school.
Donald Sutherland
Franklin Reinhart
With a career spanning over 56 years, Oscar-winning actor Donald Sutherland is best remembered for his performances in films like ‘M*A*S*H’ (1970), ‘The Italian Job’ (2003), ‘Cold Mountain’ (2003), ‘Pride & Prejudice’ (2005), ‘Aurora Borealis’ (2006) and ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise (2012–2015).
What's his role in ‘The Undoing’? Franklin, a wealthy New Yorker, is Grace’s father. He’s fiercely protective of his daughter and grandson, Henry.
Matilda De Angelis
Elena Alves
An Italian actress and singer, Matilda De Angelis has been previously seen in the films ‘Italian Race’ and ‘The Prize’. What's her character in ‘The Undoing’? A young mom of two, Elena is an artist who comes into Grace’s circle while planning a fundraiser for the prestigious school their sons attend.
Of her role, Matilda told Thrillist, “My first impression of her was that she's really really lonely,” adding, “That loneliness is in everything she does. And so when she's also really provocative, there's always this sexual tension between her and everyone basically, it's more interesting and it makes you feel, in a way, sorry for her. I had the feeling that she's kind of unaware of that. It's like some sort of shield and mask that she has all the time.”
Ismael Cruz Córdova
Fernando Alves
A Puerto Rican television, stage and film actor, Ismael Cruz Córdova turned heads with his role as Mando on ‘Sesame Street’. Did you know he also played pivotal roles in TV shows like ‘Ray Donovan’ and the third season of ‘Berlin Station’? Interestingly, the 33-year-old actor has also been cast in an undisclosed role in ‘The Lord of the Rings on Amazon Prime’.
What's his role in ‘The Undoing’? Fernando is Elena’s husband and a dedicated father.
Édgar Ramírez
Detective Joe Mendoza
You may remember him as Carlos the Jackal in the 2010 French-German biopic series ‘Carlos’. Édgar Ramírez was born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela and he recently clinched many nominations for his portrayal of Gianni Versace in the 2018 miniseries ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’.
What's his role in ‘The Undoing’? A member of the NYPD, Mendoza is a man of principle and methodical detective.
Lily Rabe
Sylvia Steineitz
‘American Horror Story’, ‘The Whispers’ and ‘The Merchant of Venice’ — Lily Rabe has portrayed pivotal roles in several TV shows and films before starring in the HBO miniseries. Born on June 29, 1982, she is the daughter of playwright David Rabe and actress Jill Clayburgh.
What's her role in ‘The Undoing’? Syliva, a successful lawyer and no-nonsense mother, is a close friend of Grace.
Noma Dumezweni
Haley Fitzgerald
The British actress not only won an Olivier Award for her role in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ but played Hermione Granger in the original West End and Broadway runs of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’! Born in Swaziland to South African parents, Noma Dumezweni was dubbed as an actress who consistently “engages and enthralls”.
What's her role in ‘The Undoing’? A high-powered defense attorney, Hayley doesn’t let her skepticism get in the way of her job.
Sofie Gråbøl
Catherine Stamper
Danish actress Sofie Gråbøl got her first breakthrough role in ‘Early Spring’ when she was 17. In Denmark, Gråbøl is popular for her emotional characters, but she achieved international fame as a detective — the cool and distant lead character Inspector Sarah Lund in all three series of ‘The Killing’.
What's his role in ‘The Undoing’? The chief prosecutor Catherine Stamper is a strong-willed woman and will make an appearance in the third episode.
When does it air?
The thrilling six-episode series premiered on HBO on October 25, 2020, and more episodes will air every Sunday from 9 pm ET to 10 pm ET. The star-studded show is also being telecast on Sky Atlantic in the UK at 9 pm BST.