Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Since the beginning, Black Mirror has been great at two things: delivering chilling social satire and casting brilliant actors. The names and faces you’re bound to see in any given episode range from stalwart stage and television favorites to up-and-coming stars of tomorrow.
Season Three of Black Mirror is upping the ante. In addition to giving us the same types of prestigious British actors as past seasons, Netflix has also cast some of the biggest names in film and TV. The result? Each episode of Black Mirror is now chockfull of faces you’ve seen before…even if you can’t always place their name.
Here’s your guide to the major players of Black Mirror season three, episode 6, “Hated In The Nation.” The episode was directed by James Hawes (Doctor Who, Mad Dogs) and was written by the series’ mastermind, Charlie Brooker.
[STREAM BLACK MIRROR, “HATED IN THE NATION“ ON NETFLIX]
Kelly Macdonald
Who They Are In Black Mirror: Kelly Macdonald plays DCI Karin Parke, a traditional-style detective roped into a crazy crime involving social media.
Where You Know Them From: If you don’t know who Kelly Macdonald is – shame on you! She’s been in some of the biggest films of all time, starting with her adolescent debut as a Scottish “Lolita” in Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting. Since then she’s appeared in everything from Boardwalk Empire to Brave (she voiced Merida), Gosford Park to No Country For Old Men. She’s even appeared in a Harry Potter film!
Faye Marsay
Who They Are In Black Mirror: Faye Marsay is Blue Coulson, a young trainee working as Karin’s “shadow” on the case. Blue came from cyber forensics and is a dab hand at all things tech.
Where You Know Them From: In the last few years, Faye Marsay has racked up quite the impressive CV. After appearing in Starz’s The White Queen as Anne Neville, she took on a series of showy TV guest star roles on My Mad Fat Diary, Doctor Who, and The Bletchley Circle. Of course, American audiences will know her best as “the Waif,” Arya Stark’s relentless nemesis in Seasons 5 and 6 of Game of Thrones.
Benedict Wong
Who They Are In Black Mirror: Benedict Wong plays NCA agent Shaun Li, a stern government investigator brought into the case.
Where You Know Them From: Netflix fanatics will recognize Benedict Wong for his work as the imperious Kubla Khan on Marco Polo, but the actor has a huge career behind (and ahead) of him. Wong first made a name for himself in the landmark British television thriller State of Play (which also starred Macdonald). Since then, he’s appeared in films such as Prometheus and The Martian. Next weekend, he’ll be co-starring opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton in Doctor Strange.
Joe Armstrong
Who They Are In Black Mirror: Joe Armstrong is Nick Shelton, another detective on the case, who makes a fatal mistake.
Where You Know Them From: Joe Armstrong has been a mainstay in British TV and theater for over a decade. Most notably, he’s appeared in the BBC’s swashbuckling take on Robin Hood, Land Girls, The Hollow Crown, and Happy Valley. His father is another familiar face on British TV: character actor Alun Armstrong. Be prepared to see the younger Armstrong break out in the next few years.
Ben Miles
Who They Are In Black Mirror: Ben Miles plays Chancellor Tom Pickering, an unpopular politician who gets roped into the mess.
Where You Know Them From: Ben Miles might be best known to American audiences for his work on the British comedy Coupling. The series was a massive hit in Britain and crossed the pond as a cult favorite. Miles has also appeared in Lark Rise to Candleford, Dracula, and The Woman in Gold. However, next week Netflix subscribers will see a brand new side of him when he plays Peter Townsend in the lush new Netflix Original The Crown. Who’s Peter Townsend? Well, he was a loyal servant of King George VI who went on to have a super scandalous extra-marital affair with Princess Margaret.
