The Cast of 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' Features a Bunch of Familiar Faces

(Image credit: Netflix)

published 9 October 2020

If you loved Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House, the breakout 2018 hit about the Crain family, do we have a treat for you: The Haunting of Bly Manor, the second in Netflix's The Haunting... anthology series, dropped on Netflix in the early hours of October 9. Like its predecessor, Bly Manor is based on a book—this time, the source material is The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, along with other James short stories—and it also features much of the standout cast from Hill House, including Victoria Pedretti, Henry Thomas, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. But don't think of it as a sequel—this is a very different kind of story. It follows Pedretti as Dani, the American nanny who's hired to take care of two children, Flora and Miles, in a Gothic manor in the middle of the countryside. Things start to get spooky, to say the least. Ahead, our guide to the cast and characters (without spoilers!) of Bly Manor. Some you'll recognize, some you won't—but by the second episode, you'll have forgotten all about Hill House, and be firmly embedded in this chilling new ghost story.

Victoria Pedretti as Dani Clayton

In a 180-degree turn from the miserable daughter Nell in Hill House, Pedretti plays the sweet and optimistic governess/nanny who, per James' original story, comes to take care of two...let's call them unusual children. It'll be a more cheerful, though perhaps still unlucky character for Pedretti, who's also terrific in Netflix's You.

Henry Thomas as Henry Wingrave

Thomas, who played the tortured family patriarch in the first season, returns as Henry Wingrave, the children's estranged uncle who'd rather stay away from the house if humanly possible. Thomas is, of course, probably most known for his role as Elliott in E.T. but has acted a lot since then, including in the recent Stephen King adaptation Doctor Sleep.

Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Peter Quint

In another role lifted from the book, Cohen will play Peter Quint. No spoilers, but let's just say he's villainous—quite a change from the vulnerable addict Luke that Jackson-Cohen plays in season one. But he's no stranger to scarier roles. Just look at his character in The Invisible Man, and you'll know Jackson-Cohen is up for the challenge.

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Miles

A proper telling of James' story relies on properly creepy children, and boy does this deliver, by the looks of it. Per the novel, Miles is the more unpredictable and violent of the two children. Newcomer Ainsworth has a few acting credits, but this is his first major role. He basically already looks like Damien from The Omen, so I'd say he's nailing it. (Pedretti's there in the background, too.)

Tahirah Sharif as Rebecca Jessel and Amelie Smith as Flora

Flora (on the right) is the sweeter, more cheerful of the two children—but she, too, can get creepy (just watch the trailer). Smith, who's new to the series, has had roles in Peppa Pig and EastEnders. Sharif is also new to the Haunting family in a role from the book, but no spoilers, just in case you haven't read. She's previously had roles in A Christmas Prince, Waterloo Road, and Casualty.

Amelia Eve as Jamie

Jamie is the manor's groundskeeper, and is a "self-confident skeptic" who doesn't necessarily feel affected by what's going on in the house. Eve's new to the show; She also acted in the comedy Enterprice, so this will be a much more subdued role for her.

T'Nia Miller as Hannah Grose

Newcomer Miller plays book character Mrs. Grose, Bly Manor's manager and someone who might know more about the house than she's letting on. Seen here with the two children, Miller's no stranger to creepy sci-fi, having played a role in Doctor Who, and she's also appeared in Years and Years and Sex Education.

Rahul Kohli as Owen

Kohli's Owen is Bly Manor's chef, and, like the groundskeeper, seems oddly untouched by the house's power. You may recognize Kohli from Supergirl or iZombie, but he's also new to the series and looks appropriately befuddled by all the supernatural craziness.

Katie Parker

Another Hill House alum, Parker was announced as joining the second season in...a role TBD. Don't recognize her? She's Poppy Hill, one of the scarier Hill House residents (shudder). You may also have seen her in Halt and Catch Fire or Masters of Sex.

Kate Siegel

There's actually one more familiar face you'll see in season two: Kate Siegel, whose role is also still unknown at this point. Fun fact: Seigel is married to showrunner Flanagan, who announced the casting news on Twitter: "The Haunting wouldn't be The Haunting without fan favorite Kate Siegel," he explained. She played psychic, haunted sister Theo in season one.

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.