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 (opens in new tab), 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 (opens in new tab)—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.

1/10

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.

2/10

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.

3/10

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.

4/10

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.)

5/10

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 (opens in new tab)). 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.

6/10

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.

7/10

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.

8/10

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.

9/10

Katie Parker

Another Hill House alum, Parker was announced (opens in new tab) 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.

10/10

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 (opens in new tab) 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 Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle—from “Clueless” to Everlane to news about Lizzo. She’s been a freelancer for 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere. It’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.