Meet the Cast of 'Paradise:' Your Guide to the Stars and Characters in Season 2

Spoilers for the first three episodes of Paradise season 2 ahead. Hulu's must-watch TV series Paradise is a mind-bending political thriller—and it also happens to be a This Is Us reunion. Created by Dan Fogelman and executive-produced by Sterling K. Brown, the dystopian series stars the three-time Emmy winner as Xavier Collins, a Secret Service agent whose world is thrown into chaos when he finds President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) dead one morning. Xavier's investigation into Cal's death powers the twist-and-turn-filled series.

To fill out the show's world of political intrigue, Hulu has recruited a cast of beloved television stars, from a longtime heartthrob to a familiar face for Netflix fans. Now that the series returned for season 2 on February 23, here's what to know about the returning and new cast of Paradise.

Sterling K. Brown as Agent Xavier Collins

At the start of Paradise, Agent Xavier Collins is the head of security for President Cal Bradford and a devoted father to his children, Presley and James. Xavier and Cal have a complicated relationship, which puts a spotlight on the agent when he finds the president dead one morning.

Sterling K. Brown, 49, is an award-winning actor best known for starring in shows such as American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson, This Is Us, and Washington Black, as well as the films Black Panther, Waves, and Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. In 2024, he received an Oscar nomination for his role in the satirical comedy American Fiction. He also hosts the podcast "We Don't Always Agree" with his wife, Ryan Michelle Bathe.

Instagram: @sterlingkbrown

James Marsden as President Cal Bradford

President Cal Bradford is a charming politician who led the nation through a troubling time while hiding his estranged relationship with his wife and son. At the start of Paradise, he's mysteriously found dead, leaving Xavier to investigate the murder.

James Marsden, 52, is best known for starring in films such as the X-Men franchise, movie musicals like Hairspray and Enchanted, The Notebook, 27 Dresses, The Butler, and the Sonic the Hedgehog movies. On the TV side, he appeared in HBO's Westworld, Netflix's Dead to Me, and Prime Video's Jury Duty.

Instagram: @james_marsden

Julianne Nicholson as Samantha Redmond (a.k.a Sinatra)

Samantha Redmond, A.K.A. Sinatra, is a tech billionaire closely intertwined with Cal and the government. Ever since tragedy struck her family, she has been dedicated to her work. Though she's committed to saving humanity, it's often unclear whether her decisions are for the good of the people or herself.

Julianne Nicholson, 54, is an Emmy-winning stage and screen actress best known for appearing in shows like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Boardwalk Empire, Masters of Sex, Mare of Easttown, and Hacks. She also starred in the movies Tully, August: Osage County; I, Tonya, and Janet Planet.

Instagram: @juliannenicholsonofficial

Sarah Shahi as Dr. Gabriela Torabi

Dr. Gabriela Torabi is a therapist and close advisor to Sinatra, who has also become involved in the government.

Sarah Shahi, 46, was a former pageant queen and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader before the late director Robert Altman convinced her to try acting. She's best known for starring in the Netflix series Sex/Life, as well as her supporting roles on The L Word, Life, Fairly Legal, and City on a Hill. She also recently appeared in the movies Black Adam and Red, White, and Royal Blue.

Instagram: @sarahshahi

Jon Beavers as Billy Pace

Billy Pace is Xavier's most trusted subordinate and friend, who helps ensure the president's safety and well-being.

Jon Beavers, 42, began his acting career playing Twist on Nickelodeon's The Fresh Beat Band. Recently, he has appeared in the movies Licorice Pizza and Horizon: An American Saga - Chapters 1 & 2. He has also had supporting roles on the shows The Long Road Home, Animal Kingdom, Bel-Air, and Sugar.

Instagram: @jonnybeavs

Nicole Brydon Bloom as Jane Driscoll

Jane, another of Xavier's subordinates with a mysterious past, is played by Nicole Brydon Bloom, 31. The rising star made her acting debut in an episode of Showtime's The Affair, and she has since appeared on HBO's The Gilded Age and Hulu's We Were the Lucky Ones. In March 2025, she married fellow actor Justin Theroux; the pair is now expecting their first child.

Instagram: @n.brydonbloom

Krys Marshall as Agent Nicole Robinson

Xavier's boss is Agent Nicole Robinson, who has a special relationship with Cal. She's played by Krys Marshall, 37, who has appeared on dozens of shows, including One Day at a Time, This Is Us, Supergirl, Shameless, and Bad Monkey. She's best known for playing Danielle Poole on For All Mankind.

Instagram: @krysmarshall

Shailene Woodley as Annie Clay

Big Little Lies alum Shailene Woodley, 34, joins Paradise season 2 as Annie, a med school dropout who's a tour guide at Graceland on the day the world ends. Two years later, Annie's used to being alone, until a group of gate-crashers pops her post-apocalyptic bubble.

Emmy-nominee Woodley rose to fame starring on ABC Family's 2000s hit The Secret Life of the American Teenager, before appearing in major movies including The Descendants, The Fault in Our Stars, and the Divergent series. In 2024, she both starred in the Starz drama Three Women and made her Broadway debut in the revival of Cult of Love.

Instagram: @shailenewoodley

Thomas Doherty as Link

In the season 2 premiere, we also meet Link, the charming leader of a biker gang that has traveled around the country decommissioning nuclear plants. Though his tenure on Paradise so far has focused on his time at Graceland with Annie, the mysterious scientist also has deep, unknown ties to the bunker.

Thomas Doherty is a 30-year-old Scottish actor who began his career starring in Disney Channel projects like The Lodge and Descendants 2, before rising to fame as Max Wolfe on the Gossip Girl reboot. Most recently, he played Leo in the hit Hulu series Tell Me Lies and made his Off-Broadway debut as Seymour in the musical Little Shop of Horrors.

Instagram: @thomasadoherty

Enuka Okuma as Dr. Teri Rogers-Collins

At the start of Paradise, Xavier believes his beloved wife Teri is dead. After receiving proof that she's alive in the season 1 finale, he's set to spend season 2 searching for her.

Enuka Okuma, 49, is a prolific film and TV actress who's best known for her roles in Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, Rookie Blue, Impulse, and Workin' Moms. The Pitt fans may also recognize her from her appearance as Natalie Malone, the surrogate who gives birth in season 1, episode 11, "5:00 P.M."

Instagram: @enukaokumaofficial

Aliyah Mastin as Presley Collins

Xavier's teenage daughter, Presley, is played by Aliyah Mastin, a 20-year-old actress who got her start on Broadway with roles like Young Nala in The Lion King. In addition to Paradise, she has also appeared in an episode of And Just Like That....

Instagram: @aliyahmastin

Percy Daggs IV as James Collins

The younger Collins sibling, James, is played by Percy Daggs IV, who's best known for playing Pity in Apple TV's The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray. His other notable credits include starring alongside Halle Berry in the 2024 horror movie Never Let G, and voicing Oliver in the Prime Video series Undone.

The child actor is also from a Hollywood family; his father, Percy Daggs III, played Wallace Fennel in Veronica Mars.

Charlie Evans as Jeremy Bradford

Cal's teenage son, Jeremy, had a difficult relationship with his father before his death, and disagreed with the president's handling of the end of the world. In season 2, the headstrong teen leads a rebellion against the secretive leaders of the bunker.

Charlie Evans is an Australian actor and musician who may be a familiar face to Netflix fans. Before Paradise, he played Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke's son in the 2023 film adaptation of the disaster novel Leave the World Behind.

Instagram: @charliebluejay