Warning: SPOILERS for Netflix’s Dracula.
Netflix’s Dracula sees the legendary vampire returning in a new adaptation from Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss, the masterminds behind Sherlock. While this updated version of Dracula retains its period setting of 1897 Transylvania and England, Moffat and Gatiss intriguingly take the core elements of Bram Stoker’s classic novel and explore intriguing new directions with the bloodsucking Count and his supporting cast.
Like Sherlock, Netflix’s Dracula is structured as three 90-minute episodes which first aired on BBC One in the UK. Similar to Stoker’s novel, it begins with Jonathan Harker, a British solicitor, traveling to Dracula’s castle in Transylvania and becoming his prisoner. However, Moffat and Gatiss make a crucial and pivotal change by making Dracula himself the lead character, as opposed to a shadowy antagonist, and they shed new light on the vampire king’s legend, methods, powers, and his vulnerabilities. While most of the characters from Stoker’s novel appear, with some altered for this new story, Dracula also invents fascinating new characters that cross paths with the charming and ruthless Count.
Netflix’s Dracula boasts an accomplished cast of British and European actors, some of whom will be familiar to American audiences. Here’s who brings this newest version of the greatest of all vampire tales to life in Dracula season 1’s three chapters.
Dracula Episode 1 - “The Rules of the Beast”
Claes Bang as Count Dracula: The titular vampire is the “hero” of this adaptation of the classic story. Bang is a Danish actor who appeared in The Bridge and The Girl In The Spider’s Web.
John Heffernan as Jonathan Harker: The English solicitor finds himself as Dracula’s prisoner in Transylvania. Heffernan has appeared in The Crown, Collateral, and Dickensian.
Dolly Wells as Sister Agatha Van Helsing: A most unusual nun, Agatha suffers from a loss of faith in God but she becomes Dracula’s nemesis in life as well as in death. Wells has appeared in Bridget Jones’ Baby and Blunt Talk.
Morfydd Clark as Mina Murray: Mina is Harker’s fiancee whom he desperately wishes to return to. Clark is a Welsh actor who appeared in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and The Alienist.
Joanna Scanlan as Mother Superior: Scanlan runs a Hungarian convent and has issues with Sister Agatha’s methods. Scanlan appeared in Girl With a Pearl Earring and Notes on a Scandal.
Lujza Richter as Elena: One of Dracula’s brides, Elena meets Harker in the Count’s castle. Richter starred in Phantom Thread.
Dracula Episode 2 - “Blood Vessel”
Dolly Wells as Sister Agatha Van Helsing. Agatha survived her encounter with Dracula in Hungary and finds herself facing the Count once more aboard the Demeter.
Jonathan Aris as Captain Sokolov: The captain of the Demeter, Sokolov has secrets of his own when he’s commissioned by a mysterious benefactor. Aris has appeared in Sherlock, The Night Manager, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Sacha Dhawan as Dr. Sharma: Sharma is a passenger aboard the Demeter with a young daughter and shady past as a disgraced physician. Dhawan starred in Being Human and Marvel’s Iron Fist.
Patrick Walshe McBride as Lord Ruthven. Ruthven is an ambitious English lord who books passage on the Demeter to the New World along with his young bride. McBride appeared in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators and Lake of Death.
Lily Dodsworth-Evans as Lady Dorabella Ruthven. The new Lady Ruthven, Dorabella is hoping for a fresh start in the New World -until she meets Dracula. Dodsworth-Evans starred in The Good Liar and Poldark.
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Adisa. Posing as Lord Ruthven’s valet, Adisa is filled with jealousy and resentment at everyone Ruthven meets, especially Dorabella. Stewart-Jarrett starred in Misfits and Utopia.
Catherine Schnell as Grand Duchess Valeria. Valeria is a former Russian aristocrat looking for new fortune in England who also shares a past connection with Dracula. Schnell was a Bond Girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Youssef Kerkour as Olgaren. The one-handed cook aboard the Demeter, Olgaren only lets his friends call him by his first name. Kerkour is a Morrocan actor who has appeared in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Nightflyers.
Clive Russell as Valentin. The aged sailor distrusts women aboard the Demeter and harbors numerous superstitions. Russell is a British actor best known as the Blackfish on Game of Thrones.
Samuel Blenkin as Piotr. The young ship’s mate aboard the Demeter has a horrific first time at sea. Blenken appeared in Peaky Blinders and Pennyworth.
Dracula Episode 3 - “The Dark Compass”
Dolly Wells as Dr. Zoe Helsing. The descendant of Sister Agatha Van Helsing, Zoe runs the Jonathan Harker Foundation and her life’s work is understanding Dracula but little did she ever dream that the Count would appear in 2020.
Mark Gatiss as Frank Renfield. Dracula’s attorney in present-day London, Renfield becomes his Dark Lord’s willing disciple. Gatiss is co-creator of Sherlock and Dracula and he also starred as the head of the Iron Bank in Game of Thrones.
Lydia West as Lucy Westenra AKA the Bloofer Lady. Lucy is a beautiful and rich party girl who is secretly fascinated by death and becomes Dracula’s modern-day bride, known as the Bloofer (“Beautiful”) Lady. West starred in Years and Years.
Lyndsey Marshall as Bloxham. Marshall is an operative of the Jonathan Harker Foundation who uncovers Dracula’s watery grave and pays the price. Marshall is best known as Cleopatra in HBO’s Rome and she starred in Hanna and Midsomer Murders.
Chanel Cresswell as Kathleen. Kathleen is the first woman Dracula visits at her home in 2020 after the vampire murders her husband. Cresswell won a BAFTA for her role in This Is England and she appeared in Vera and Silent Witness.
Matthew Beard as Jack Seward. Seward is a young doctor in love with Lucy who volunteered to join the Jonathan Harker Foundation, which places him squarely in Dracula’s sights. Beard has appeared in Imitation Game and An Education.
Phil Dunster as Quincey Morris. Quincey is a wealthy American who becomes engaged to Lucy. Dunster appeared in Murder on the Orient Express and The Good Liar.
Next: Netflix’s Dracula: Everything We Know About The Series From The Trailer
