The Candice Carty-Williams novel has been given the TV treatment, but who stars?
Released back in 2019, Candice Carty-Williams’s novel Queenie quickly garnered a loyal legion of fans when it was released, so it’s safe to say that many have been patiently waiting for the Channel 4 series for quite some time now.
Centring on titular character Queenie, played by Dionne Brown, a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman who isn’t served up life’s easiest plate of options when it comes to her adventures in love, life and everything in between.
Described as a “South London stalwart, journalist, loyal friend, not-so-loyal daughter and granddaughter, a sometimes catastrophist, an occasional mess, but more often than not an undervalued success,” we’re set to go on quite the journey with Queenie in the new eight-part series.
Led by Brown, the rest of the Queenie cast includes many a familiar face, including former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones), Tilly Keeper (You) and Samuel Adewunmi (You Don’t Know Me). But who else stars in the new drama? Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Queenie cast.
Queenie cast: Full list of characters and actors in Channel 4 drama
- Dionne Brown as Queenie
- Jon Pointing as Tom
- Samuel Adewunmi as Frank
- Bellah as Kyazike
- Sally Phillips as Gina
- Tilly Keeper as Darcy
- Elisha Applebaum as Cassandra
- Mim Shaikh as Adi
- Llewella Gideon as Grandma Veronica
- Joseph Marcell as Grandad Wilfred
- Michelle Greenidge as Aunty Maggie
- Cristale De’Abreu as Diana
- Joseph Ollman as Guy
- Laura Whitmore as Doctor Ellison
- Tom Forbes as Ted
- Melissa Johns as Janet
- Demmy Ladipo as Malachi
- Ayesha Antoine as Sylvie
Dionne Brown plays Queenie
Who is Queenie? Born and bred in South London, Queenie is a 25-year-old journalist whose life upends all at once. Her relationship, career, friendships and family issues come to the fore throughout the series as she must navigate the trials and tribulations of life.
Where have I seen Dionne Brown before? Queenie is the first sole leading role for Brown, with the actress having also starred in Apple TV+’s Criminal Record as DC Chloe Summers and ITV’s The Walk-In.
Jon Pointing plays Tom
Who is Tom? Tom is Queenie’s boyfriend and, despite being together for quite some time now, doesn’t ever seem to rise to the occasion when it comes to questioning his family members over their ignorant remarks about Queenie’s race.
Where have I seen Jon Pointing before? Pointing is best known for his role in comedies such as Channel 4’s Big Boys, Plebs and Smothered. He has also recently starred in BBC’s Agatha Christie adaptation of Murder Is Easy.
Samuel Adewunmi plays Frank
Who is Frank? A family member of Kyazike’s, Queenie’s best friend, Frank has known Queenie since they were in secondary school. Now, he’s got big plans for his life and career and is often a welcome ear when it comes to Queenie’s problems.
Where have I seen Samuel Adewunmi before? Adewunmi was nominated for a BAFTA for his starring role in BBC thriller You Don’t Know Me, which he starred in alongside Sophie Wilde. He has had major roles in Secret Invasion, Angela Black and The Watch, as well as having starred in Doctor Who.
Bellah plays Kyazike
Who is Kyazike? Kyazike is Queenie’s best friend, with the pair having met back at school. Now, she’s there whenever Queenie needs her and is always around to be her number one hype woman.
Where have I seen Bellah before? Known by her professional name of Bellah, Isobel Akpobire is a singer and songwriter who is making her acting debut in Queenie.
Sally Phillips plays Gina
Who is Gina? Gina is Queenie’s no-nonsense editor at The Daily Read.
Where have I seen Sally Phillips before? The comedian, actress and TV presenter is known for a number of notable roles over the years including in the Bridget Jones film franchise, Miranda, Green Wing and Jam & Jerusalem, to name a few.
Tilly Keeper plays Darcy
Who is Darcy? Darcy is one of Queenie’s colleagues at The Daily Read, working as a picture editor there. She’s nursing her own relationship problems but is always very keen to help Queenie out of whatever bad situation she’s in.
Where have I seen Tilly Keeper before? Best known for her role as Louise Mitchell in EastEnders, Keeper has more recently been seen on our screens in the fourth season of Netflix’s You.
Elisha Applebaum plays Cassandra
Who is Cassandra? Cassandra is one of Queenie’s slightly questionable friends from university and can be quite judgemental when it comes to Queenie’s personal life.
Where have I seen Elisha Applebaum before? Applebaum is best known for her roles in Netflix’s Fate: The Winx Saga as Musa, having also starred in films like No Reasons and Undercover Hooligan.
Mim Shaikh plays Adi
Who is Adi? Adi is a local guy who lives in Brixton and has been vocal about his crush on Queenie, despite having a wife.
Where have I seen Mim Shaikh before? A broadcaster, actor and spoken word poet, Shaikh is known for his self-presented and produced BBC Three documentary, Mim Shaikh: Finding Dad.
He has also appeared on Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul and Celebrity Masterchef but in terms of acting, has starred in King Gary, Informer and What’s Love Got To Do With It?.
Llewella Gideon plays Grandma Veronica
Who is Veronica? Queenie’s grandmother, Veronica has been an integral part of Queenie’s life and has brought her up in the absence of her mother.
Where have I seen Llewella Gideon before? Gideon is known for her roles in The Real McCoy, The Crouches and The Delivery Man. She has also most recently featured in Top Boy, EastEnders and Boarders.
Joseph Marcell plays Grandad Wilfred
Who is Wilfred? Queenie’s grandfather, Wilfred is usually found pottering about in his garden shed but worries deeply about Queenie.
Where have I seen Joseph Marcell before? Marcell is of course best known for his role as Geoffrey Butler in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air but has starred in numerous roles over the years. He has featured in Eastenders, The Sandman, Ratched and Mammoth.
Michelle Greenidge plays Aunty Maggie
Who is Maggie? Maggie is the sister of Queenie’s mother Sylvie but despite her sister not being around in Queenie’s childhood, Maggie has been a constant for the 25-year-old.
Where have I seen Michelle Greenidge before? Greenidge is known for her roles in After Life, Mandy and Code 404 but has also recently starred in Doctor Who as the adoptive mother of Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).
Cristale De’Abreu plays Diana
Who is Diana? Diana is the daughter of Maggie and is Queenie’s little cousin, regularly giving her older cousin a no-nonsense commentary on her life.
Where have I seen Cristale De’Abreu before? Known by many by her rap name of Cristale, the rising star has more recently turned her hand to acting, having recently appeared in Top Boy.
Tom Forbes plays Ted
Who is Ted? Ted works at The Daily Read and strikes up an intriguing relationship with Queenie in the midst of her break-up.
Where have I seen Tom Forbes before? Queenie isn’t the first Candice Carty-Williams production that Forbes has starred in, having also starred in the novelist’s first TV series, Champion. He has also had roles in Pistol, Knightfall and FBI: International.
Queenie is now available to stream on Channel 4, with the first episode premiering on Tuesday 4th June at 10pm.
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