The Aftersun cast features fresh, up-and-coming actors who greatly shot to fame due to its immense critical acclaim. With an impressive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where debut director Charlotte Wells was nominated for the Caméra d’Or. The lead actor, Paul Mescal, even received a nomination for Best Actor at the 2023 Oscars, and the movie was also nominated for four BAFTA awards. Aftersun‘s reviews called it poignant and powerful, praising the actors for their sensitive, nuanced performances as father and daughter.

The movie explores the childhood memory of Sophie while on vacation with Calum, her single father, at a resort in Turkey. Calum is not much older than Sophie in Aftersun – he is only 30 while she’s 11 – and their age gap is a pivotal aspect of their relationship. The actors therefore reflect this age gap, effectively portraying the characters’ vulnerabilities. The actor who plays Sophie debuted in the role and is bound to get much more work after this heartbreaking performance of a young girl who doesn’t know how depressed and lost her father is.

Paul Mescal as Calum

Date Of Birth: February 2, 1996

• Active Since: 2017

Actor: Born in County Kildare, Ireland, Paul Mescal first shot to fame with his role as Connell Waldron in the 2020 miniseries Normal People. He then acted in films like The Lost Daughter and God’s Creatures in 2021 and 2022 respectively, before his role in Aftersun. Since then, he has also starred in the 2023 drama All of Us Strangers opposite Andrew Scott. Next, he will be leading the Gladiator 2 cast alongside actors like Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.

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Character: Calum is a young and inexperienced father trying to bond with his 11-year-old daughter, Sophie, on vacation at a budget Turkish resort. Recently divorced, he is lost and confused, grappling with his own inner turmoil and a sense of melancholy while desperately trying to create joyful memories for his daughter and forge a relationship with her. Throughout Aftersun, Calum’s underlying sadness contrasts with his efforts to appear cheerful to Sophie. The Aftersun ending implies that Calum dies by suicide following the events depicted in the movie.

Frankie Corio as Sophie

Date Of Birth: July 7, 2010

• Active Since: 2022

Actor: Born in Livingston, West Lothian, Frankie Corio is a Scottish child actress who debuted in Aftersun, for which she earned several accolades, including nominations for a Critics Choice and British Independent Film Award. Corio was only 10 when she was cast in Aftersun, amid 800 other applicants. While the actor must have no doubt received several offers after this role, she will next star as Emily in The Bagman.

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Character: For most of Aftersun, Sophie is an inquisitive and perceptive 11-year-old girl who is on vacation with her father, Calum, at a Turkish resort. She is full of youthful innocence, but an emerging awareness, as she observes the world around her and begins to sense the complexities of her father’s emotional state, although she doesn’t fully comprehend them at all. Sophie’s experiences on this trip are portrayed through a series of vivid memories that she reflects on as an adult, seeking answers for her father’s fate shortly after the events shown in the movie.

Aftersun Supporting Cast & Characters

Celia Rowlson-Hall as Adult Sophie: Celia Rowlson-Hall is a multidisciplinary artist known for her 2015 independent film MA. In Aftersun, she plays the adult version of Sophie, who reflects on the memories of the vacation with her father and watches its home videos in search of answers to explain his subsequent suicide. She is now the same age that he was during the vacation, so she seeks to understand him better.

Sally Messham as Belinda: Belinda is one of the vacationers who interacts with Calum and Sophie on their trip. She is played by Sally Messham, who is recognized for her roles in Allied, Artemis Fowl, and The Miniaturist.

Brooklyn Toulson as Michael: Brooklyn Toulson is an emerging actor known mainly for playing Michael in Aftersun. Michael is a friend Sophie makes during her vacation with Calum. He displays kindness and curiosity towards her.