The cast of Netflix’s miniseries One Day includes talented upcoming actors, with a few big-name actors in the mix. Adapted from the eponymous novel by David Nicholls, One Day is one of the many books getting adaptations in 2024. The story follows Dexter and Emma, two British students at the University of Edinburgh who spend a great day together – July 15th – the day before graduating and moving on with their lives. The series explores their futures over the next 20 years, using the date of their meeting as an anchor point.
While Anne Hathaway’s previous movie adaptation of this novel flopped, Netflix’s One Day received rave reviews, going over well with critics and audience members alike. Every part of this romantic TV miniseries pulls at the heartstrings. The primary reason the show is so beloved is because of the incredible performances of the actors. The One Day cast includes primarily new and upcoming young actors, adding in a few well-known names to fill the parent roles.
Ambika Mod As Emma
Actor: Ambika Mod is very new to the acting profession and was cast in her first role in 2018, playing Izzy in the short film Fair Bnb. She got her big break playing Shruti in AMC’s biographical dramedy This Is Going To Hurt. Mod acted in many one-off TV roles and shorts. One Day is her most prominent acting role thus far.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: Doctor Who: Redacted (2022), It Hate Suzie (2022), and This Is Going to Hurt (2022)
Character: In One Day, Ambika Mod plays Emma Morley. Emma attends the University of Edinburgh and dreams of changing the world with her writing and art. After graduating and moving to London, she realizes that life doesn’t quite work the way she believed. Despite her hopes, she finds herself working at a Tex-Mex restaurant to pay the bills.
Leo Woodall As Dexter
Actor: Relatively new to the acting business, Leo Woodall was born in London, England, and got his first role in 2019, playing Lei in the short film Man Down. He got his big break in 2022 playing The White Lotus. One Day is his biggest project yet.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: Cherry (2021), Vampire Academy (2022), The White Lotus (2022), and Citadel (2023)
Character: Throughout One Day, Leo Woodall plays Dexter Mayhew. Dexter is a deeply privileged, wealthy young man who attends the University of Edinburgh. He readily shows his opulence by drinking and traveling on a whim. After graduating, Dexter finds himself in an unexpectedly stable relationship and career. However, he refuses to become more mature.
Amber Grappy As Tilly
Actor: Amber Grappy is an extremely new actress, with One Day only appearing in three TV shows previously. However, she got her big break with her first role playing Bobbi in the horror comedy TV show The Baby. Since then, Grappy has played a main character in every role.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: The Baby (2022), Wreck (2022), and Smothered (2003)
Character: Tilly is Emma’s vivacious college classmate and best friend. Emma lives with Tilly in London, and the best friends help balance each other out. Tilly’s optimism helps keep Emma motivated even when her writing aspirations don’t pan out.
Joss Weldon As Ian
Actor: Joss Weldon got his first acting role in 2008, playing Lee Gunn in the crime drama The Bill. In 2021, Weldon got his big break playing Jonny in The Holden Girls: Mandy & Myrtle. Since then, he’s performed on multiple TV shows.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: The Holden Girls: Mandy & Myrtle (2021), House of the Dragon (2022), The People We Hate at the Wedding (2022), Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators (2022), and Christmas on Mistletoe Farm (2022)
Character: Ian is a socially awkward aspiring comedian who bonds with Emma when she works as a waitress. The two bounce between friendship and romance over the years but consistently support one another.
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Brendan Quinn As Callum
Actor: Brendan Quinn’s first role was as Uncle Brendan in the children’s TV show The Basil Brush Show in 2007. He didn’t perform again until 2014, when he played Cathal in The Old Irish WasherWoman. He got his big break with his uncredited role of Harkin in Death and Nightingales, one of the performances for which he’s best known.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: Death and Nightingales (2018), Soft Border Patrol (2020), and Rough (2020)
Character: Callum is Dexter’s close friend and classmate at the University of Edinburgh. While the pair initially have a strong bond, they grow apart over time because Callum wants a serious life with a good career, while Dexter refuses to grow up.
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Eleanor Tomlinson As Sylvie
Actor: Eleanor Tomlinson was born in London, England, and got her first acting role in 2005 as Little Daphne in the TV movie Falling. She got her big break in 2008 when playing Jas in Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging. She’s gone on to perform in multiple big-name Hollywood films while also appearing as a series regular on Poldark from 2015 to 2019.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging (2008), Alice in Wonderland (2010), Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), The White Queen (2013), Poldark (2015-2019), and The Outlaws (2021-2022)
Character: Sylvie is one of Dexter’s many long-term girlfriends, and she eventually becomes his wife. The pair have a child together, and Sylvie is highly dedicated to their relationship, even if Dexter questions their life together.
One Day Supporting Cast & Characters
Time McIrnnery as Stephen: In One Day, Tim McInnerny plays Stephen Mayhew – Dexter’s emotionally estranged father. McInnerny was born in Cheshire, England, and got his first screen acting role in 1980 as Technician in the TV show For Maddie With Love. Since then, McInnerny has gone on to become a famous actor with over 120 acting credits. He’s best known for acting in Notting Hill, Severance, Game of Thrones, and Peterloo.
Essie Davis as Alison: Essie Davis plays Dexter’s mother, Alison, in four episodes of One Day. Davis is an Australian actress who started acting in 1993. Her first role was Jilly in the drama movie The Custodian. She got her big break playing Wendy in the comedy movie River Street. Davis is best known for acting in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Babadook, Assassin’s Creed, Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears, and True History of the Kelly Gang.
Joely Richardson as Helen Cope: Actress Joely Richardson plays Helen Cope, Dexter’s disapproving mother-in-law, in One Day. Richardson was born in London, England. She got her first role in 1968 as an uncredited role in The Charge of the Light Brigade and got her big break in 1992 playing Rhiannon in Rebecca’s Daughters. Richardson is best known for acting in Nip/Tuck, The Patriot, Maggie, and Thanks for Sharing.
Toby Stephens as Lionel Cope: Actor Toby Stephens plays Dexter’s father-in-law in One Day. Stephens was born in London, England, and had an extensive stage acting career before starting screen acting, even working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He made his screen debut and got his big break playing Othello in the 1992 film Orlando. He’s best known on screen for acting in Die Another Day, The Machine, Hunter Killer, and 13 Hours.
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Rebekah Murrell as Suki: In One Day, Rebekah Murrell plays Suki Meadows, one of Dexter’s coworkers. Murrell was born in the United Kingdom and got her big break in 2007 with her first role, playing Nubia in the fantasy TV show Roman Mysteries. She’s best known for acting in In My Skin, Pirates, The Pact, and Stationary.
Mark Rowley as Mr. Godalming: During One Day, Mark Rowley plays Mr. Godalming, the headmaster at the school where Emma is a teacher. Rowley was born in Paisley, Scotland, and got his first professional acting role in 2011, playing Josh Fairlie in Case Histories. He got his big break playing Macbeth in the eponymous 2018 Shakespeare adaptation. Rowley is best known for playing Finan in the cast of Netflix’s The Last Kingdom and The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die.
One Day (2024)
- Release Date
- February 8, 2024
- Cast
- Leo Woodall , Ambika Mod , Amber Grappy , Tim McInnerny , Jonny Weldon
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator(s)
- Nicole Taylor , David Nicholls
- Writers
- David Nicholls
- Directors
- Molly Manners
- Where To Watch
- Netflix
