The Goldfinch Movie Cast & Character Guide

The Goldfinch cast consists of top-tier actors and actresses – both young and old – who’ve attempted to bring a beloved novel to life on the big screen. John Crowley directed the big screen adaptation of Donna Tartt’s 2013 novel of the same name, which received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

The Goldfinch chronicles the life experiences of Theodore “Theo” Decker, from when he’s a kid to a young adult. As an adolescent, his mother passes away during a tragedy at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Meanwhile, young Theo deals with his alcoholic and temperamental father. The Goldfinch’s parallel storyline details Theo’s adult years as an art forger, and how the past affects his worldview and relationships with others. The Goldfinch was adapted by screenwriter Peter Straughan, who previously received an Academy Award nomination for adapting John le Carré’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

The Goldfinch premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and received mostly negative reviews. Given the popularity and prestige of the novel, the movie still tells a story worth telling – and The Goldfinch cast helped get that story in theaters.

Ansel Elgort & Oakes Fegley As Theodore “Theo” Decker

In The Goldfinch, Ansel Elgort and Oakes Fegley portray the older and younger versions of Theo Decker, respectively. Elgort has previously delivered acclaimed performances in The Fault in Our Stars, the Divergent movie franchise, and the 2017 Edgar Wright film Baby Driver. He’s the son of former Vogue photographer Arthur Elgort and opera stage director Grethe Barrett Holby. Elgort will portray Tony in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story 2020. Fegley is primarily known for having starred as Pete in Disney’s 2016 fantasy adventure film Pete’s Dragon.

Nicole Kidman As Samantha Barbour

In The Goldfinch, Nicole Kidman plays a socialite, Samantha Barbour, who welcomes Theo into her family. Samantha has three children named Kitsey, Andy, and Platt. Kidman recently starred in and produced HBO’s Big Little Lies. She emerged in American cinema upon costarring with Tom Cruise in the 1990 drama Days of Thunder. They famously starred together in Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut. During the 21st century, Kidman has delivered Oscar-nominated performances in Moulin Rouge!, Rabbit Hole, and Lion. She won the Best Actress Oscar for The Hours. In 2018, Kidman portrayed Queen Atlanna in the DCEU blockbuster Aquaman.

Finn Wolfhard & Aneurin Barnard As Boris Pavlikovsky

Finn Wolfhard and Aneurin Barnard portray the young and older versions of Theo’s close friend Boris, respectively, in The Goldfinch. Wolfhard is best known for starring as Mike Wheeler in Netflix’s Stranger Things, and for portraying Richie Tozier in IT Chapter One and IT Chapter Two. He co-stars in Jason Reitman’s upcoming film Ghostbusters 2020. As for Barnard, moviegoers may recognize him as the French soldier Gibson from Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. Over the past 10 years, Barnard has established himself as a versatile film, television, and stage performer.

Sarah Paulson As Xandra

Sarah Paulson plays Xandra – the girlfriend of Theo’s father, Larry, in The Goldfinch. On television, Paulson has delivered Emmy-nominated performances in several seasons of FX’s American Horror Story. She also won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for portraying Marcia Clark in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. On the big screen, Paulson recently starred in the films The Post, Ocean’s 8, Bird Box, and Glass. She’s also had roles in acclaimed films such as 12 Years a Slave, Carol, and Martha Marcy May Marlene.

Luke Wilson As Larry Decker

In The Goldfinch, Luke Wilson portrays Theo’s father, Larry. He’s separated from Theo’s mother, Audrey, and struggles with alcohol and gambling addiction. Wilson is mostly known for portraying easy-going and nice guy characters. For cinephiles, he’s best known as the long-time collaborator and friend of Wes Anderson, appearing in films like Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, and The Royal Tenenbaums. Wilson also headlined the main cast for the 2003 comedy classic Old School. He portrays Albuquerque in the 2019 sequel Zombieland: Double Tap.

Jeffrey Wright As James “Hobie” Hobart

Jeffrey Wright stars as Theo’s mentor in The Goldfinch, Hobie, and is also the legal guardian of Pippa. A prolific American actor, Wright currently portrays Bernard Lowe in HBO’s Westworld, for which he’s received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. In 2004, Wright won a Golden Globe Award for his performance in the HBO miniseries Angels in America. In the James Bond franchise, he portrays CIA operative Felix Leiter. Wright is part of the main cast for Steven Soderbergh’s 2019 film The Laundromat.

Ashleigh Cummings & Aimee Laurence As Pippa

Theo’s romantic obsession in The Goldfinch, Pippa, is portrayed by Australian actress Ashleigh Cummings and newcomer Aimee Laurence. Cummings stars as Vic McQueen in AMC’s NOS4A2, and previously starred in the hit indie feature Hounds of Love. Laurence is best known for portraying Summer Lane in Hulu’s The Path starring Aaron Paul.

Willa Fitzgerald As Kitsey Barbour

In The Goldfinch, Willa Fitzgerald portrays Theo’s fiancé, Kitsey, the daughter of Samantha Barbour. From 2013 to 2014, Fitzgerald starred as Lola Laffer in Amazon’s Alpha House. Since then, she’s primarily starred in television series, with notable roles as Emma Duval in MTV’’s Scream (now a VH1 series) and as Emma Miller in USA’s Royal Pains. Fitzgerald has a main role in Netflix’s Heartstrings, an upcoming anthology series about Dolly Parton’s career.

Denis O’Hare As Lucius Reeve

In The Goldfinch, Denis O’Hare portrays an art collector, Lucius Reeve, one of Theo’s primary threats. Like the aforementioned Paulson, O’Hare has delivered acclaimed performance in various installments of FX’s American Horror Story. On the big screen, he’s an accomplished character actor, and recently appeared in Netflix’s Private Life and Amazon’s Late Night. O’Hare co-stars with Anna Kendrick in the 2019 black comedy The Day Shall Come.

The Rest Of The Goldfinch’s Cast

Hailey Wist as Audrey Decker: As Theo’s mother and Larry’s wife, she’s at the heart of The Goldfinch‘s central tragedy, the incident incident that forever changes the lives of her loved ones. Hailey Wist has appeared in Netflix’s House of Cards and CBS’ Under the Dome. She portrays a librarian named Emily on AMC’s Lodge 49.

Boyd Gaines as Chance Barbour: He’s Samantha’s husband. Boyd Gaines starred as Coach Brackett in the 1981 comedic classic Porky’s. He also portrayed Fred in the American version of Michael Haneke’s Funny Games.

Peter Jacobson as Mr. Silver: A minor character named Mr. Silver is portrayed by American actor Peter Jacobson. He’s best known as Dr. Chris Taub from Fox’s House. Jacobson portrays Rabbi Jacob Kessner in AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead season 5.

Jack DiFalco & Luke Kleintank as Platt Barbour: The son of Samantha and Chance Barbour, this character bullies Theo as a child. Young Platt Barbour is played by Jack DiFalco, who has previously appeared in Netflix’s The OA and Daredevil. Luke Kleintank portrays the older version of Platt Barbour. He stars as Joe Blake in Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle.

Ryan Foust as Andy Barbour: Another Barbour son, he’s one of Theo’s childhood friends. Ryan Foust played Braden Bradshaw in one episode of Netflix’s Tales of the City season 1.

Robert Joy as Welton “Welty” Blackwell: Hobie’s business partner is part of the museum tragedy, and gives an important gift to Theo. Robert Joy starred as Sid Hammerback in CBS’ CSI: NY. He’s also appeared in horror movies such as Land of the Dead and The Hills Have Eyes.