The Apple TV+ spy series “Slow Horses“ has become a hit by mixing thrilling stories with a cast full of famous faces. The show follows a team of MI5 agents who have messed up their careers and been sent to a dead-end department called Slough House. While the plot is exciting, a big reason people love the show is its incredible cast. Many of these actors are award-winning stars you’ve definitely seen in major movies and shows before. From Oscar winners to beloved character actors, this guide explores where you’ve seen the stars of “Slow Horses” and highlights their most famous roles.
Jackson Lamb: Gary Oldman’s Iconic Career
At the center of “Slow Horses” is Gary Oldman, who plays the rude, messy, but brilliant spymaster Jackson Lamb. This role is Oldman’s first major lead in a television series. Oldman is known for completely changing himself for every part, making him one of the most respected actors of his generation.
Long before leading Slough House, Oldman gave some of modern cinema’s most memorable performances. He starred as the noble Commissioner Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, playing one of the few honest cops in Gotham City. On the flip side, he is also famous for playing terrifying villains. In the classic action film Lรฉon: The Professional, he played the corrupt, drug-addicted cop Norman Stansfield, a role known for its wild intensity. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his transformative role as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.
The Ambitious Diana Taverner: Kristin Scott Thomas
In the corridors of power at MI5 headquarters, you’ll find Diana Taverner, played by Kristin Scott Thomas. She is a calculating, high-ranking official always working to increase her own influence. Scott Thomas brings a cool, commanding presence to the role, a skill honed over a long career in prestigious projects.
One of her most celebrated performances was in the romantic war drama The English Patient. Her role as Katharine Clifton, a woman trapped in a passionate affair during World War II, earned Scott Thomas her first Academy Award nomination. She has also appeared in other major films like The Horse Whisperer and Gosford Park, establishing herself as a master of both period and contemporary drama.
River Cartwright’s Grandfather: Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright
Jonathan Pryce plays David Cartwright, the retired former head of MI5 and grandfather to agent River Cartwright. Pryce brings immense gravity and a sense of hidden history to the role. A legendary Welsh actor, Pryce has an incredibly varied career on stage and screen.
Many viewers might instantly recognize him as the villain Elliot Carver, a media mogul trying to start a world war, in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies opposite Pierce Brosnan. He earned an Academy Award nomination for playing Pope Francis in The Two Popes. Fans of epic fantasy will also know him as the High Sparrow in the hit series Game of Thrones, a role that made him a symbol of manipulative religious power. His career began with a breakthrough role in Terry Gilliam’s cult classic film Brazil.
The Supporting Cast: Where You Know the Slow Horses
The talented actors playing the disgraced agents of Slough House and their associates also have impressive resumes.
Jack Lowden, who plays the promising but exiled agent River Cartwright, starred in Christopher Nolan’s war film Dunkirk as a fighter pilot. Saskia Reeves, who plays the recovering alcoholic and office administrator Catherine Standish, appeared in the acclaimed British crime series Luther alongside Idris Elba.
Olivia Cooke, who played agent Sid Baker in the first season, had a major role in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. She is also known to fantasy fans for playing Alicent Hightower in the Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon.
The show’s sharp humor is often delivered by actors with strong comedy backgrounds. Paul Higgins, who plays the oddly cheerful Struan Loy, was part of the acclaimed and brutally funny British political satire The Thick of It. Freddie Fox, who plays the smug MI5 agent James “Spider” Webb, was part of the ensemble for the heartfelt comedy-drama Pride.
Also Read:
New and Returning Faces in Later Seasons
As “Slow Horses” continues with new seasons, even more famous actors join the story. Hugo Weaving, known globally as Agent Smith in The Matrix and Elrond in The Lord of the Rings, joined the cast in later seasons. The series also features Sophie Okonedo and Katherine Waterston in significant guest roles.
The show has been such a success for Apple TV+ that it has already been renewed for future seasons, promising more thrilling missions for Jackson Lamb’s team. With a cast this deep, part of the fun is not only following the spy plot but also spotting the incredible talent in every scene.
Also Read: Hudson Williams Opens Up: From Restaurants to Rivalry, the Unlikely Path to a Breakout Role
