The show Big Little Lies took television by storm in 2017, turning the beautiful, sun-drenched streets of Monterey, California, into a setting for secrets, lies, and murder. The story is about five very different women whose lives become tangled in a tragic event. While the plot hooks you, it is the actors and the characters they play that make the show unforgettable. From powerful business leaders to quiet single mothers, each character brought a unique story to the screen. Here is a look at the main cast and the complex characters they brought to life in the first season.
The Core Friend Group: Madeline, Celeste, and Jane
At the center of the show are three women who form an unlikely but strong friendship. Each is dealing with a personal crisis that they try to hide from their perfect-looking world.
Reese Witherspoon plays Madeline Mackenzie. Madeline is a force of nature in her community. She is funny, sharp-tongued, and loves to hold a grudge. She is married to her second husband, Ed Mackenzie, played by Adam Scott, and they have a young daughter, Chloe. However, Madeline’s life is not as settled as it seems. She is constantly annoyed by her ex-husband, Nathan, and his new, calmer wife, Bonnie. She also starts a secret relationship with a local theater director, which threatens her stable family life. Witherspoon captures Madeline’s energy perfectly, showing both her confident public face and her private fears.
Nicole Kidman takes on the role of Celeste Wright. On the surface, Celeste has a dream life: she is a former lawyer, lives in a stunning cliffside home, and is married to the handsome and wealthy Perry Wright, played by Alexander Skarsgård. They are parents to twin boys. But behind closed doors, Celeste is a victim of severe physical and emotional abuse from Perry. Kidman’s performance shows Celeste’s painful conflict—the love for her husband mixed with terror of his violence. Her journey to find the strength to leave is one of the season’s most powerful stories.
The third friend is Jane Chapman, played by Shailene Woodley. Jane is a young single mother who has just moved to Monterey for a fresh start with her son, Ziggy. She is quieter and more reserved than Madeline and Celeste. Jane carries a deep trauma from being raped years earlier, a man whose identity she does not know. Her search for peace and safety is complicated when her son is wrongly accused of hurting a classmate, making her an outsider in the judgmental town.
The Outsiders Who Complete the Picture: Renata and Bonnie
While Madeline, Celeste, and Jane form a close trio, two other women are key to the story’s drama and the central mystery.
Laura Dern plays Renata Klein, a successful and fiercely ambitious businesswoman. She is the mother of Amabella, the little girl who accuses Jane’s son of hurting her. Renata is used to being in control and getting what she wants. She reacts to the school incident with a mother’s protective fury, instantly seeing Jane as an enemy. Dern’s portrayal makes Renata more than just a villain; she is a passionate, if sometimes misguided, mother under immense pressure. The actress herself said of the role:
“She’s truly endless bliss for an actor… she still shocks and surprises you. That’s the greatest experience you can have as an actor.”
The fifth woman is Bonnie Carlson, played by Zoë Kravitz. Bonnie is the yoga instructor who married Madeline’s ex-husband, Nathan Carlson. She represents a more spiritual, peaceful way of life, which often clashes with Madeline’s high-drama personality. Initially, Bonnie stays out of the main gossip and conflicts of the other mothers. However, by the end of the season, she becomes the most important person in the story. During a chaotic struggle, it is Bonnie who pushes the abusive Perry Wright down a set of stairs, killing him. This act of defense bonds her forever to the other four women.
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The Husbands and Partners: The Men in Their Lives
The lives of the five women are deeply affected by the men around them, whose actions drive much of the plot’s tension.
Alexander Skarsgård plays Perry Wright, Celeste’s husband. While he appears charming and successful in public, Perry is a deeply violent and controlling man at home. His abuse of Celeste forms the emotional core of the season’s darkest storyline. Skarsgård’s performance is chilling because he shows how easily Perry switches between a loving father and a monstrous abuser.
Adam Scott portrays Ed Mackenzie, Madeline’s loyal and kind-hearted husband. Ed represents stability and tries to be a good stepfather to Madeline’s teenage daughter, Abigail. His world is shattered when he later discovers Madeline’s infidelity, a storyline that develops further in the second season.
Other key husbands include James Tupper as Nathan Carlson, Madeline’s ex-husband, and Jeffrey Nordling as Gordon Klein, Renata’s wealthy husband whose poor business decisions cause major problems for their family.
The Impact and Legacy of the First Season
When Big Little Lies first aired on HBO in February 2017, it was an instant success. Critics and audiences praised it for being both a thrilling mystery and a sharp look at marriage, parenting, and the secrets people keep. The show was originally planned as a one-season limited series, but its popularity led to a second season.
A major reason for its success was the incredible performances of its lead actors. The show won many awards, highlighting the cast’s skill. Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern both won Emmy Awards for their performances in the first season. Alexander Skarsgård also won an Emmy for his supporting role as the terrifying Perry Wright.
The first season ends with the death of Perry Wright and the five women—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—deciding to keep the full truth of his death a secret. This pact creates the group known as the “Monterey Five,” setting the stage for the conflicts of Season Two. While new stars like Meryl Streep joined the cast for the second season, the foundation was built by the original Season One cast, who created characters that audiences loved, feared, and rooted for.
The series is available to stream on Max.
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