Hostage on Netflix follows a world leader put in a very tricky situation – and we’re not talking about Boris Johnson getting stuck on a zip line – with Suranne Jones leading the cast as the UK PM.

We’ve seen the actress play a machinist, the ‘first modern lesbian’ and a vengeful wife… But now she stars as the British Prime Minister in this brand new political thriller.

If you like TV series such as Black Doves, Slow Horses, and Jed Mecurio’s Bodyguard, then this is one for you. Here’s everything you need to know about the cast of Hostage on Netflix. It also includes a very famous French actress, and a former Celebrity Big Brother housemate.

Hostage cast on Netflix: Suranne Jones is the UK PM Abigail Dalton

Hostage on Netflix sees Suranne Jones portray the recently-elected UK prime minister Abigail Dalton. She must fight for office thanks to a healthcare crisis.

The political thriller is from Bridge of Spies and Treason writer Matt Charman. It focuses on an international summit welcoming the UK PM and Vivienne Toussaint, the first female French president campaigning for re-election.

However, when masked men kidnap Dalton’s husband and simultaneously blackmail Toussaint, the summit is thrown into chaos. The two political leaders subsequently face an unimaginable choice…

Of course, TV viewers know Suranne Jones best known for her leading role in Doctor Foster. She’s also famous for Vigil, Gentleman Jack, and Coronation Street. Suranne acted as an executive producer on the new Netflix series.

What is Suranne Jones famous for?

Manchester-born Suranne, 46, first found fame playing Karen McDonald in Coronation Street. She played the mouthy character on the cobbles between 2000 and 2004.

However, she started her TV career in 1997, playing another character in the ITV soap. She popped up as Mandy Phillips in one episode. Having made an impression, they asked her back permanently three years later to play Karen.

After leaving the popular ITV soap, she went on to play Beth opposite Ray Winstone in Vincent, Linda Nelson in Strictly Confidential, Dr Martha Elliot in Harley Street, and Ruth Slater in Unforgiven.

She also portrayed PC Laurie Franklin in the hard-hitting Five Days, Sister Joan Livesey in period drama The Crimson Field, and DC Anne Oldman in A Touch of Cloth.

Between 2011 and 2016, she starred in the popular detective drama Scott & Bailey, opposite Lesley Sharp. Another huge role followed in 2015, when she played Gemma Foster in Doctor Foster. She won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 2016 for her portrayal of the wronged woman.

In 2019, Suranne began portraying Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack. She went on to play Amy Silva in Vigil, Claire McGory in Save Me, and Becca in Maryland (which she co-created).

Julie Delpy portrays French president Vivienne Toussaint

Paris-born actress and two-time Oscar nominee Julie Delpy, 55, portrays Vivienne Toussaint, the first female French president campaigning for re-election. In real life, France has actually had two female leaders.

Julie is famous for her roles in films such as 1995’s Before Sunrise, and its sequels Before Sunset in 2004, and Before Midnight in 2013. The romantic films also starred Ethan Hawke as Jesse, the love interest of Julie’s character Céline.

The French-American actress was actually discovered in 1984, when she was just 14 years of age. At that time, famous film director Jean-Luc Godard cast her in the 1985 film Détective. She’s been in multiple films since then.

Some of her most famous roles include Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Three Musketeers, An American Werewolf in Paris, and the acclaimed trilogy Three Colours: Blue, Three Colours: Red, and Three Colours: White.

Julie hasn’t done much TV during her long film career. In 2001, she played Nicole in ER, which was her first ever small screen role. She subsequently portrayed Caroline Frankenstein in the TV mini-series Frankenstein opposite Donald Sutherland.

More recently, she’s made TV her new home, having played Justine in On the Verge. The series followed four women – a chef, a single mum, an heiress, and a job seeker – in pre-pandemic LA.

Hostage cast on Netflix: Lucian Msamati plays Dalton’s chief of staff Kofi Adomako

Londoner Lucian Msamati, 49, stars as Dalton’s chief of staff Kofi Adomako. TV and film viewers will know the actor very well – he recently had a leading role in the acclaimed film Conclave.

The English-Tasmanian actor made his name playing JLB Matekoni in the TV adaptation of the famous book The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (2008/2009).

He went on to play Ken Barnaby in Idris Elba detective drama Luther, Salladhor Saan in Game of Thrones, and George Chichester in Tom Hardy drama Taboo. In 2018, he starred in two of his biggest roles to date Tobi Akindele in the brilliant Sarah Lancashire drama Kiri, and David Runihura in Black Earth Rising.

A year later, Lucian starred as John Faa in His Dark Materials, before going on to play Ed Dumani in Gangs of London. Other notable roles include Derek in Best Interests, and Henry Maitland in Chemistry of Death. He’s been in multiple films, including See how They Run, The Good Liar, The International, and Breaking Point.

He’s famous in theatre, too. He recently appeared opposite Ben Whishaw in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.

Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas portrays Dalton’s husband Dr Alex Anderson

Londoner Ashley Thomas, 40, stars as Dr Alex Anderson, Dalton’s husband, in the cast of the Netflix drama Hostage.

Music fans will perhaps know Ashley best by his stage name Bashy. In the 2000s, he was known as a grime artist and rapper. He released singles including Black Boys, and his 2009 debut album Catch Me If You Can was nominated for the 2009 MOBO Award for Album of the Year. He’s also worked with the Gorillaz and Kano. More recently, he’s concentrated on his acting career.

Thomas landed his first role in 2010 as Rager in British flick, Shank. The independent action film was set in a decaying future London. Other film roles followed in 4.3.2.1., The Veteran, and The Estate.

TV viewers will probably know him best for playing Jermaine in Top Boy, a role he played on and off between 2013 and 2019.

He’s also famous for playing Gil in the 2016 TV series Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, and Isaac Carter in 24: Legacy. In 2018, Ashley starred as Alonzo Carter in the sci-fi series Salvation, before going on to play Henry Emory in Them.

Other notable TV roles include Judge Wraith in Black Mirror, Calvin Hart in The Night Of, Malcolm Rose in Ice, and Paul Maddox in The Ipcress Files.

More recently, Ashley portrayed convict Jaggers in the 2023 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. He’s also starred as Byron Bennett in Black Cake, and Alessandro de Medici in The Serpent Queen.

This year, Channel 4 viewers will see him play customs officer Dom Delaney in In Flight.

James Cosmo stars as Dalton’s father Max

Scottish actor James Cosmo, 77, will play Dalton’s father Max, whose health is ailing. Unbelievably perhaps, James’ career straddles six decades – with no signs of slowing down.

Having been born in 1947, James’ first TV role was when he was a teenager in 1966. He portrayed Charlie Milne in the series Ransom for a Pretty Girl. Dozens of TV roles followed, including Brigadier Calvert in Orde Wingate, Regulator Fuller in Warship, and James Mackenzie in The Mackenzie Affair.

Other notable early roles included Jock Anderson in the 1979 series Dick Barton: Special Agent, and CPO Hawkins in Thundercloud. Between 1982 and 1984, James portrayed Alex Geddes in the rural Scottish soap Take the High Road.

Of course, many viewers will recognise him not from his TV roles, but for film – most notably Campbell in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart in 1995. Multiple film and TV roles came after. His most famous film roles include Glaucus in Troy, Angus MacLeod in Highlander, and Hrothgar in The Last Legion.

His extensive TV career has included roles in Soldier Soldier, Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones, Shetland, The Name of the Rose, Hold the Sunset, His Dark Materials, and The Durrells.

More recently, he’s played Bill Bradwell in The Bay, Luka in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Jim Mackie in ITVX drama Six Four, Fraser Warren in Nightsleeper, and Allan Berwick in Fear. This year, he portrayed Brodie Grant Snr in series 2 of Karen Pirie. Some of you might remember the actor from series 19 of Celebrity Big Brother, too. He finished in fourth place.

Blue Lights star Martin McCann portrays John Shagan

Belfast-born Martin McCann, 42, portrays masked abductor John Shagan in the cast of Hostage on Netflix. But, of course, Blue Lights fans will know him affectionately as Stevie Neil in the BBC One police drama.

Viewers are totally behind the sweet relationship between Stevie and his work partner Grace Ellis, a relationship that will continue in the upcoming series 3.

Actor Martin has been on our screen since 1998, when he played a young joyrider in the short film The Rules of Golf. He soon went on to appear in one episode of Pulling, before joining the sketch show Dry Your Eyes. He played various characters in series 1 and 2, which aired between 2006 and 2007.

In 2010, Martin played Cpl. R.V. Burgin in the brilliant Emmy-winning war series, The Pacific, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Two years later, he portrayed Conor McCann in the TV mini-series Titanic: Blood and Steel.

Other notable roles include Randolph Corbett in The Bastard Executioner, Alvarez in the Jamie Dornan thriller The Fall, and Jack Madden in a 2017 episode of Vera.

In 2017, Martin starred as Renquist in The Frankenstein Chronicles, alongside Sean Bean. A year later, Martin played Frank Blessing in Death and Nightingales, before playing Cormac in Temple. Marcella fans may well recognise Martin as Bobby Barrett in the last series of the ITV Anna Friel thriller.

More recently, he played Wee Pat McClure in political thriller Say Nothing. Martin has been in a multitude of films, too, including Jack Lowden thriller Calibre, The Survivalist, Last Sentinel, Wolf, Here Before, The Informer, and The Fight.

Hostage cast on Netflix: Gerald Kyd stars as MI6 agent Thomas Mercer

Gerald Kyd stars as MI6 agent Thomas Mercer in the cast of Hostage on Netflix. Although he was born in South Africa, Gerald is half Scottish and half Greek. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and has worked across theatre, television and film.

Casualty fans will remember Gerald – nicknamed Gez – for playing junior doctor Sean Maddox. His character formed a relationship with nurse Tina Seabrook, played by Claire Goose, and was involved in an illicit affair.

Gerald left the BBC medical drama two years later. Although he reprised the role of Sean in 2006 for Casualty’s 20th anniversary, Gerald was quoted saying that playing a heartthrob “didn’t sit with him” or “suit his personality”. Although, having said that, he did play a love rat in the Channel 5 thriller of the same name opposite Sally Lindsay.

Gerald, 51, has since appeared in shows including Persons Unknown, Silent Witness, and Dr Who. He also had a small role in the BBC One legal drama The Split.

More recently, Gerald appeared in CBBC kids’ show Malory Towers. This month, the actor played Luka in The Assassin cast. The character is left traumatised after losing all his family and friends at a wedding.

Mark Lewis Jones plays General Livingston

Welsh actor Mark Lewis Jones, 60, plays General Livingston, Chief of Defence Staff, in the cast of the Netflix thriller Hostage. Mark is well known to TV viewers, as he’s been popping up all over the place for the past few decades, not least opposite The Crow Girl actress Eve Myles in Keeping Faith. He portrayed brooding Steve Baldini from 2017 to 2021.

Other big roles recently have included Gruffudd Prosser in The Red King, Glynn in The Way, Andrew Morley in Bodies, and Charles Hullighan in Jimmy Savile drama The Reckoning.

Star Wars fans might know Mark Lewis Jones for playing First Order Captain Moden Canady in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. But he’s been in multiple other films too, including Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Troy, Rebecca, and The Good Liar.

Other notable roles include Dale Jones in This Life, David Ancrom in The Knock, and Arthur Brownlow in The Infinite World of HG Wells. Between 2000 and 2001, he portrayed Des Davies in court drama The Bench. Several years later, he played Sgt. Ray Lloyd in Murder Prevention, and another copper – DI Russell Bing – in 55 Degrees North!

Stella fans will know him as Rob Morgan in the comedy series. In the past decade, he’s been in many of the top TV shows such as National Treasure, Living a Lie, and Chernobyl.

In recent years, Mark has played Iwan Bevan in The Accident, Kinney Edwards in Gangs of London, Tom Christie in Outlander, and Father Martin in The Pact. In 2024, Mark put in a moving performance as Donny’s abused dad Gerry in Baby Reindeer. That same year, he portrayed security guard Caleb Williams in Out There. And unlike co-star Martin Clunes, he didn’t have to fake a Welsh accent, as he’s from Rhosllanerchrugog (try saying that after a few shandies).

Who else stars in the cast of Hostage on Netflix?

The supporting cast for Hostage includes Corey Mylchreest as Toussaint’s stepson (and the rest) Matheo Lewis. Bridgerton fans will know him best for playing a young King George in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. A relative newbie compared to some of his co-stars, he’s also played Adonis in The Sandman.

French musician and actress Jehnny Beth, who appeared in BAFTA-winning Anatomy of a Fall, will play Toussaint’s chief of staff Adrienne Pelletier.

Meanwhile, Sophie Robertson stars as Saskia Morgan. Her most significant role to date has been Lexy Fitzgerald in The Athena. Sophie has also portrayed Arabella Acaster in Miss Scarlet and the Duke, and Ella in the TV movie Torvill & Dean.

Hiftu Quasem portrays Ayesha. She’s appeared in TV series such as The Nest, Deadwater Fell, Endeavour, and Killing Eve, but is best known for playing Misha Virani in Ten Percent. More recently, she’s popped up as Shona Randall in Lockerbie, and Emma Mackendrick in The Rig.

Swiss-born Vincent Perez plays Elias Vernier. French TV viewers will know him as Revel in Paris Criminal Investigations. The actor also played Commissaire de police in Riviera, and Didier in Shantaram. In 2025, Vincent portrayed Léon in La Frontera.

In episode 4, Paul Thornley stars as Home Secretary Michael Hall. The star of Caroline Quentin sitcom Life Begins more recently portrayed Max Goodman in The Gold series 1, and Philip Cunningham in Call the Midwife.

Sara Powell stars as Kathy Macintyre. The veteran actress is best known for playing Sally Reid in London’s Burning and Rachel Barker CPS in Holby Blue. More recently, she played Simone in C5 thriller Too Good to be True.

Lastly, Isobel Akuwudike is Abigail and Alex’s daughter Sylvie Anderson. It’s her second TV role. Her first was playing Bria in The Road Trip. And Pip Carter stars as Dan Ogilvy. He recently played Jago Ross in Strike. However, he is probably best known for portraying Matt Baker in Party Animals, or Sir Geoffrey Pole in Wolf Hall.

Hostage on Netflix full cast list:

Suranne Jones stars as UK PM Abigail Dalton.

Julie Delpy portrays the first female French president Vivienne Toussaint.

Lucian Msamati stars as Kofi Adamako.

Ashley Thomas plays Dr Alex Anderson.

James Cosmo stars as Dalton’s father Max.

Martin McCann portrays John Shagan.

Gerald Kyd stars as Agent Thomas Mercer.

Mark Lewis Jones plays General Livingston.

Corey Mylchreest is Toussaint’s stepson Matheo Lewis.

Jehnny Beth portrays Toussaint’s chief of staff Adrienne Pelletier.

Sophie Robertson stars as Saskia Morgan.

Isobel Akuwudike is Abigail and Alex’s daughter Sylvie Anderson.

Hiftu Quasem portrays Ayesha.

Vincent Perez plays Elias Vernier.

Pip Carter is Dan Ogilvy.

Paul Thornley stars as Home Secretary Michael Hall.

Sara Powell portrays Kathy Macintyre.

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Hostage, starring Suranne Jones, will stream on Netflix from Thursday, August 21, 2025.