The Split: Barcelona - who plays who in the cast of legal drama opposite lead star Nicola Walker
By Helen Fear | Tue Dec 10 2024The Split is back for a special two-parter filmed in Barcelona, and the ridiculously likeable Nicola Walker is back leading the cast as Hannah Defoe.
Of course, fans of the popular legal drama will know that Hannah used to be a Stern, having been married to Nathan Stern for 20 years. And, not gonna lie, we're still hoping for a reunion...
First look pictures of The Split: Barcelona, however, hint at a new love interest for Hannah... The new photos introduce actor Toby Stephens as "eligible" family lawyer Archie Moore.
So who else is in the cast of The Split: Barcelona, also known as series 4 of the legal drama? Here's everything you need to know...
Nicola Walker returns as Hannah Stern née Defoe
London-born actress Nicola Walker, 54, stars as Hannah Defoe in the cast of The Split: Barcelona. She's played the role since the show first started in 2018, and is predictably brilliant in the lead role.
Before playing Hannah, Nicola was probably best known for her role in Unforgotten. She starred as DCI Cassie Stuart from 2015 until 2021, when the character was tragically killed off after Nicola's decision to quit the show.
Between 2003 and 2011, Nicola played Ruth Evershed in Spooks, before going on to portray Gillian Greenwood in the Sally Wainwright drama Last Tango in Halifax.
Other notable roles include DI Susan Taylor in Touching Evil, Assistant Commissioner Sharon Franklin in Babylon, DS Jackie 'Stevie' Stevenson in River, and Emma in Marriage.
In 2021, she won the leading role in detective drama Annika, which spawned two series. More recently, Nicola played the deliciously bitchy Lady Hatton in Mary & George.
Stephen Mangan portrays Nathan Stern
London-born actor and presenter Stephen Mangan returns to play Hannah's ex-husband Nathan Stern in the special episodes of The Split, filmed in Spain.
The 56-year-old has been on our screens for nearly three decades, having first appeared on TV in 1998 in Martha - Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence. Although he only played a very small role in the film, he soon appeared opposite Death in Paradise star Ardal O'Hanlon in the sitcom Big Bad World.
In 2000, he played a Ballet Doctor in Billy Elliot and, after a few years as a jobbing actor, won the role of Adrian Mole in the mini-series Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years.
Between 2004 and 2006, he portrayed Dr. Guilaume Secretan in the brilliant Channel 4 comedy series Green Wing. Other notable roles include Dirk Gently in the series of the same name, Arthur Conan Doyle in Houdini and Doyle,
Stephen is also famous for playing Sean Lincoln in the Matt LeBlanc comedy Episodes. He's been in multiple films, and has narrated animations including Olobob Top, and Watership Down. He has presented shows including Portrait Artist of the Year, Have I Got News for You, and this year's The Fortune Hotel.
The Split: Barcelona cast list - Deborah Findlay is Ruth Defoe
Deborah Findlay plays the Defoe matriarch in the cast of The Split: Barcelona on BBC One and iPlayer.
The Leatherhead-born actress, 76, is perhaps best known for her extensive theatre career, for which she has won an Olivier Award. But she also has a long TV and film CV.
She played Doll in All Good Things, an early role in which she starred opposite Vera actress Brenda Blethyn, and went on to work as a jobbing actress for decades.
Her most notable roles include Miss Phoebe in the period drama Wives and Daughters, Countess Lydia in Anna Karenina, Greer Thornton in State of Play, and Miss Tomkinson in Cranford.
In 2023, she played Miss Willard in Dalgliesh episodes Death of an Expert Witness Part 1 and 2. Over the years, she's also popped up in TV shows such as Silent Witness, Midsomer Murders, Torchwood, Holby City, and Law and Order: UK.
Fiona Button stars as Rose Defoe
Swiss-born actress Fiona, 41, reprises her role of Rose Defoe, the one family member who has chosen NOT to work in law. She's a free-spirit, who tragically lost her fiancé James Cutler in a cycling accident in series 3. We're still not over it.
Fiona is known for her work across theatre, film and TV. In 2008, she portrayed Lucy Bedford in The Palace, a fictional account of a royal family living in England's Buckingham Palace.
Between 2010 and 2012, she starred as Tess Roberts in the Scottish LGBTQ drama Lip Service. She's also known for the comedic performances, having played various roles in the sketch show Cardinal Burns.
Other notable roles include Skye in You, Me and the Apocalypse, Jennifer Chambers in Granchester, Lucy in Out of Her Mind, and Sky in Trying.
More recently, Fiona played Hannah Roberts in one episode of Death in Paradise, Kate in Channel drama TrueLove, and Denise Oldroyd in Industry series 3.
Annabel Scholey portrays Nina Defoe
Actress Annabel Scholey plays the former shoplifting, often drunk, middle sister Nina Defoe. She also works in the law firm Noble Hale Defoe, although a risky affair with the boss' boyfriend ended very badly for her in series 3.
Yorkshire-born Annabel, 40, had smaller roles in EastEnders, Doctors, and Holby City before she won the role of Lauren in Being Human series 1. She appeared opposite Aidan Turner, who she later met again on the set of Rivals. While Aidan played Declan O'Hara in the cast of the Disney+ drama, Annabel portrayed Beattie Johnson... Beattie and Alex Hassell's character Rupert Campbell-Black kicked the series off with a rather naughty scene in the toilets of a jet!
Annabel is also known for playing Michelle Lerner in Personal Affairs, Gemma Nunn in Inspector George Gently, Contessina in Medici, Sarah Bailey in The Salisbury Poisonings, and Amena in Britannia. Meanwhile, Doctor Who fans will know her as Claire, a role she played for three episodes in 2021.
Annabel is having a rather excellent run of it recently, having appeared in the brilliant The Sixth Commandment as Ann-Marie Blake. She led the cast of The Serial Killer's Wife as Beth, as well as Dead and Buried, where she portrayed Cathy McDaid.
The Split: Barcelona cast list - Ian McElhinney is Ronnie
Veteran actor Ian McElhinney stars as Ronnie in The Split. He's played the role of Ruth's boyfriend and family friend since series 2 in 2020.
Belfast-born Ian, 74, started acting professionally at the age of 30, when he played Bill Sikes in a theatre production of Oliver!. Subsequently, his first TV role was in the 1981 film Cowboys.
Ian spent years as a jobbing actor in series such as Dead Entry, Brond, Wipe Out, and Children of the North, Lovejoy and The Bill. In 1997, he played Sgt Duncan Bonney in police drama Wokenwell, before going on to play C.S. Jack Freeman in Maisie Raine, and Joseph McGarry in The Clinic.
He is arguably most famous for playing Barristan Selmy in Game of Thrones, a role he played from 2011 to 2015. Other big roles include Sir Henry Carlton in Titanic: Blood and Steel, Morgan Monroe in The Fall, Adam Corry in Bloodlands, Theodore P. Swift in Ripper Street, and Val-El in Krypton.
Of course, Derry Girls fans will know him as Joe McCool from series 1 to 3. More recently, Ian has been pretty prolific. Highlights have included his portrayal of John Halloran Snr in The Outlaws, Sam Dyson in High Country, Johannes Kleiman in A Small Light, and Lord Tony Hume in Unforgotten.
He's been in countless films, including The Boys in the Boat, The Last Rifleman, Zoo, Rogue One, and Little Dorrit.
Who plays Archie Moore in the cast of The Split: Barcelona?
Toby Stephens joins the cast of The Split: Barcelona as "eligible" family lawyer Archie Moore. Archie could well be a new love interest for Hannah - or either of her sisters, to be fair.
The London-born actor, 55, is the son of late actress Maggie Smith. He's been on our screens for more than three decades.
Film fans will know Toby as the villain Gustav Graves in Bond thriller Die Another Day, as well as roles in Hunter Killer, The Machine, and 13 Hours.
His most famous TV roles include Kim Philby in Cambridge Spies, Rochester in Jane Eyre, Prince John in Robin Hood, and DI Jack Armstrong in Vexed.
Other notable TV roles include Captain Flint in Black Sails, John Robinson in Lost in Space, and Damian Cray in Alex Rider. More recently, Toby portrayed brilliantly bonkers dad Lionel in One Day, and Poseidon in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
McDonald & Dodds fans will recognise him from 2024 episode The Rule of 3, in which he played Mark Holgate.
Who else is in the cast of The Split: Barcelona?
Spanish actor Manu Fullola and Argentinian Romina Cocca will play glamorous hosts Álvaro and Valentina. As well as countless roles on Spanish TV, Manu has also appeared in US-made revenge thriller Hunters, and the Renaissance dynasty drama Borgia.
Meanwhile, Romina Cocca is predominantly famous in her native country of Argentina. She recently appeared in the Steve Coogan film The Penguin Lessons, which was filmed in the South American country.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith reprises his role as Glen Peters. He recently portrayed Tony in Mr Loverman, but is also known for playing Balthamos in His Dark Materials, Joel Shepton in Ragdoll, and Levi in Red Election.
Elizabeth Roberts plays Liv Stern, Nathan and Hannah's daughter who is getting married. She recently portrayed Libby in The Serial Killer's Wife.
Alex Guersman portrays Liv's fiancé Gael - a role he first played in the 2022 series 3 of The Split. A relative newcomer, he recently played Hugo in the Sky Cinema film Arthur's Whisky.
Tibu Fortes plays Julian. He's best known for playing Harry Lamont in Shetland series 8, and the current series 9.
Dr Death star Amanda Goldsmith stars as Wren.
Spanish actress Dariam Coco is Lola. She's perhaps best known for playing Bailarina in the Netflix hit Money Heist.
The Split: Barcelona full cast list
Nicola Walker stars as Hannah Defoe.
Stephen Mangan portrays Nathan Stern.
Deborah Findlay is Ruth Defoe.
Fiona Button stars as Rose Defoe.
Annabel Scholey plays Nina Defoe.
Toby Stephens portrays Archie Moore.
Ian McElhinney is Ronnie.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith stars as Glen.
Elizabeth Roberts plays Liv.
Alex Guersman portrays Gael.
Romina Cocca is Valentina.
Manu Fullola stars as Álvaro.
Tibu Fortes plays Julian.
Amanda Goldsmith stars as Wren.
Dariam Coco is Lola.
