Although the streaming service has several hit shows, Apple TV+’s best series is arguably Dickinson. The show loosely based on the life of famed poet Emily Dickinson works due to the creative take on the story and the tremendous writing but the talented cast is certainly a major highlight.

That cast features a unique blend of veteran actors like Jane Krakowski and Toby Huss, guest stars like Wiz Khalifa and Matt Lauria, and rising stars like Ella Hunt and Hailee Steinfeld. They’ve all appeared in notable roles elsewhere other than Adrian Enscoe (Austin Dickinson), who is only just starting his acting career.

10 Hailee Steinfeld (Emily Dickinson) – Pitch Perfect 2 & 3

Hailee Steinfeld may have had her breakthrough with True Grit when she was just a child but her biggest role after that came a few years later. She joined the Pitch Perfect franchise starting with the 2015 sequel as Emily Junk, a legacy Bella who is part of the main group of girls.

She stands out as the youngest pledge but also because the original song her character writes leads to her working in the studio with Becca. In Pitch Perfect 3, Steinfeld returned to the role and by that point, Emily had advanced to become the leader of the Barden Bellas.

9 Pico Alexander (Henry Shipley) – Home Again

Pico Alexander didn’t join the Dickinson cast until season 2. He appears as Henry “Ship” Shipley, a lodger who ends up living at the Dickinson household. While there, he forms a romance with Lavinia and proposes to her but she ultimately wants more than just to be a wife.

Alexander is one of those actors who doesn’t have a long filmography just yet but it’s growing. His biggest part was likely in 2017’s Home Again, where he played Harry, the young love interest of Reese Witherspoon’s lead character.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Finn Jones (Samuel Bowles) – Game Of Thrones

Another character who debuted in season 2 was Samuel Bowles. Played by Finn Jones, Bowles is the editor of the Springfield Republican newspaper and he agrees to publish Emily’s poems. However, he also leads her on romantically while carrying on an affair with Sue.

See also  Animaniacs Season 2 Trailer Reveals Release Date

Over the years, Jones has proven himself to be a versatile actor. His most notable role is probably Danny Rand in Netflix’s Iron Fist series for Marvel. That said, he did a great job for 21 episodes of Game of Thrones as Loras Tyrell, also known as the Knight of Flowers.

7 Matt Lauria (Ben Newton) – Parenthood

Audiences just knew that Ben Newton’s time on the show would be short-lived. He seemed like the perfect guy for Emily and given her life’s tragic path, he couldn’t stick around. His death was untimely and hit Emily pretty hard. Newton was played by Matt Lauria.

Most people recognize Matt Lauria from his tenure on Friday Night Lights. He debuted during season 4 as Luke Cafferty, a talented football player who joins the East Dillon Lions for the rest of the show. Later, Lauria also played Ryan Yorke for a stint on Parenthood, which might be his best work.

6 Wiz Khalifa (Death) – Duncanville

One of the coolest surprises to the cast had to be the inclusion of Wiz Khalifa. The talented rapper is certainly more well known for his skills on the microphone than he is as an actor. Despite that, he steals every scene he’s in as Death, who often visits Emily.

Wiz Khalifa has made a handful of appearances in film and television during his career. He was one of the leads in 2016’s Mac & Devin Go to High School but his biggest role outside of Dickinson is a recurring spot voicing Mr. Mitch in Duncanville.

5 Anna Baryshnikov (Lavinia Dickinson) – Manchester By The Sea

Although most of the shine on the show goes to Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Hunt, Anna Baryshnikov feels like she’s also a rising star. Her performance as Lavinia “Vinnie” Dickinson is one of the highlights of the series as she has broken out and is one of TV’s strongest forward-thinking female characters.

See also  Endzone: A World Apart Where to Find New Seeds

It was back in 2016 that Baryshnikov had her first notable role, starring as Sandy in Manchester By The Sea, a film that racked up the Academy Award nominations. She also played Maya on the short-lived CBS series Superior Donuts and did a guest spot as a killer on Prodigal Son.

4 Toby Huss (Edward Dickinson) – Halt And Catch Fire

With so many skilled young actors as part of the cast, Dickinson needed to include some veteran adult performers who could match up to them. They got a good one with Toby Huss, who takes on the part of Edward Dickinson, patriarch of the show’s main family.

Huss nails every important scene as he navigates being a typical domineering man of the era but also showing a softer side when it comes to Emily. He had some notable roles over time, including on King of the Hill and Carnivale. He portrayed John Bosworth for 38 episodes of Halt and Catch Fire.

3 Jane Krakowski (Mrs. Dickinson) – 30 Rock

Alongside Toby Huss, Jane Krakowski is the other key adult actor on the show. As Mrs. Dickinson, she starts the show as a woman happy to just be a wife but ultimately grows into someone who stands up for herself and fights for the things she wants.

Krakowski has the most history with comedic acting thanks to her debut on Vacation in 1983. She also had longstanding roles on shows like Ally McBeal and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Of course, her best character was Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock, which saw her earn four Emmy nominations.

2 Ella Hunt (Sue Gilbert/Dickinson) – Anna & The Apocalypse

Sue Gilbert is one of the most interesting characters on the Apple TV+ series. She starts as the best friend and love interest to Emily but due to tragedy in her family, she ends up marrying Emily’s brother Austin. The character is brought to life by the fantastic Ella Hunt.

See also  Baby Yoda Returns To SNL (And Explains Why He's Green)

Dickinson is her biggest role but she was also part of the ensemble in 2019’s Summer Night. A year prior, Hunt delivered a great performance as the lead character of Anna Shepherd in Anna and the Apocalypse, a Christmas-themed musical about zombies.

1 Hailee Steinfeld (Emily Dickinson) – The Edge Of Seventeen

Someone truly talented needed to fit the big shoes of Emily Dickinson and Hailee Steinfeld was a perfect choice. She brings to life every emotion that Emily feels, which she wears on her sleeve. Her work as the legendary poet is arguably the best in her career.

That’s saying a lot given how much Steinfeld has done so far. Along with Pitch Perfect and True Grit, she led movies like Bumblebee and currently voices Gwen Stacy in the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse franchise. Steinfeld’s portrayal of Nadine Franklin in The Edge of Seventeen was well-received and helped launch her further into stardom.

NextSupernatural: 10 Best Characters Ranked, According To Ranker

About The Author