Birds of Paradise Cast & Character Guide

Amazon’s ballet-thriller Birds of Paradise, which released September 24, 2021, boasts a cast of recognizable actors and talented newcomers. Based on the book Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small, the film is helmed by critically-acclaimed director Sarah Adina Smith, whose previous movies include independent darlings Buster’s Mal Heart and The Midnight Swim. In step with her previous films, Smith’s Birds of Paradise, is an intense psychological film akin to fellow ballet movie, Black Swan.

The film is set nearly entirely within the walls of an elite, fictitious ballet academy in Paris, with the story revolving around the company of students competing for a position at the Paris Opera Ballet. An American girl wins a scholarship to join the ranks and finds herself out of her league until taken under the wing of the school’s prima ballerina. The two form a complicated bond of friendship, contention, and romance that culminates as they get closer to the prize.

The Birds of Paradise cast is relatively small and many of the faces are new, lending fertile ground for breakout performances. There are a few familiar faces, however, both of legendary and newly-minted status among the ranks. Here is a breakdown of Birds of Paradise cast and the characters they play.

Diana Silvers as Kate Sanders

Diana Silvers, who some viewers may recognize as Erin, the daughter of General Naird in Space Force, leads the Birds of Paradise cast as Kate Sanders – an American ex-basketball player turned ballerina. Kate’s mother dies when she is young, and her father has given everything to afford Kate the opportunity in Paris. Silvers’ breakout role came in Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart in 2019, and viewers may also recognize her from her roles as Camille in Ava and Maggie in Ma. 

Kristine Froseth as Marine Durand

Marine is Kate Sanders’ greatest competition and roommate. Played by Kristine Froseth, Marine is the daughter of the American Ambassador in France and a nut-milk mogul. She has been dancing ballet since she could walk along with her recently-deceased twin brother, and plays a mercurial role in Kate’s life as friend, enemy, and lover. Froseth played Kelly Aldrich in Netflix’s now-cancelled The Society.

Jacqueline Bisset as Madame Brunelle

Film legend Jacqueline Bisset plays the academy’s formidable director Madame Brunelle. Brunelle is ruthless and demanding of the students and seems to favor Marine for the prized position at the Paris Opera Ballet. Known for iconic films such as Murder on the Orient Express and Casino Royale, Bisset has been a leading name in Hollywood since the 1960s.

Birds of Paradise Supporting Cast

Caroline Goodall as Celine Durand – Heading up Birds of Paradise‘s supporting cast, which is largely made-up of fresh faces, Caroline Goodall is a seasoned actress from major blockbusters including Hook, Schindler’s List, Disclosure, and The Princess Diaries. Also in 2021, Goodall played Crowley in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard with Ryan Reynolds. In Birds of Paradise, she plays Celine Durand, Marine’s tyrannical mother.

Nassim Lyes as Jamal – Marine’s boyfriend, Jamal, is played by Nassim Lyes, a French actor whose most credits include The Last Mercenary with Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Daniel Camargo as Felipe – Newcomer Daniel Camargo plays Felipe, the company’s best male dancer and serial playboy.

Eva Lomby as Gia – Another newcomer, Eva Lomby makes her debut in Birds of Paradise as the prima ballerina while Marina is absent from the academy mourning her twin brother’s death.

Solomon Golding as Luc – Playing Kate’s assigned dance partner for the final competition, Birds of Paradise is Solomon Golding’s first film.

Alice Dardenne as Claire – Birds of Paradise is also the first feature-length film for Alice Dardenne, who plays Claire, a superstitious dancer who exits the competition after sustaining an injury.

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