There are relatively few series that can bring together two genres like horror and comedy and somehow manage to fuse them into a cohesive whole. One of those, however, is HBO's The Baby. The series focuses on its main character, Natasha, who comes into possession of a baby with seemingly monstrous powers to manipulate and destroy her life.
Part of what makes the show such a pleasure is the strength of its diverse ensemble cast. All of the actors involved have shown, through their appearances in a wide variety of movies and TV shows, that they are incredibly skilled performers.
Michelle de Swarte - “The Duchess” (2020)
Streaming On Netflix
The Baby’s central character, Natasha, is played by the actress Michelle de Swarte. She has had many acting credits through the years in both film and television, but one of her more high-profile roles is in the short-lived series, The Duchess.
The series focuses on a single mother, Katherine who has to decide whether to have another child. De Swarte has a notable role in the series as Bev, the best friend and business partner of Katherine. Though it didn’t last long, it nevertheless showcased de Swarte’s considerable talents.
Sinead Cusack - “Hoffman” (1970)
Streaming On Amazon Prime
Sinead Cusack, who plays Barbara in The Baby, is a veteran of theater, film, and television. Of her many smaller roles in movies, she is arguably best known for Hoffman. The movie, which also stars the noted comic actor Peter Sellers in one of his few dramatic roles, focuses on his character, an older man who blackmails a younger woman into spending time with him.
Cusack plays the woman, Janet Smith, and while Sellers commanded most of the press attention, she nevertheless captured the strength and complexity of this extraordinary young woman.
Isy Suttie - “Peep Show” (2003–15)
Streaming On The Roku Channel
In The Baby, Isy Suttie plays the character of Rita. She has had a very busy and productive career in both movies and television. One of her more notable roles, however, was in the British TV series Peep Show.
Peep Show focuses on two men, Mark and Jeremy, as they navigate life but almost never make changes to their characters. Suttie plays one of the series’ many supporting characters, Dobby, someone whose own misfit nature makes her a natural (if dysfunctional) fit for Mark.
Tanya Reynolds - “Sex Education” (2019–present)
Streaming On Netflix
There’s no question that Sex Education is one of the best series on Netflix. Its approach to sexuality and to teenage relationships is remarkably honest, and it succeeds in large part to the strength of its cast. Tanay Reynolds, who plays Helen in The Baby, is especially notable for her role.
Reynolds plays the delightfully strange Lily, a young woman obsessed with aliens and losing her virginity. She manages to make this character into more than just a stereotype, imbuing her with her own inner life and teenage desires.
Karl Davies - “Chernobyl” (2019)
Streaming On HBO Max
HBO has been responsible for many great series, of which Chernobyl is an excellent example. Focusing on the titular nuclear disaster, it shows how the meltdown and its aftermath drastically affected the lives of countless individuals.
In the miniseries, Karl Davies plays the character of Viktor Proskuryakov, one of the engineers at the nuclear power plant. Though he has a relatively minor role in the series, he still manages to convey the complex array of forces that governed the actions of those who were involved in the disaster. He plays the character of Jack in The Baby.
Divian Ladwa - “Lion” (2016)
Streaming On The Roku Channel
Lion is widely regarded as one of the best movies of the 2010s. It’s easy to see why, given its emotional story about a young man who sets out to find his biological family in India. Though Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman have received the lion’s share of the praise for the acting, Divian Ladwa, who plays the adopted brother of the main character, is also deserving of praise.
He brings out the emotional complexity of this very troubled young man, without turning him into a stereotype. He plays the role of Fooze in The Baby.
Amira Ghazalla - “Carnival Row” (2019–present)
Streaming On Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime has already shown that it is very skilled at producing a number of great series, and Carnival Row is one of its more unusual offerings. Set in a world in which fairy creatures and humans live in a fragile peace, it explores issues such as colonialism, identity, and family.
Amira Ghazalla, who has had quite a varied career and plays the character of Mrs. Eaves in The Baby, appears in Carnival Row in a recurring role. She plays the character of Mima Danu.
Shvorne Marks - Breeders (2020–22)
Streaming On Hulu
Shvorne Marks is a relative newcomer to show business, but she has already managed to accrue a substantial acting resume. In addition to playing the character of Mags in The Baby, she is most notable for playing the character of Nadia in the series Breeders.
That series is a dark comedy starring Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard as two parents who have to navigate the fraught territory of parenthood. Given that it is at least partially based on Freeman’s own experiences as a parent, it contains quite a bit of verisimilitude.
Genesis Lynea - Silent Witness (2021–22)
Streaming On The Roku Channel
There have been many great procedurals on television, and the British series Silent Witness should be regarded as one of these. Because of its ability to survive cast changes, it has actually been on the air for quite some time.
Genesis Lynea, who plays the character of Sam in The Baby, also played a significant role in Silent Witness, joining the cast as the character Simone Tyler. She brings a warmth to the character that is a welcome addition to the series.
Sophie Reid - “Game of Thrones” (2013)
Streaming On HBO Max
Sophie Reid is another relative newcomer to show business, but she has already appeared in a number of high profile series. Among other things, she is noted for appearing in a few episodes of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, arguably one of the best fantasy TV series of all time.
In Game of Thrones, Reid appears in a minor role as one of the members of the Tyrell household. She shows up in several episodes of The Baby as the character Lydia.