Netflix's Bruised cast is a relatively small but talented one; here's a guide to the film's different characters and the actors who play them. Originally developed as a mixed martial arts movie starring Blake Lively and directed by The Notebook's Nick Cassavetes, Bruised took on a new creative direction in 2018. Halle Berry joined the Bruised project as its director, making the film her directorial debut, and also replacing Lively as its star.
The story of Bruised follows a former female MMA star named Jackie Justice. It begins years after Jackie's last fight in the ring and a humiliating loss that made her give it all up. She's working as a maid and living with/dating her manager, as well as having become an alcoholic. Jackie's life changes in a few ways once she's given the offer to fight one of the best female MMA fighters in the world. This gives her a shot to possibly shock the world, but it also comes at the same time that Jackie's son re-enters her life. Buried then follows Jackie as she tries to balance training for the fight and adapting to her life raising her son.
Halle Berry's Storm: Every X-Men Movie Appearance (& How She Changed)
Releasing on Netflix in November 2021, Bruised received mixed reviews from critics, as it originally opened to a Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Halle Berry's performance is one of the film's highlights for many viewers, but she isn't the only cast member of note. Here is every actor who is part of the Bruised cast and which characters they play.
Halle Berry as Jackie Justice
As mentioned previously, Bruisded's cast is headlined by Halle Berry. She plays the protagonist Jackie Justice, which required a physical transformation for Berry as she got in MMA fighter shape. Halle Berry has had a great career for the last 30 years that led her to star in everything from Fox's X-Men franchise as Storm, DC's superhero movie Catwoman, Pierce Brosnan's Die Another Day, and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. She also became the first woman of color to win the Best Actress Oscar for 2001's Monster's Ball.
Sheila Atim as Buddhakan
Bruised's cast also included Sheila Atim as Buddhakan, who becomes Jackie's lead trainer as she prepares for her upcoming fight. This is one of Atim's biggest roles to date. She previously had a recurring part in Barry Jenkins' The Underground Railroad show for Amazon Video as Mabel. Atim was also at one time part of the cast of a Game of Thrones prequel show that didn't move forward.
Shamier Anderson as Immaculate
Shamier Anderson is another member of Bruised's cast, as he plays Immaculate. He is responsible for getting Jackie her fight with Lady Killer. Bruised is the third 2021 Netflix movie that Anderson had a role in, as he previously appeared opposite Anna Kendrick in Stowaway and Gina Rodriguez in Awake. His other notable credits include Apple TV+'s Invasion and Wynonna Earp.
Bruised's Supporting Cast & Characters
Adan Canto as Desi - Desi is Jackie's original manager with whom she lives with at the start of Bruised. Canto previously appeared in Designated Survivor and worked with Berry on X-Men: Days of Future Past, where he played Sunspot.
Valentina Shevchenko as Lady Killer - Bruised's cast includes real-life professional MMA fighter Valentina Shevchenko as Lady Killer, who is Jackie's opponent for the final fight.
Stephen McKinley Henderson as Pops - He is one of the trainers working with Jackie. Stephen McKinley Henderson's other credits include Devs, Lady Bird, and Denis Villeneuve's Dune as Thufir Hawat.
Danny Boyd Jr. as Manny Lyons Jr. - Danny Boyd Jr. plays Jackie's quiet six-year-old son in Bruised after previously playing young Will Reeves in HBO's Watchmen.
Adriane Lenox as Angel McQueen - Angel is Jackie's mom and drops off Manny so Jackie can start taking care of him. Lenox's other credits before joining Bruised's cast include The Blacklist and her recent role as Beverly in Manifest.