Netflix released The Women In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window earlier this year, and it quickly rose to the number one spot on their Top 10. Kristen Bell was one of the masterminds behind this dark, satirical comedy, and she did not disappoint. The story follows Bell, portraying Anna, as she navigates mental health struggles after the death of her daughter.
The short, eight-episode experience had fans on the edge of their seats, especially with such a wonderful and well-rounded cast of characters. Fans might be wondering where they've seen some of these talents before.
Kristen Bell - The Good Place (2016 - 2020)
Kristen Bell is the front-runner of The Women In The House, cast as Anna, who has an addiction to alcohol and a mental illness after the death of her daughter. Bell effortlessly makes audiences feel for Anna, while also understanding that her mental state makes her a rather unreliable narrator, far different from her role as Eleanor Shellstrop on The Good Place.
In 2016, a few years after her debut as Anna in Frozen, Bell found herself on TV again as the recently dead Eleanor in The Good Place. The show ran successfully for four seasons, and she was nominated for Golden Globes, TCA's, and Critics Choice Awards, among others, for her performance. If fans loved The Women In The House and haven't seen The Good Place, they should, it is a must-watch, as well.
Mary Holland - Happiest Season (2020)
Mary Holland began her career mostly in smaller TV roles in shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, New Girl, Parks and Recreation, and more. She portrays Anna's best friend, Sloane, in The Women In The House, although her role is much more subtle than other characters in the series. Viewers might recognize this as a major change from her most recent film role as Jane in Happiest Season.
She starred alongside big names like Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza as the younger sister of Harper. Her character was a tad bit eccentric, but fans fell in love with her dedication to her craft and her unconditional love for her family. For those who love a great Christmas rom-com, Happiest Season is a great place to start.
Michael Ealy - 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Michael Ealy plays Anna's ex-husband in The Women In The House. Viewers find out later that he also acts as her therapist. Some argue his character's mistake of leaving his daughter alone with a serial killer makes him a bad dad, but he redeems himself in the end. Ealy started his career in off-Broadway productions, and then made his way into TV and film.
Fans might recognize him from his TV roles in The Following and Westworld, but he may be most recognizable from his role as Slap Jack in 2 Fast 2 Furious, the second installment of the Fast and Furious film series. His character is a leading role in the film.
Tom Riley - Da Vinci's Demons (2013)
Tom Riley plays the guy next door, Neil, in The Women In The House, with whom Anna takes an interest. It's his girlfriend, Lisa, who Anna witnesses getting murdered. Neil has his ups and downs throughout the season, but Tom Riley maintains his incredible acting throughout. Viewers may recognize him mostly from his work in television, although he does have quite a few film credits.
Most notably, he plays Leonardo da Vinci in the historical fantasy drama, Da Vinci's Demons. The film was produced by BBC but aired globally, appearing on Starz in the U.S. in 2013. This was a big role for Riley and it continued on for three seasons.
Christina Anthony - Mixed-Ish (2019)
Christina Anthony stays vigilant as the detective assigned to Anna's case in The Women In The House. Detective Lane doesn't like funny business, she is set on following the truth. Anthony does a wonderful job embodying the satirical elements of a detective in a women-led thriller. Outside of this role, she is a talented actress, vocalist, and writer.
She got her start in comedy and enjoys taking roles that allow her to be funny. Fans may recognize her from some Comedy Central shows like Key & Peele and Mash-Up, but perhaps most notably as Denise in Mixed-Ish. Mixed-Ish is the sister show to Black-Ish, and fans say each show does well in some areas and poorly in others. Anthony portrays the Aunt of the main character, Bow, as he navigates childhood in a mixed-race family in the 1980s.
Benjamin Levy Aguilar - Filthy Rich (2020)
Rex was a very small supporting role in The Women In The House, but his impact on the story was important and Benjamin Levy Aguilar took the character and brought it to life on screen. Rex was working with Lisa to rob Neil, and although he didn't end up playing a role in the greater murder mystery, fans still took a liking to Rex's character, and Aguilar himself.
In fact, Aguilar has a huge following on social media, despite his lack of large roles in the entertainment industry. Fans might recognize him as Antonia Rivera in Filthy Rich, a gothic family drama with soap opera undertones. Most of his recognition is from this series, but with The Women In The House, he continues to make an impact on viewers and is on his way to more fame.
Shelley Henning - Teen Wolf (2011 - 2017)
Lisa doesn't have much on-screen time, but the idea of her murder is what drives the entire plot of Women In The House, and Shelley Henning nailed the evil girlfriend who's up to no good troupe. Hennig began to get recognition for the many beauty pageants she was in prior to acting, including her big win as Miss Teen USA in 2004.
Her first major acting role was in Days of Our Lives, for which she won a Teen Choice Award and two Daytime Emmy Awards. But most fans will recognize her from her role in season 3 of Teen Wolf, in which she played Malia Tate from that season through until the end of the show.
Cameron Britton - Mindhunter (2017 - 2019)
Cameron Britton unexpectedly stole the hearts of viewers who were intrigued by his presence on screen in The Women In The House. He plays Buell, Anna's handyman, who has been fixing a mailbox for years. It's revealed that he was sleeping in her attic and a previous inmate, but his gentle persona and his loyalty to the family are what redeem him and make him a beloved character.
In quite the opposite situation, fans might recognize Britton for his work in Mindhunter, as an infamous serial killer, Ed Kemper. His chilling depiction of the killer was his breakout role after having been a teacher for eight years. His poise on-screen and natural ability to send a chill down the audiences' spines with dark roles such as Ed Kemper in Mindhunter are what make him a wonderful actor.
Brenda Koo - New Girl (2011 - 2018)
Carol is one of the most disliked characters in The Women In The House, but Branda Koo completely embodies the noisy neighbor trope and does a wonderful job portraying that satirical aspect of the show. She's had a few credited roles in films like Urban Explorer and Delirium, but mostly has had smaller roles in films like War Dogs and The Bing Ring.
She's had smaller roles in television as well, and one of the most notable shows is New Girl. In season one, she plays one of the many younger college-aged girls that Nick starts hooking up with. Fans may recognize her from this hit series and other shows, like Two And A Half Men.
Samsara Leela Yett - Don't Look Up (2021)
Emma ended up being the most important character in The Women in the House. Anna's hard work and independent sleuthing all lead to Emma, and Samsara Leela Yett did an amazing job fully embracing the killer kid trope. She is a budding child star and has mostly worked alongside many big-name stars like Kaley Cucco, Jennifer Lawrence, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
She has not acted in much, but fans might recognize her from her role in Don't Look Up, the Oscar-nominated film currently streaming on Netflix. She only has a few moments of on-screen time, but viewers will instantly recognize her upon viewing the film. Hopefully, viewers will get to see her on the red carpet this coming March 2022.