British war drama Operation Mincemeat features an ensemble cast led by Colin Firth based on real historical figures. Directed by John Madden, known for Shakespeare In Love and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Operation Mincemeat has received positive reviews and is currently certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The story may be hard to believe given the outlandish nature of the British war tactic, but Operation Mincemeat is based on a true story.
Operation Mincemeat tells the story of the British deception mission of the same name during World War II. Led by Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth), the British Navy attempted to feed Nazi Germany false information by planting a corpse, which had several fictional documents outlining plans to invade Greece, into enemy seas. By tricking the Germans into thinking that they would be moving on different locations, the creative ploy allowed Britain and their allied forces to drive Germany back from Sicily and gain territory in Europe.
This is the second time that Operation Mincemeat has been adapted into a film. In 1956 The Man Who Never Was told the same story, with the real-life Ewen Montagu himself making a cameo appearance. Operation Mincemeat continues a trend in adapting true war stories, particularly from World War II, with Netflix's Munich: The Edge Of War releasing earlier in 2022. Madden's fresh take on the story of Operation Mincemeat is based on Ben Macintyre's 2010 non-fiction book of the same name. Here's a guide to the cast and characters of Operation Mincemeat, what the actors have done before, and who the real people behind the characters were.
Colin Firth as Ewen Montagu
Colin Firth stars in Operation Mincemeat as Ewen Montagu, the British Commanding Officer who led the mission. While the movie's representation of Montagu was largely accurate, his knowledge of British Intelligence ahead of "The Twenty Committee" was underplayed. Montagu had good expertise of British intelligence by that point, making him a suitable candidate to lead Operation Mincemeat. Following the events of the movie, Montagu took up senior positions across the British Navy, in legal courts, and in public health. Colin Firth's extensive acting credits include The King's Speech and Kingsman: The Secret Service, and he previously appeared in the true story adaptation 1917.
Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmondeley
Matthew Macfadyen plays Montagu's colleague and British Intelligence Officer Charles Cholmondeley. Cholmondeley originally wanted to be in the airforce but was disqualified because of his poor eyesight, which led him to a career in MI5. Cholmondeley was a key figure behind Operation Mincemeat, having spent months planning the mission to be a modern take on the Trojan Horse. Macfayden is best known for his role as Athos in the 2011 film of The Three Musketeers.
Jason Isaacs as John Godfrey
Jason Isaacs plays the doubtful Admiral John Godfrey, the head of British naval intelligence who isn't convinced that Operation Mincemeat will work. Despite his hesitation, Godfrey is instructed to approve the risky mission by Winston Churchill. The stern commander is helped by his assistant, the real-life Ian Fleming who would later in base the James Bond character "M" on Godfrey. Jason Isaacs is best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series, Hap in The OA, and Jackson Brodie in Case Histories.
Kelly Macdonald as Jean Leslie
Kelly Macdonald's Jean Leslie poses as the fake fiancée of the corpse used in Operation Mincemeat. The MI5 administrator gave Montagu and Cholmondeley a photo of herself to plant on the fake intelligence officer. Leslie is also at the center of a romantic subplot with both Montagu and Cholmondley, which, while partly true in reality, was exaggerated in the movie. Kelly Macdonald's acting credits include her role as Merida in Pixar's Brave and as Diane in Trainspotting.
Operation Mincemeat Supporting Cast
Johnny Flynn as Ian Fleming: In Operation Mincemeat, Ian Flemming is played by Johnny Flynn. The James Bond author penned the idea for Operation Mincemeat while working as John Godfrey's assistant. Fleming drafted the Trout Memo for Godfrey, a paper listing 54 ways in which the British military could deceive wartime enemies, including the idea that became Operation Mincemeat. He went on to become an author and almost all of Ian Fleming's Bond books have been adapted into movies. Johnny Flynn has also appeared in Emma and The Outfit.
Simon Russell Beale as Winston Churchill: In Operation Mincemeat Prime Minister Winston Churchill is played by Simon Russell Beale. The British Prime Minister during the Second World War has been depicted in movies many times, most notably with Gary Oldman's Academy Award-winning performance in Darkest Hour. Russell Beale is known for his roles in The Death Of Stalin, Penny Dreadful, and his stage work for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Penelope Wilton as Hester Leggett: Hester Leggett is played by Penelope Wilton in Operation Mincemeat. Hester Leggett was the one who penned the fake love letters and helped create a believable backstory for the corpse used in Operation Mincemeat. Wilton is known for her roles in Downton Abbey and After Life.
Mark Gatiss as Ivor Montagu: Ivor Montagu is played by Mark Gatiss in Operation Mincemeat. Ewen Montagu's younger brother was suspected to be a Russian spy by John Godfrey. Ivor was a prominent communist sympathizer, who also played a key role in the British film industry and table tennis. Gatiss is well known for his acting and writing work for Doctor Who and Sherlock, and will appear alongside Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 7.
Mark Bonnar as John Horsfall: Mark Bonnar plays John Horsfall, a British car racer who was recruited to drive the Operation Mincemeat corpse 500 miles north to Scotland, where the Royal Navy's submarine base was located. Mark Bonnar is known for his TV work on Catastrophe and Line Of Duty.
Paul Ritter as Bentley Purchase: Bentley Purchase is played by Paul Ritter in Operation Mincemeat. Bentley Purchase was a British coroner and barrister who, as shown in the movie, played a key role in identifying and preparing the corpse used in Operation Mincemeat. Ritter is best known for his role in Chernobyl. Operation Mincemeat was Ritter's final performance before his unfortunate passing in 2021 and Operation Mincemeat is dedicated to his memory.