H Is For Hawk cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the 2025 biographical drama

H Is for Hawk lands as a quiet, fierce study of mourning brought to life by director Philippa Lowthorpe, who co-wrote the screenplay with Emma Donoghue from Helen MacDonald’s memoir. Claire Foy anchors the film as Helen, with Brendan Gleeson appearing as her father, and a supporting cast that includes Sam Spruell and Josh Dylan, all framed by Charlotte Bruus Christensen’s cinematography.

Produced by Plan B and Film4, and filmed across Cambridge, Wales and London, H is for Hawk folded into the 2025 Telluride lineup where early reviews singled out Foy’s performance as the film’s emotional engine. Here's everything you need to know about the characters the stars are playing, and where you might have seen them before you catch them on H is for Hawk.

More details about H Is For Hawk cast and characters

Claire Foy as Helen

"All Of Us Strangers" UK Gala Screening – Arrivals - Source: Getty

Claire Foy is leading H is for Hawk as Helen, the author and naturalist who is best known for her work as the author of H is for Hawk, their memoir. It tells the story of how Helen dealt with the grief of her father's death by purchasing a young goshawk and training it as she overcame her sorrow.

Foy is no stranger to emotionally demanding roles. Her best known work is as Queen Elizabeth II in the Netflix drama series The Crown, which won her a Golden Globe and two Primetime Emmy Awards. On the big screen, the actress has worked as Janet Shearon, wife of Neil Armstrong, in the biography First Man, and also portrayed Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll in A Very British Scandal, proving that she's the perfect choice for H is for Hawk.

Apart from this, she has also worked on the drama films Women Talking and All of Us Strangers.

Brendan Gleeson as Helen's father

2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Cinema Vanguard Award Honoring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson - Source: Getty

Brendan Gleesan plays Helen's father, Alistair Macdonald, who died of a heart attack in 2007. A photojournalist, his death left a lasting impact on Helen, who turned to training a goshawk to deal with the grief. Gleesan's role is the very heartbeat of the film, as it drives the narrative of Helen's life and how she struggles, overcomes and lives it.

Gleesan is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, two British Independent Film Awards and one nomination for an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards and five Golden Globe Awards.

He is known for his roles in 28 Days Later, Troy, Paddington 2, The Guard, Frankie, and The Banshees of Inisherin. One of his most notable roles in film include the Auror Alastoor Moody in the Harry Potter franchise.

Joining Foy and Gleesan are Sam Spruell, Lindsay Duncan, Denise Gough, Sean Kearnsin in unannounced roles and Josh Dylan as James, although not much is known about their characters as of yet.

H is fot Hawk does not have a release date yet, but the film has already premiered at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival.