Taboo cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the crime thriller series?

Tom Hardy’s Taboo premiered in 2017 and was one of the acclaimed BBC series that revolved around 19th-century England and the struggles of the people during the war between the UK and the US. Fans have been eagerly waiting for a season 2 of the crime drama, but there hasn’t been any news shared about its release yet.

Just like Hardy’s recent show, MobLand, Taboo also has a stellar cast that includes Jonathan Pryce, Jesse Buckley, and Steven Graham, among others.

Here’s a list of the cast and characters of Taboo.

The cast and character guide of Taboo

1) Tom Hardy as James Delaney

Tom Hardy's James Delaney comes back to London after more than a decade. His father's death brought him back to London from Africa. Horace Delaney has left him a piece of disputed land known as the Nootka Sound, which the US and the UK both are eyeing. He also has unresolved issues with the East India Company and finds himself amid the fight between the US, the East India Company, and the Crown.

Other than Taboo, Hardy has appeared in many acclaimed shows such as Peaky Blinders, Band of Brothers, and most recently, MobLand. He has also shown his talent in films like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Venom, and Dunkirk.

2) Stephen Graham as Atticus

Stephen Graham is one of the most popular English actors and has impressed the viewers with his portrayal of Eddie Miller, Jamie’s dad, in Adolescence. His roles in Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty are also among his most popular works. His film roles include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Irishman, and Boiling Point, among others.

In Taboo, Graham plays Atticus, who becomes Delaney’s informant after making a deal with him regarding his gunpowder plan to make explosives. Graham is known for his sharp remarks in the historical crime drama.

3) Jessie Buckley as Lorna Delaney

The Irish actress plays the character of an actress named Lorna, who claims half of Horace’s wealth after his death, as she claims she was married to him. She finds herself in danger from the Duke and is saved by Delaney, and later helps Delaney in his feud with the East India Company.

Buckley is known for her works in both screen and theatre. She appeared in the musical Cabaret with Eddie Redmayne and has also appeared in films like Women Talking and The Lost Daughter. Apart from Taboo, Buckley's most popular roles also include Fargo and Chernobyl.

4) Jonathan Pryce as Sir Stuart Strange

The greedy and amoral head of the East India Company is played by Jonathan Pryce in Taboo. His character has committed several crimes to make a profit and save his reputation, and is also one of the main rivals of Hardy’s James Delaney.

Pryce is one of Hollywood’s veteran legends. His roles in The Two Popes, G.I. Joe, and Pirates of the Caribbean are among his popular works. Besides films, Pryce has also appeared in hit shows like Game of Thrones, The Crown, Slow Horses, and Wolf Hall.

5) Oona Chaplin as Zilpha Geary

In Taboo, Chaplin plays the character of Zilpha, who is also James’s half-sister, and agrees to sell the Nootka Sound land to the East India Company until James breaks that agreement.

You might remember the actress from Game of Thrones’ Red Wedding episode, as she played Rob Stark’s wife, Talisa, who was brutally killed along with Robb and his mother. Quantum of Solace and Black Mirror are her other popular works.

6) Tom Hollander as George Cholmondeley

Hollander’s character might be one of the most unpredictable characters in Taboo as he plays a chemist named George Cholmondeley, who is not afraid of using his own supplies to get high. From providing laughing gas to making a plan to steal refined saltpetre, Cholmondeley is not your everyday chemist.

Hollander’s filmography includes various popular projects like Bohemian Rhapsody, About Time, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, and The Pirates of the Caribbean movies. In shows, he has appeared in The White Lotus, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, and The Night Manager.

7) Mark Gatiss as Prince George

The co-creator of the Sherlock series, who also played the character of Mycroft Holmes, has also appeared in many popular films such as Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Christopher Robin, The Father, and The Favorite.

In Taboo, Gatiss plays the character of the Prince Regent, who takes care of the matters related to the crown after his father’s mental illness.