The television adaptation of Noughts and Crosses finally kicks off tonight, bringing to life Malorie Blackman’s powerful Young Adult novel that has captured readers since its release in 2001.
The BBC One series depicts an alternate world in which a black ruling class wield power over the white underclass, while two star-crossed lovers, Sephy and Callum, connect across racial divides.
Being Human creator Toby Whithouse is the lead writer for the series, which was filmed in South America.
The adaptation has made slight changes to Blackman's novel, most notably that its leads, Callum and Sephy, have been aged up into their late teens.
So who is in the cast for Noughts and Crosses, and what else have they starred in? Meet them here...
Masali Baduza as Sephy Hadley
In the lead role of Sephy is Masali Baduza, a relative newcomer from South Africa.
Baduza previously starred in Trackers, a South African crime series set in Cape Town, as well as a short film titled The Fighter.
According to the i paper, Baduza studied acting at the New York Film Academy campus in Los Angeles.
She told the publication that the series was pertinent to her, having experienced racism growing up in South Africa.
““There was a list of hairstyles that black girls could have," sWe couldn’t wear natural afros because it was deemed unprofessional and unkempt. If you broke the rules, you were punished.”
Jack Rowan as Callum McGregor
Jack Rowan, 23, may be familiar to UK viewers from Peaky Blinders, on which he played Bonnie Gold.
Rowan, who was born and raised in Pimlico, made his breakthrough in Channel 4’s Born to Kill in 2017.
He has also starred in Silent Witness and Simon Amstell’s Benjamin.
He initially wanted to become a boxer before discovering acting: "The discipline that boxing taught me is the same discipline I carry onto acting,” he told Vogue UK.
“If I haven’t trained hard, I’m not going to be fit enough and I’m going to get found out. Just as if I haven’t done my homework for a role, I’m going to get found out.”
Jonathan Ayaji as Lekan
While Noughts and Crosses will be London-born Jonathan Ayaji’s first major TV role, the star has appeared in a number of stage productions.
He starred in The Brothers Size at the Young Vic and was in Inua Williams’ Three Sisters for the National Theatre.
Ayaji is set to have a major 2020, with his role in Noughts & Crosses followed by a supporting role in Wonder Woman: 1984.
Kiké Brimah as Minerva Hadley
Apart from small roles in shows such as Death in Paradise, Noughts and Crosses will be London-based Kiké Brimah’s first major TV role.
The actress has appeared in a number of theatre productions, and trained at ArtsEd in Chiswick.
She stars as Minerva, Sephy’s older sister, in Noughts and Crosses.
Josh Dylan as Jude McGregor
Josh Dylan may be recognisable to viewers for his role in The End of the F***ing World, or his turn as a young Stellan Skarsgard in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
He also had roles in the films Allied and The Little Stranger, and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
He plays the hot-headed Jude in Noughts and Crosses, Callum’s brother.
Helen Baxendale as Meggie McGregor
British actress Helen Baxendale is perhaps best known for her role as Ross’s controlling girlfriend Emily in Friends in the 90s.
She also played Rachel in Cold Feet, and more recently starred in the British sitcom Cuckoo.
She plays Callum and Jude’s mother Meggie in Noughts and Crosses, who works for the wealthy Hadley family.
Ian Hart as Ryan McGregor
British actor Ian Hart’s most famous role was as Professor Quirrel in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The Liverpool-born actor, who plays Callum and Jude’s father in Noughts and Crosses, more recently appeared in films such as God’s Own Country and Mary Queen of Scots, and the TV series The Last Kingdom.
Paterson Joseph as Kamal Hadley
Paterson Joseph plays Sephy's father.
Joseph was a regular in Peep Show, playing Mark Corrigan's boss Alan Johnson.
More recently, he starred as DCI Wes Leyton in Law & Order: UK and in the BBC One drama Rellik.
He has also performed extensively on stage, recently playing Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic Theatre.
Bonnie Mbuli as Jasmine Hadley
A star in her native South Africa, Mbuli has gained fame as an actress and television personality.
British viewers may recognise her for her role as Zindzi Mandela in Clint Eastwood’s film Invictus, or as Sgt Grace Mthembu in the Kenneth Branagh series Wallander.
She plays Jasmine in Noughts and Crosses, mother to Sephy and Kamal’s wife.
Shaun Dingwall as Jack Dorn
Shaun Dingwall has appeared in other British TV shows such as Doctor Who, in which he played Rose’s father Pete, and Rowan Atkinson’s crime drama Maigret.
He plays Dorn in Noughts and Crosses, a rebel associated with Jude.
Noughts & Crosses premieres Thursday, March 5 at 9pm on BBC One.
