The Nyad cast features Annette Bening, Jodie Foster and Rhys Ifans. This info article contains minor spoilers and cast/character summaries for Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s 2023 Netflix movie. Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category, and then browse complete soundtrack song listings in the Soundtracks of Cinema section.

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Nyad chronicles the ups and downs of an American athlete. As Diana Nyad reaches her 60th birthday, she thinks about her past failures. The narrative follows the main protagonist as she tries to swim from Havana, Cuba to Key, West Florida. Here’s every actor and character in Nyad, an adaptation of Diana Nyad’s 2015 book Find a Way.

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Wingwomen’

Nyad Cast: Annette Bening as Diana Nyad

Character Profile: An American swimmer and broadcaster. She is a gay woman who feels determined to make up for past failures. Diana inspires her inner circle of friends by pushing her body and mind to extremes.

Bening’s Resume: Myra Langtry in The Grifters (1990), Virginia Hill in Bugsy (1991), Carolyn Burnham in American Beauty (1999), Nic in The Kids Are All Right (2010), Euphemia in Death on the Nile (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘All the Light We Cannot See’

Nyad Cast: Jodie Foster as Bonnie Stoll

Character Profile: Diana’s best friend and coach. She helps with logistics and technology. Bonnie stands by Diana despite worrying about her safety.

Foster’s Resume: Iris in Taxi Driver (1976), Sarah Tobias in The Accused (1988), Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Erica Bain in The Brave One (2007), Nancy Hollander in The Mauritanian (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Sister Death’

Nyad Cast: Rhys Ifans as John Bartlett

Character Profile: A sailor. He works as Diana’s navigator. John plans for one last journey upon learning about a terminal illness.

Ifans’ Resume: Spike in Notting Hill (1999), Earl of Oxford in Anonymous (2011), The Lizard/Dr. Curt Connors in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Hector DeJean in Berlin Station (2016-19), Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon (2022-)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Pain Hustlers’

The Nyad cast also include:

• Luke Cosgrove as Luke Tipple
• Ethan Jones Romero as Nico
• Jeena Yi as Angel Yanagihara
• Eric T. Miller as Jack Nelson
• Karly Rothenberg as Dee Brady
• Anne Marie Kempf as Candace
• Carolyn McCormick as Elise
• Johnny Solo as Aris
• Marcella Acuña Báez as Suzanne
• Anna Harriette Pittman as Diana, Age 14

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.