The Animals cast features Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson. This info article contains minor spoilers and character details for Ben Affleck’s 2026 Netflix movie. Check out more cast guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category.

Animals takes place in Los Angeles. As a mayoral candidate seeks support from Latin American voters, he becomes the central figure in a criminal conspiracy. The narrative follows the main protagonist as he strategizes against a kidnapper. Here’s every actor and character in Animals.

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Animals Cast: Ben Affleck as Mark Kimball

Character Profile: A Los Angeles-based politician. He receives threatening phone calls from kidnappers before an election. Mark hires a professional fixer for financial support while looking after his wife, son and reputation.

Affleck’s Resume:  Director of The Town (2010) and Argo (2012) — Also, Chuckie in Good Will Hunting (1997), Nick Dunne in Gone Girl (2016), Vic Van Allen in Deep Water (2022)

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Animals Cast: Kerry Washington as Abigail Kimball

Character Profile: Mark’s wife. She is a psychologist who cheats on her husband. Abigail reluctantly admits to an affair while dealing with a kidnapping conspiracy.

Washington’s Resume: Chenille in Save the Last Dance (2001), Della Bea Robinson in Ray (2004), Olivia Pope in Scandal (2012-18), Broomhilda von Shaft in Django Unchained (2012), Mia Warren in Little Fires Everywhere (2020)

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Animals Cast: Gillian Anderson as Dayle Burton

Character Profile: A professional fixer. She provides $7 million to Mark and demands a $1.4 million upfront fee. Dayle helps the Kimballs protect their best interests.

Anderson’s Resume: Dana Scully in The X-Files (1993-2018), Stella Gibson in The Fall (2013-16), Bedelia Du Maurier in Hannibal (2013-15), Jean Milburn in Sex Education (2019-), Margaret Thatcher in The Crown (2020)

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Animals Cast: Steven Yeun as Sam Allison

Character Profile: Mark’s campaign manager and the father of a five-year-old son. He helps secure Latin American votes before an election. Sam connects with Mark with Dayle.

Yeun’s Resume: Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead (2010-16), Derek Cho in Mayhem (2017), Jacob in Minari (2020), Ricky “Jupe” Park in Nope (2022), Danny Cho in Beef (2023-)

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Animals Cast: Adriana Paz as Cecilia Trujillo

Character Profile: Mark and Abigail’s Mexican maid. Her boyfriend works as a gardener for the Kimballs. Cecilia’s son accidentally gets kidnapped instead of Mark and Abigail’s son.

Paz’s Resume: Hilda in Hilda (2014), Mexican Woman in Lift in Spectre (2015), Julia in Chupa (2023), María in Sangre llama sangre (2024), Epifania in Emilia Pérez (2024)

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Animals Cast: Luis Gerardo Méndez as Ramon

Character Profile: Cecilia’s boyfriend. He is an undocumented gardener who works for the Kimballs. Ramon searches for his kidnapped son.

Méndez’s Resume: Chava Iglesias in Club de Cuervos (2015-19), Saint in Charlie’s Angels (2019), Juan Carlos Rivera in Murder Mystery (2019), Victor Tapia in Narcos: Mexico (2021), Baltasar Frías in The Resort (2022)

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The Animals cast also includes:

• Christopher Woodley as Denny Kimball
• Jacob Estrada as Hector
• Ray Fisher as Ron Sperling
• Taylor Cooper as Hannah
• Chris Gann as Rand
• Matt Gerald as Kidnapper/James Bureaux

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