Get to Know the Cast and Characters of Maigret
The first contemporary television adaptation of Maigret, based on the detective novels by Georges Simenon, is filled with recognizable favorites and newcomers you’ll love, plus fresh twists on beloved characters. Learn more about the key players in this new MASTERPIECE crime drama, from stars Benjamin Wainwright, Stefanie Martini, Blake Harrison, and more.
- 1.
Benjamin Wainwright as Chief Inspector Jules Maigret
The Character: As the series begins, Jules Maigret has just been promoted to Chief Inspector of the elite police unit known as La Crim, responsible for investigating all serious crime in and around Paris. Supporting Maigret along the way is his team of maverick but loyal detectives known as Les Maigrets.
Maigret is an unconventional young detective who is relentless in his investigations, with an ability to get under the skin of the criminals he is chasing. “[Maigret is] very empathetic and relies a lot on his gut feeling,” says Benjamin Wainwright. “He really cares a lot about getting the right result, not a result.”
The Actor: Benjamin Wainwright has been in Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim, and in Belgravia: The Next Chapter, a follow-up to Belgravia, which was written by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes. MASTERPIECE viewers may recognize Wainwright from his appearances on World on Fire, Endeavour, and Unforgotten.
Fun Fact: One of his favorite parts of filming in Budapest has been the delicious food. “The pastries [in Budapest] are unbelievable. And I’ve made it a bit of a mission to find the best croissant. When I get the time to, I do go hunting pastries.”
Read our interview with Benjamin Wainwright to learn more about the actor.
- 2.
Stefanie Martini as Madame Louise Maigret
The Character: Maigret’s confidante and greatest supporter is his wife, Madame Louise Maigret. Actor Stefanie Martini describes her as “calm, practical, rational, caring, empathetic,” ideal qualities for someone with a career as a psychiatric nurse. Louise Maigret’s professional expertise provides her with unique insight into her husband’s detective work. Whether Maigret is puzzling out a suspect’s motives or trying to understand a killer’s psychology, Madame Maigret’s keen observations inspire new ways to approach a case.
The Actor: MASTERPIECE viewers have the chance to watch Stefanie Martini in not one, but two new crime dramas this fall: Maigret and The Gold. Martini has also appeared in Doctor Thorne, Endeavour, and in Prime Suspect: Tennison, the prequel to Prime Suspect, in the role made famous by Dame Helen Mirren.
Fun Fact: Stefanie Martini and co-star Benjamin Wainwright have known each other for over a decade. “We were friends before [working on Maigret together], which is nice because it means we had a sort of shorthand,” says Martini.
- 3.
Kerrie Hayes as Sergeant Andrea Lucas
The Character: Les Maigrets are led by the experienced, tough and competent Sergeant Andrea Lucas. As Maigret’s steady number two, Lucas takes her orders from Maigret and guides the rest of the team. “I see her as a kind of maternal member of the group. She looks after the younger ones,” says Kerrie Hayes. Lucas holds a deep respect for the Chief Inspector, and is always by his side to follow a lead or chase down a suspect.
The Actor: Kerrie Hayes has appeared in other crime and detective shows, including The Responder and Criminal Record. Black Mirror fans may recognize her from the Season 1 episode, Fifteen Million Merits.
Fun Fact: Beyond her role in Maigret, Kerrie Hayes is a fan of detective novels and series, and enjoys piecing together mysteries and red herrings before the big reveal brings everything to light. There’s plenty of that to look forward to in Maigret!
- 4.
Blake Harrison as Sergeant Joseph Torrence
The Character: This old-school, quick-witted detective knows both the streets and the workings of the criminal mind. “[Torrence is] very loyal, he really does care for his team, but he’s sometimes got some methods that are not up to the modern-day code of ethics or standards… but I think his heart is in the right place and he’s always learning,” says Blake Harrison.
The Actor: Blake Harrison appeared in Prime Suspect: Tennison alongside fellow Maigret star Stefanie Martini. In World on Fire, Harrison played the loyal Army sergeant, Stan Raddings.
Fun Fact: His favorite Maigret scene to film was one where he punches a costar. You’ll have to wait until the Maigret finale to find out who takes the hit…
- 5.
Shaniqua Okwok as Detective Berthe Janvier
The Character: “She’s really athletic, she’s loyal, she’s sassy… she’s just cool,” says Shaniqua Okwok, who plays Berthe Janvier, a cop-turned-detective who was recruited for La Crim by Maigret. Janvier is a fast-driving, confident, and fearless detective, who is always eager to get in on the action scenes. As the second youngest member of the team, Janvier is one of the newer additions to Les Maigrets, but she has quickly developed close relationships with some of her colleagues.
The Actor: Shaniqua Okwok appeared in an episode in Season 1 of Van der Valk on MASTERPIECE. She is also known for the series The Flatshare and It’s a Sin.
Fun Fact: She didn’t back down from filming the more challenging scenes in Maigret. “I’ve tried to do as many stunts as possible on this show… Any of the high-speed stuff or car stuff, that’s actually me,” says Okwok.
- 6.
Reda Elazouar as Detective Karim LaPointe
The Character: Every squad needs a computer expert — Les Maigrets’ expert is the youngest member of the team, Karim LaPointe. Maigret drafted him into La Crim for his intuition, savvy investigation skills, and his personal experience in the world of crime. Reda Elazouar sees LaPointe as someone who looks up to Maigret, and “[wants] to follow in [Maigret’s] footsteps and be as good as he is one day.” He’s on the right track, as LaPointe already shares Maigret’s disdain for hierarchy and authority.
The Actor: Reda Elazouar plays Beau in the Netflix series Sex Education, and he also starred in the film Pirates.
Fun Fact: When Elazouar landed the role of LaPointe, he was asked to learn how to lockpick. “I got a lockpicking set and I just started practicing at home. It took me an hour to do it the first time, and then I was able to do it in a few minutes.”
- 7.
Rob Kazinsky as Inspector Justin Cavre
The Character: With a background in psychology and criminology, Cavre is the most well-educated of his colleagues. He works hard and tends to claim credit where he shouldn’t. Simmering beneath the surface is Cavre’s growing resentment towards Maigret, who surpassed him for the Chief Inspector promotion that Cavre felt he deserved. Rob Kazinsky says, “[Cavre] really doesn’t love Maigret himself. He respects him, he admires him, but he believes that the only difference between them is one is lucky and one is not.”
The Actor: Rob Kazinsky is most known for Star Trek: Section 31, The Gray Man, EastEnders, Pacific Rim, and True Blood.
Fun Fact: When asked about his favorite Maigret filming location, Rob Kazinsky said, “What [the location had] that really made it special, was a cat. And this cat was the most affectionate cat I’ve ever come across in my life… If you know me at all, I’m all about pets.”
- 8.
Nathalie Armin as Prosecutor Mathilde Kernavel
The Character: Prosecutor Mathilde Kernavel has climbed the ranks of the legal profession to become one of the top Prosecutors working for the Ministry of Justice in Paris. She holds a deep respect for hierarchy and procedure, which is one of the main points of tension between her and the unconventional, rule-breaking Maigret. “She finds [Maigret’s] working methods impenetrable and difficult to read,” says Nathalie Armin, though Kernavel is on the path to becoming allied with Maigret.
The Actor: Nathalie Armin was recently in the London stage adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s novel, A Little Life, alongside James Norton, Grantchester’s first vicar. She is in The Flatshare with Maigret co-star Shaniqua Okwok, and EastEnders with Rob Kazinsky. Armin has also appeared in MASTERPIECE’s Unforgotten and as Melissa Conway in Magpie Murders.
Fun Fact: This isn’t her first Maigret adaptation! Nathalie Armin made an appearance in the TV adaptation of Maigret starring Rowan Atkinson.
