Get to Know the Cast of The Gold
There’s no denying it — The Gold certainly struck gold with its star-studded cast! Award-winning screen veterans, up-and-comers, familiar MASTERPIECE fan favorites…this gripping, critically acclaimed crime drama — inspired by a shocking, true heist story — is simply overflowing with talent. Learn all about the cast, where you’ve seen them before, their histories on MASTERPIECE, and some surprising fun facts about each of them (such as who recently published their first children’s book, whose brother is a famous ballet dancer, and who will be starring in not one, but two MASTERPIECE premieres on the same night).
- 1.
Hugh Bonneville
Character: Brian Boyce
Where You’ve Seen Him Before: From popular children’s series, to a beloved romantic comedy, to period dramas, and beyond, Bonneville has done a little bit of everything throughout his career. His big-screen credits include Notting Hill, the hit Paddington films, and Mansfield Park. Bonneville has also appeared in TV series such as Galavant; W1A; Thomas & Friends; Sofia the First, and more.
MASTERPIECE History: Most notably, MASTERPIECE fans will certainly remember Bonneville from his role as family patriarch Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey (a role which he then reprised in the three subsequent feature films based on the series). He also appeared in past episodes of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.
Fun Fact: In October 2025, Bonneville’s first ever children’s book, titled Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room, hits shelves.
- 2.
Jack Lowden
Character: Kenneth Noye
Where You’ve Seen Him Before: Lowden’s silver screen resume includes roles in films such as the Academy Award-winning Dunkirk; Mary Queen of Scots (earning him a BAFTA Scotland award nomination); and Denial. On TV, he currently stars in the award-winning series Slow Horses alongside Gary Oldman, and has appeared in other series such as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and War & Peace.
MASTERPIECE History: Prior to The Gold, Lowden appeared in MASTERPIECE productions The Long Song and in the first season of Wolf Hall (which starred Mark Rylance, who then starred in Dunkirk with Lowden just two years later).
Fun Fact: Lowden’s not the only famous member of his family. His brother Calum is a principal at the The Royal Swedish Ballet. Lowden credits his brother for his passion for the stage, after joining his little brother’s ballet lessons. “I wasn’t very good,” he told Vogue in a 2022 interview. He continued on, joking that though his brother is now a professional dancer, Jack was quickly encouraged to “try words instead. But that’s how I discovered the stage. I just adore it. It feels like home.”
- 3.
Charlotte Spencer
Character: Nikki Jennings
Where You’ve Seen Her Before: Spencer’s career began with the TV series Five Days alongside her Sanditon co-star Anne Reid, and Les Misérables star David Oyelowo. From there, Spencer has also appeared in series such as Ted Lasso; The Living and the Dead; and Baghdad Central. Fans also may recognize her voice from projects like Watership Down and Angelina Ballerina. Her film roles include the 2021 musical adaptation of Cinderella, (starring Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, and Nicholas Galitzine); Misbehaviour, starring Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw; and more.
MASTERPIECE History: As far as her previous MASTERPIECE roles, Spencer played the sometimes schemer (or, rather, an accomplice to her stepbrother Edward’s scheming) with a softer side buried deep down, Lady Esther Babbington (née Denham) in all three seasons of Sanditon, based on Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel. She also appeared in the series Us, starring Tom Hollander and Saskia Reeves.
Fun Fact: At just 12 years-old, Spencer won the role of Jane Banks in the original 2004 West End musical production of Mary Poppins, directed by Richard Eyre — which just so happened to be her first role ever. “When Richard said to my parents, ‘She’s a very good actress, very special’, that was a shock for my parents and a shock for me!” Spencer told The Independent in a 2025 interview.
- 4.
Emun Elliott
Character: Tony Brightwell
Where You’ve Seen Him Before: Elliott has appeared in a number of TV series, including Game of Thrones; Clique; Sexy Beast; and the sitcom Threesome. His film resume includes appearances in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens; Prometheus; Phea; and The King’s Man.
MASTERPIECE History: MASTERPIECE Mystery! fans may remember Elliott from his days as Kenny Burns, a private investigator and old pal to criminal brothers Jake and Max, in the darkly comic Scottish thriller Guilt. Prior to that, he also appeared in MASTERPIECE’s The Paradise as John Moray, the 19th century owner of The Paradise department store.
Fun Fact: Elliott officially made his Broadway debut in 2019 when he starred in Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo alongside Academy Award-winner Marisa Tomei as the swoon-worthy, suave Alvaro Mangiacavallo, an Italian-American truck driver. In a 2019 interview with Broadway.com, Elliott said, “The fact that I’m here now is still surreal and massively exciting. Broadway is the pinnacle of the theatrical world, so it’s just great to be here and to be part of something special. Maybe it’s because I’m an actor, but you feel like you’re in your own movie [in New York].”
- 5.
Stefanie Martini
Character: Marnie Palmer
Where You’ve Seen Her Before: Prior to The Gold, Martini appeared in a number of TV series, including a starring role in Doctor Thorne from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, co-starring Poldark‘s Harry Richardson (The Gilded Age) and Tom Hollander (Pride & Prejudice, Gosford Park, Us); the historical drama The Last Kingdom, set in 9th century England; and Emerald City, based on L. Frank Baum’s Oz book series. Her film resume includes a starring role in the Agatha Christie inspired Crooked House (which just so happens to also be written by Fellowes), alongside Glenn Close and Max Irons (Miss Austen); and the WWII sci-fi flick Lola.
MASTERPIECE History: Longtime MASTERPIECE fans may recall Martini’s days starring in the Prime Suspect prequel series Prime Suspect: Tennison as the one and only WPC (and later DCI) Jane Tennison, who was played by Helen Mirren in the original series; and an appearance in Endeavour’s Season 3 episode “Prey.”
Fun Fact: The Gold isn’t the only series featuring Martini that’s premiering on Sunday, October 5 — before the 10/9c series premiere, you can also catch Martini in the series premiere of Maigret, based on Georges Simenon’s beloved novels, at 9/8c. (To learn more about the all-new adaptation, read our feature containing six reasons you won’t want to miss it!)
- 6.
Dominic Cooper
Character: Edwyn Cooper
Where You’ve Seen Him Before: Cooper has appeared in a number of award-winning, hit films such as the musical-to-screen adaptation of Mamma Mia! (and its later follow-up Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again); Captain America: The First Avenger; My Week with Marilyn, the Academy Award-nominated biographical drama about Marilyn Monroe; The Duchess; and The Lady in the Van, starring some familiar MASTERPIECE faces — the late, prolific Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, David Copperfield) and Alex Jennings (Victoria, Wolf Hall, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Unforgotten).
His TV credits include his starring role in all four seasons of the dark supernatural fantasy Preacher; his role as Lord Seymour in My Lady Jane, a costume drama inspired by the story of Lady Jane Grey (AKA the “Nine Days Queen”); and Agent Carter, in which he reprised his Captain America: The First Avenger role as Howard Stark, father of the Marvel superhero Iron Man.
MASTERPIECE History: Longtime MASTERPIECE fans may recognize Cooper from role as Mr. Willoughby in the 2008 adaptation of Sense & Sensibility, as well as Moche in 2008’s God on Trial.
Fun Fact: Cooper was hesitant to audition for Mamma Mia! after a scarring drama school experience from his past. “Maybe drama school put me off [from auditioning] a bit, because I was told I had no rhythm. Then I realized who [Phyllida Lloyd] was directing it, and I knew her opera work in London, and I realized what the piece was! But my agent kept on saying, “You sure you can’t?” And so I just thought, ‘Be brave, be bold, stop being pathetic,’” he told Vulture.
- 7.
Tom Cullen
Character: John Palmer
Where You’ve Seen Him Before: Thoughout his career, Cullen has appeared in a number of TV series, including the Queen Elizabeth I inspired drama Becoming Elizabeth; the History Channel fictional drama Knightfall, about the 14th century Knights Templar; and The Five (also featuring Grantchester star Tom Brittney). Other of Cullen’s film credits include GLAAD Media Award-nominated Weekend, for which Cullen won the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer in 2011; Castle in the Ground; and Mine.
MASTERPIECE History: Cullen appeared in Seasons 4 and 5 of Downton Abbey as Anthony “Tony” Foyle, Viscount Gillingham, an old friend of the Crawley family who becomes a love interest to Lady Mary after the death of her husband, Matthew.
Fun Fact: In a June 2025 interview with BBC, the Welsh actor mentioned that though he starred in Ar Y Ffin — a Welsh language program — he doesn’t speak Welsh…yet. But, he noted that he’s “learning at the moment,” driven in part by plans to move to Cardiff. “My daughter will be going to a Welsh school in Cardiff, so I’m going to have to understand what the homework is.”
- 8.
Amanda Drew
Character: CS Cath McClean
Where You’ve Seen Her Before: Fans may recognize Drew from any number of the hit TV series she’s been in, including A Very British Scandal; Gangs of London; Chernobyl; Broadchurch; Eastenders; and the recent Netflix hit Wednesday, based on 20th century cartoonist Charles Addams’ popular Addams Family characters. As far as big-screen roles, Drew has appeared in projects such as Mrs. Dalloway and A Private War.
MASTERPIECE History: While Drew is no screen “newbie,” she is a welcome newcomer to the MASTERPIECE family.
- 9.
More Familiar MASTERPIECE Faces
From left to right: Dorothy Atkinson, Ian Pirie, and Ruth Bradley This cast is chock full of recognizable MASTERPIECE faces from the past and present, including others such as Dorothy Atkinson as Jeannie Savage (All Creatures Great and Small, Magpie Murders); Ruth Bradley (Guilt) as Isabelle Cooper; Ian Pirie (Miss Scarlet, Guilt, Endeavour) as Capitaine Siegrist; Ellora Torchia (Grantchester, Indian Summers) as Sienna Rose; Chris Coghill (Home Fires) as Neil Murphy; Nichola Burley (Downton Abbey); and Peter Davison, who originally played Tristan Farnon in the 1970s adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small.
