Accomplished journalist Lo Blacklock is recovering from a traumatic event when she receives the offer to cover the Aurora Borealis’ first voyage. It sounds like a relaxing vacation; it becomes a horrifying ordeal.

“She’s a very serious journalist who initially is incredibly embarrassed about going on a superyacht cruise and writing about these people, and then discovers that there’s more to the story than she thought,” Knightley tells Netflix. “Lo is dogged, and once she knows that something’s going on, she doesn’t take no for an answer. She just goes for it and goes for it and goes for it.”

Knightley has been nominated for two Academy Awards, for her performances in Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game. She’s also appeared in films including the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Atonement, Bend It Like Beckham, Love Actually, and Anna Karenina. She’ll next be seen reprising her role as spy Helen Webb in Season 2 of Black Doves. 

Richard Bullmer is the host of the cruise, a charming British aristocrat whose oil heiress wife Anne is battling cancer. The Aurora’s ultimate destination is a fundraiser gala in Anne’s Norwegian hometown, meant to raise money and awareness for the disease.

Stone has wanted to work with Pearce for years. “Over the years, there’s been several times where we’ve almost worked together and for one reason or another, it hasn’t quite happened,” he tells Netflix. “So it was really lovely when I found out that he was playing Richard Bullmer in this, because he’s a sensational actor and it’s always wonderful watching him work.”

Pearce was Oscar-nominated for his supporting turn in 2024’s sweeping period epic The Brutalist, and won an Emmy Award for his performance in HBO’s Mildred Pierce miniseries. He’s also appeared in films including L.A. Confidential, Memento, Iron Man 3, Prometheus, The King’s Speech, The Hurt Locker, and Animal Kingdom, and television series including Neighbours, Mare of Easttown, A Christmas Carol, and The Clearing.

Ben Morgan is Lo’s ex, a cocky photographer hired to document the Aurora’s voyage. He’ll soon become a crucial confidant during her stay on the yacht.

“It’s awkward because they had a slightly tumultuous break-up, and that they remember the break-up very differently,” Ajala tells Netflix. “He has to make it up to her, one way or another. He’ll always entertain a bit of romance.”

Ajala played smuggler Cleveland Booker on Star Trek: Discovery and superpowered antihero Manchester Black on Supergirl. He’s also appeared in films including Fast & Furious 6, Jupiter Ascending, and Starred Up, and television series including Black Box, Falling Water, and Nightflyers.

Rowan is Lo’s editor, who gives her the Aurora assignment to take her mind off of more difficult subjects.

Mbatha-Raw started her career on the English stage, where she earned acclaim for performances in Anthony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, and Nell Gwynn. She’s since appeared in films including Belle, Beyond the Lights, A Wrinkle in Time, Fast Color, Free State of Jones, and Concussion, and series including Loki, The Morning Show, and Black Mirror.

Anne Bullmer is Richard’s wife, a Norwegian oil heiress who takes time away from her battle with cancer to have a cordial conversation with Lo when she first arrives on the yacht. 

Kongsli has appeared in films in both her native Norway, including Force Majeure, and in Hollywood, including Wonder Woman.

Adam Sutherland is a wealthy heir who brings a snarky, jaded outlook on the Aurora’s voyage.

Ings played Luke Curran for three seasons of English sitcom Lovesick. He’s appeared in films including Eddie the Eagle and The Marvels, and television series including Sex Education, The Gentlemen, The Crown, Black Mirror, and The Winter King. He’ll next be seen in theaters in the upcoming Star Wars film Starfighter, and on television in the Game of Thrones spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Thomas Heatherly is a brusque old-money heir and a friend of Richard’s. 

“Thomas is part of a power couple, Thomas and Heidi,” Morrissey tells Netflix. “They've been invited because they're very moneyed people and Richard Bullmer is announcing this big new charity that he wants investors to be in. And they’re very philanthropic with their wealth, and so they’re being wined and dined really on this beautiful cruise.”

Morrissey played the ruthless Governor on The Walking Dead for three seasons. He’s also appeared in films including The Water Horse, The Other Boleyn Girl, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and Nowhere Boy, and television series including Sherwood, The Driver, and Britannia. 

Heidi is Thomas’ wife, a gossipy, antagonistic presence on the yacht.

“David and I wanted to make sure that Thomas and Heidi were an absolutely impenetrable team and that they unequivocally dig each other, which actually added an almost bullying sense of menace from them as a unit within the group,” Waddingham tells Netflix of her onscreen relationship with Morrissey. “It was really lovely to play a very happy, supportive, cheeky, saucy couple, whose secrets we’ll never know!”

Waddingham won an Emmy for her performance as Rebecca Welton, the brash new owner of A.F.C. Richmond on Ted Lasso. She’s also appeared in films including Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, The Fall Guy, Les Misérables, Hocus Pocus 2, and 2025’s remake of Lilo & Stitch, and television series including Game of Thrones, 12 Monkeys, Willow, and Sex Education.

Lars Jensen is an awkward Nordic tech magnate whose board is always looking over his shoulder. 

Rygh plays Agnarr on Vikings: Valhalla. He’s also appeared in films including Medieval and The Head Hunter, and television series including Gangs of Oslo, Miracle Workers, and Granite Harbour. 

Grace Phillips is Jensen’s board-mandated girlfriend, a publicity-hungry model and influencer who’s only with him for shared optics. 

“Grace is an influencer, so she gets paid to post about different products on her Instagram and show off her lifestyle,” Scodelario tells Netflix. “She’s there to help [Lars’] image and she’s also enjoying a luxury trip.”

Scodelario rose to fame as Effy Stonem on Skins before appearing in films including 2011’s Wuthering Heights, The Maze Runner trilogy, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. She’s also starred in Netflix series The Gentlemen and Senna.

Danny Tyler is a hard-living, vacuous rockstar who jets onto the Aurora for a vacation.

“He had his heyday and he was done by ’92, ’93, and he’s just about surviving and reeling from one crisis to another, in and out of rehab,” Kaye tells Netflix of his character. “He resuscitated his career when one of his songs randomly got chosen for a car commercial, and he thought he was relevant again. But the older he gets, the shallower he becomes.”

Kaye is perhaps best known for his performance as red priest Thoros of Myr on Game of Thrones. He’s also appeared in films including Anna and the Apocalypse, Dracula Untold, Catherine Called Birdy, and Match Point, and in television series including Vera, The Stranger, Pennyworth, and After Life.

Dr. Robert Mehta is Anne’s personal physician, aboard to keep an eye on her as her condition develops.

“Mehta has been a friend of Richard’s for a long time,” Malik tells Netflix. “Anne falls ill and needs a physician. And [my character is] a retired physician, with a past.”

Malik starred as anaesthetist Zubin Khan on the BBC’s medical drama Holby City. He’s also appeared in films including The Living Daylights, True Lies, Diana, and A Passage to India, and in television series including Homeland, Borgia, Unfinished Business, and Cold Feet.

Sigrid is the Bullmers’ uptight and eagle-eyed security officer on the Aurora Borealis. 

Collin has appeared in films including The Promised Land and A Terrible Woman, and in television series including Raised by Wolves and House of the Dragon.

The woman in cabin 10 is the mysterious figure that Lo’s investigation centers on. Did she fall overboard? Was she pushed? And why will no one admit she existed?

Witt has appeared in films including The Sleepwalker, The Impossible, and Cadaver.