Netflix’s The Haunting series introduces viewers to some of Mike Flanagan’s best works. The shows, which feature both ghosts and haunting characters, have always done a great job of showing the audience more than just cheap scares. Both The Haunting Of Hill House and The Haunting Of Bly Manor seek to expand the limits of the supernatural/horror genre to explore complex themes of grief, love, and family trauma.
The release of Bly Manor this October invites fans and new viewers alike to new concepts and settings and sees some of the past Haunting characters return as new ones. Both series featured stellar performances, and though fans know much of their great performances, there are still things they may still not know about the actors, themselves.
10 Victoria Pedretti
Victoria Pedretti has quickly become one of Netflix’s rising stars, having the lead role in three Netflix Originals. Pedretti’s performance as the youngest member of the Crain family in The Haunting Of Hill House was her first-ever professional acting role out of drama school.
Viewers would be further exposed to Pedretti’s talent in her role as Love Quinn in the Lifetime turned Netflix Original psychological thriller You. However, what viewers may have missed about the Pennsylvania native is that she also appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 movie Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, playing Leslie Van Houten, a member of the Manson family. Pedretti shared only a brief time on screen, but audiences can catch her in this widely popular film.
9 Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Apart from playing Luke Crain in the first Haunting series, audiences may also recognize Oliver Jackson-Cohen through his main role in the 2020 thriller The Invisible Man, alongside Elizabeth Moss.
What fans may not know is that Jackson-Cohen already comes from a very high achieving family, being the son of famed British fashion designer, Betty Jackson. The latter has received the Queen’s Order Of Commander Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire (CBE) for her contributions to fashion and is still one of England’s most respected fashion designers.
8 T’nia Miller
T’nia Miller is one of the new cast additions to the Haunting series in the role of Hannah Grose, a housekeeper at the Bly Manor. Miller’s performance in the show was not unique, but showcased her range as an actor. She previously appeared as Celeste Bisme-Lyons in the BBC/HBO futuristic drama Years and Years, which garnered critical acclaim and expanded her reach to a new audience. Though not much is known about the actor, fans would be surprised to know that the actor’s now-signature shaved head was initially not part of the plan.
In an interview with Pride Magazine, Miller talked about her experience as a Black actress in the industry and reminiscences on the moment she decided to go for a bald look. She states that, for her, the decision was a symbol of “integrity and self-love,” as well as a poignant symbol of African pride. Miller also admitted that whilst she feared this change would limit her chances as an actor, it actually diversified the opportunities she was offered and has now become her signature look.
7 McKenna Grace & LuLu Wilson
McKenna Grace and Lulu Wilson are two of Hollywood’s most featured child actors. The two, who play Theo and Shirley Crain in The Haunting Of Hill House, have already, at their young age, amassed a sizable acting career. From Netflix series to movie blockbusters, McKenna has won roles far beyond what a regular 14 year year old normally can achieve.
One of Grace’s most notable roles was in the 2017 film Gifted, where she portrayed Mary Adler, a gifted seven-year-old, alongside Chris Evans. What fans may not know about her is that she is a dedicated animal rights activist and a vegetarian. LuLu Wilson, on the other hand, is also no stranger to horror blockbusters, having played lead roles in the Annabelle: Creation movie, as well as the 2020 action thriller Becky. What fans may not know about Wilson is that she appeared in cut scenes of the 2016 MCU film, Doctor Strange. The scenes were cut due to creative differences, but it still accounts for Wilson’s burgeoning presence in the industry.
6 Michael Huisman
Michael Huisman has also become one of Hollywood’s most recent familiar faces, most notably known for his role in The Age of Adaline and now The Haunting of Hill House. However, Huisman’s titular role as Stephen Crain was so captivating that viewers may have overlooked the fact that the actor also played the role of Daario Naharis in Game Of Thrones’s fourth season. Huisman would carry the role until the show’s end, making him one of the series’ most memorable characters.
Fans may also be keen to know that, as well as being a versatile actor, Huisman is also a talented musician and was part of a band in the early 2000s before venturing out as a solo artist. Even though he has not returned to this year’s The Haunting Of Bly Manor, Huisman is still one of the series’ most intriguing and well-liked actors.
5 Rahul Kohli
Rahul Kohli joins The Haunting series as Owen Sharma in The Haunting Of Bly Manor. Kohli is one of the new diverse faces in this new series and has already become a fan favorite.
While this may be the first time some audiences have been exposed to Kohli’s work, the London born actor previously starred in the CW series iZombie. Kohli played the role of Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti and is one of the series of regular cast members. Apart from a growing acting resume, Kohli is also an avid gamer. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Kohli confessed to lifelong gaming addiction, a fact which makes this charming actor more intriguing.
4 Tahirah Sharif
View this post on InstagramDidn’t realise I was training for the apocalypse back then.. • • • #gunrange #targetpractice #fun #beforetimes #losangeles #america #family
Tahirah Sharif is the actress viewers should look out for. Her performance as Rebecca Jessell in The Haunting Of Bly Manor not only exposed viewers to her talent, but reflects her years of screen and stage training. This is also not the first time Sharif has been involved in a Netflix Original, having previously starred in the film A Christmas Prince, as Melissa.
What fans may not know about the actor is that she seems to enjoy many sporting and interactive activities, as shown on her Instagram. From target practice to skiing, Tahirah Sharif has always shown to be keen for an adventure, just like her character in The Haunting Of Bly Manor.
3 Amelie Bea Smith & Benjamin Evan Ainsworth
Whilst there are many stellar adult actors in both Haunting series, it is the young actors of the series who truly carry the ghostly narratives of the show. Newcomers, Amelie Bea Smith and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, both have a lot of experience in the horror genre, which they can add to their resumes.
For example, fans may not know that as well as playing the mysterious Flora in The Haunting Of Bly Manor, Bea Smith voices Peppa in the children’s animated series Peppa Pig. Her acting partner, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who plays Miles, has also voiced an animated character, taking a role in Disney’s upcoming Flora and Ulysses.
2 Henry Thomas
Henry Thomas’ acting resume spans many decades. His role as the Crain Patriarch in The Haunting Of Hill House follows a few years of work in the horror film industry. He previously appeared in films such as Ouija: Origins of Evil and Geralds’ Game, both written and directed by The Haunting series’ Mike Flanagan.
Surprisingly, Thomas also played the iconic role of Elliot in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Thomas’ audition video for the role is widely available on YouTube and is indicative of the actor’s skill at a young age.
1 Carla Gugino
Playing the matriarch of the Crain family was just a small taste of Carla Gugino’s burgeoning talent. The star has also starred in Mike Flanagan’s Gerald’s Game and is now the narrator of the story in Bly Manor. Gugino’s screen presence and versatility makes her one of the most respected and sought after actors in Hollywood.
However, from the outside, viewers may not know that Gugino had a complicated start in life. Gugino once spoke of her chaotic childhood and brush with illness at age four, which led to surgery on one of her kidneys. The actor credits the experience as the reason she chose to become an actor, as it inspired her to take more risks and live life more fearlessly.
About The Author
