Amazon’s 2021 ballet-thriller Birds of Paradise boasts a cast of recognizable actors and talented newcomers. Based on the book Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small, the film is helmed by critically acclaimed director Sarah Adina Smith, whose previous movies include independent darlings Buster’s Mal Heart and The Midnight Swim. Birds of Paradise is an intense psychological film akin to fellow ballet movie, Black Swan. The film is set nearly entirely within the walls of an elite, ficтιтious ballet academy in Paris, with the story revolving around the company of students competing for a position at the Paris Opera Ballet.

An American girl wins a scholarship to join the ranks and finds herself out of her league until taken under the wing of the school’s prima ballerina. The two form a complicated bond of friendship, contention, and romance that culminates as they get closer to the prize. The Birds of Paradise cast is relatively small and many of the faces are new, lending fertile ground for breakout performances. There are a few familiar faces, however, both of legendary and newly-minted status among the ranks.

Kristine Froseth as Marine Durand

Born September 21, 1995

Active Since: 2013

Actor: Starting as a model before becoming an actress, Kristine Froseth made a name for herself relatively early on with the role of Kelly Aldrich in The Society and Alaska Young in Looking For Alaska, the fantastic TV adaptation of John Green’s novel. She has also appeared in Sarah Burgess is a Loser, Apostle, The First Lady, and The Buccaneers, showing her impressive range throughout her career.

Character: Marine Durand is the daughter of the American Ambᴀssador in France and a nut-milk mogul. Marine is Kate Sanders’ greatest compeтιтion and roommate. She has been dancing ballet since she could walk, along with her recently deceased twin brother, and plays a mercurial role in Kate’s life as friend, enemy, and lover.

Diana Silvers as Kate Sanders

Born November 3, 1997

Active Since: 2018

Actor: Getting her acting career started in the late-2010s, Diana Silvers is best known for her roles in Space Force, Booksmart, and The Killer, with Booksmart being her first big breakthrough in Hollywood. Alongside those, she has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, including Ma, Ava, and Lonely Planet.

Character: Diana Silvers plays Kate Sanders in Birds of Paradise, an American ex-basketball player turned ballerina. Kate’s mother died when she was young, and her father gave everything to afford Kate the opportunity in Paris. She is roommates with Marine as the two of them have a contentious relationship that begins to develop into something more throughout the film.

Jacqueline Bisset as Madame Brunelle

Born September 13, 1944

Active Since: 1965

Actor: Starting her acting career six decades ago, Jacqueline Bisset is a legend in the film industry and has appeared in some of the greatest movies and shows throughout her career. Some of her most notable roles include Murder on the Orient Express, Casino Royale, The Mephisto Waltz, and Day for Night. She remains an impressive talent after so many years into her career.

Character: Jacqueline Bisset plays the academy’s formidable director, Madame Brunelle. Brunelle is ruthless and demanding of the students and seems to favor Marine for the prized position at the Paris Opera Ballet.

Birds Of Paradise Supporting Cast

Caroline Goodall as Celine Durand: Heading up Birds of Paradise‘s supporting cast, which is largely made up of fresh faces, Caroline Goodall is a seasoned actress from major blockbusters including Hook, Schindler’s List, Disclosure, and The Princess Diaries. Also in 2021, Goodall played Crowley in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard with Ryan Reynolds. In Birds of Paradise, she plays Celine Durand, Marine’s tyrannical mother.

Nᴀssim Lyes as Jamal: Marine’s boyfriend, Jamal, is played by Nᴀssim Lyes, a French actor whose most credits include The Last Mercenary with Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Daniel Camargo as Felipe: Newcomer Daniel Camargo plays Felipe, the company’s best male dancer and serial playboy.

Eva Lomby as Gia: Another newcomer, Eva Lomby makes her debut in Birds of Paradise as the prima ballerina while Marina is absent from the academy mourning her twin brother’s death.

Solomon Golding as Luc: Playing Kate’s ᴀssigned dance partner for the final compeтιтion, Birds of Paradise is Solomon Golding’s first film.

Alice Dardenne as Claire: Birds of Paradise is also the first feature-length film for Alice Dardenne, who plays Claire, a supersтιтious dancer who exits the compeтιтion after sustaining an injury.