Netflix’s 'Below' Cast and Character Guide

The 2026 Canadian thriller series on Netflix, Below, is successful in gripping the attention of the audience fairly quickly because of its intriguing premise and a set of characters who are relatable and worth supporting. Although the show loses its way from around the midpoint, in my personal opinion, the performances still remain strong and act as a saving grace at multiple points. If you’ve already watched Below, or are planning to watch it soon, here is a list of the major characters to be mindful of, and the actors who have played the respective roles.

Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney

American actor Josh Hartnett stars as the protagonist of the series, Calvin Penney, a man nearing his 50s who is still haunted by a traumatic incident from his childhood from time to time. A fisherman by profession, Calvin has to resort to hunting down icebergs floating down from the frigid seas in order to make ends meet, because of the depopulation of fish shoals at his hometown, Snook’s Arm. But it is the memory of the mysterious death of his father 40 years back that still haunts the man, and he even feels partly guilty for it. As their house, which was being transported on floaters through the water, started sinking with his father still inside, Calvin followed the orders of the other elders and cut the rope tying the house to their boat, in order to ensure that the boat did not drown as well. But for a very long time after, the grown-up Calvin had felt guilty for having done so, instead of doing more to help his father escape and survive the incident. 

Calvin is the first person to encounter something odd first-hand, when he finds a block of ice at sea and brings it back, intending to sell it to the local distillery. However, he is turned down, as the ice is considered to be unfit for human consumption. In order to make up for his financial loss, and also to understand why the ice has a foul smell and a slimy feel, he takes it to the Ocean Science Centre for testing. In the next couple of days, Calvin becomes more invested in his children, who have come to visit him, only to then be made aware of the horrors lurking in the waters around the coastal town. But come what may, Calvin Penney remains determined to save his family and his town at all costs, having already experienced losing both at a very young age. Josh Hartnett, best known for his roles in Black Hawk Down, Lucky Number Slevin, and Penny Dreadful, is one of the highlights in the show as the protagonist.

Mackenzie Davis as Dr. Fonda Howander

Canadian actress, producer, and director Mackenzie Davis stars as Dr. Fonda Howander, arguably the second most important character in the series. Fonda is a scientist who runs the Ocean Science Centre near Snook’s Arm, and she is very dedicated to her research, to the extent that she can sometimes come off as socially awkward. She is always enthusiastic about learning new things for the sake of science, even though there’s a sense of caution in her as well. Fonda is more of a responsible scientist character than one who jumps into the most adventurous scenarios only for the sake of knowledge and scientific discovery. She is the first one to witness, with solid proof, that something is wrong with the sea around the town, as she examines the iceberg found by Calvin for days and concludes that the foul stench is that of ammonia, meaning that it has been in close contact with a living being, and that the slimy touch comes from it being covered by mucus. With time, Dr. Fonda Howander starts to realize that she will also have to play the role of a leader in the town, at least when it comes to keeping the residents safe. Mackenzie Davis is known for her roles in Blade Runner 2049, and Tully.

Charlie Heaton as Wade Penney

English actor and musician Charlie Heaton plays Wade Penney, the youngest son of Calvin, who is also the only one of his children to be staying at the family home. There is a major reason behind this, as Wade has clinical ADHD and is on the spectrum, because of which his father has always restricted him to a highly protected life. Even though Wade genuinely wants to be useful to the family by going fishing on their boat or helping his father in any way possible, Calvin does not allow him to go out to sea. The man is clearly scared that his son will not know how to react in a moment of emergency, and fears losing him. But his overprotectiveness, obviously out of love, also makes Wade feel useless and unwanted. In turn, this fills the young man with a sense of false confidence and desperation to prove his worth to his father at any cost, which soon lands him in danger. Charlie Heaton is famously known for his role in Stranger Things, and he has also appeared in As You Are, The New Mutants, and Industry.

Rohan Campbell as Jay Penney

Canadian actor Rohan Campbell appears as Jay Penney, the eldest son of Calvin, who is also the most adventurous among his siblings. Jay lives in the city and claims to be earning big bucks, so much so that he instantly wants to give some money to his father after arriving at his hometown to meet him. Jay’s flashy and adventurous lifestyle is evident from the very moment of his arrival, as he flies down in a helicopter after having missed his original flight and taking a lift from some strangers. Although he has only love and respect for his father, Jay is not at all interested in leaving his life in the city and returning home just because Calvin wants to expand his business with the help of his children. Jay mostly keeps to himself at certain times in his hometown, and he is soon revealed to be mixed-up in some dangerous matter. This is because the young man keeps receiving threatening text messages from someone, who reminds him that he cannot hide from them despite his best efforts. Rohan Campbell is best known for his roles in The Hardy Boys, Halloween Ends, and The Monkey.

Ruby Stokes as Mary Penney

English actress Ruby Stokes plays Mary Penney, the middle child and only daughter of Calvin, and she is understandably the closest to her father. Mary is genuinely happy to see Calvin after quite some time, and is also concerned about his decision to stick to such a difficult profession even at this age. She wants him to let go of his emotional ties to Snook’s Arm and move to a city with better amenities and infrastructure. Like her elder brother, Mary also has no interest in returning to her hometown in order to help save the family business, as she has truly found her place in the city. She is currently visiting with her boyfriend, Noah, and they have already leased a new apartment in the city, confirming that they have both found the ideal partner and the ideal home. Yet, Mary has a tough time saying no to her father directly, and she keeps hoping that Calvin changes his mind very soon. Ruby Stokes is best known for her roles in Jay Kelly, Lockwood & Co., and Bridgerton.

Willow Kean as Ruth Penney

Canadian actress, playwright, and novelist Willow Kean plays Ruth Penney, the younger sister of Calvin, who is also a resident of Snook’s Arm. As the harbormaster, Ruth has quite a heavy responsibility on her shoulders, especially after the full extent of the terror is revealed. She is also an important character in the town’s meetings held with the intention of deciding whether the residents want to stay put or take the resettlement compensation being paid to them to leave Snook’s Arm forever. Although Ruth had witnessed the same tragic death of their father as Calvin, she is not as traumatized by it as he is, perhaps because she was too young to fully remember it all. But she genuinely loves and cares for her brother and all of his children, which makes her quite a tough person to deal with for those who try to harm the family. Willow Kean is known for her appearances in Away from Everywhere and The King Tide.

Natasha Henstridge as Jan Hicks

Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge appears as Jan Hicks, a resident of Snook’s Arm who is known to be quite involved in the town’s meetings and decisions. It has only been about 5 years since Jan has moved to the town, which is much less than most of the other residents, who have spent decades here, but she is always very active in trying to integrate herself into the community and culture. Jan is also known for her looks and her stylish appearance, which often grabs the attention of the younger folks, and she even starts getting intimate with Jay after he comes to town and is simply too interested in her. But deep down, Jan also has her own secrets, which go on to be quite crucial in the plot. Natasha Henstridge is known for her roles in Species, Diggstown, and Fallout.

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