After four long years, Black Mirror is finally back in our lives. With strong influence from The Twilight Zone, this show has been a global sensation ever since its debut in 2011, depicting dystopian versions of the future, in which technology is, more often than not, the main character.
Full of societal commentary and dark themes, Black Mirror is responsible for some of the most shocking episodes of television of all time, as well as for some very disturbing predictions. Perhaps because the series is unafraid to dive into the bizarre, it has cultivated a legion of dedicated viewers, who have been anxiously waiting for more content. Now, they finally got it.
As is typical in Black Mirror, the season six premiere, “Joan Is Awful,” introduced a whole new set of characters, and with it, a new cast. For a better understanding of the episode and the faces some fans may be seeing for the first time, here is a brief description of the most notable character in the episode and the actor who bring them to life.
Annie Murphy as Joan
Most know Annie Murphy for her portrayal of Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek, but that’s far from her only TV role. Since 2007, the Canadian actress has made appearances in series such as Kevin Can F**k Himself, Murderville, and Russian Doll. She also has a talent for voice acting, having lent her pipes to several characters over the years, including Klaus’ Date in American Dad! and Angela in Crank Yankers.
In the season six premiere of Black Mirror, Murphy plays the protagonist, Joan, a tech CEO who discovers her life is being portrayed in a hit TV show.
Salma Hayek as TV Joan
In “Joan Is Awful,” Salma Hayek plays herself, who in turn is playing Joan’s character on TV. (It’s a bit trippy, yes, but this wouldn’t be an episode of Black Mirror otherwise.)
Despite being active since 1988, it wasn’t until 1995 that Hayek finally broke into mainstream Hollywood, by playing the lead role in the movie Desesperado opposite Antonio Banderas. Since then, she became widely known for working on projects such as Eternals, Frida, and Wild Wild West.
Avi Nash as Krish
Avi Nash portrays Krish, Joan’s real-life boyfriend, who is with her when they first come across the TV show based on Joan’s life. With a background in theater, Nash began his TV career in 2013, with the short Life of Guy. Now, the actor is best known for playing Siddiq in The Walking Dead, Wajeed in Silicon Valley, Preet in Learning to Drive, and Saleem in Barry — the 2016 film, not the HBO series.
Himesh Patel as TV Krish
In Black Mirror, Krish’s fictional counterpart is played by actor Himesh Patel, who is also a writer and musician. For this star, everything began in 2007, when he landed the main role in EastEnders. Now, some of his most notable characters include Mahir in Tenet, Jack Malik in Yesterday, Philip in Don’t Look Up, and Jeevan Chaudhary in Station Eleven. Patel’s performance in the last two even earned him nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Primetime Emmy Awards, respectively.
Rob Delaney as Mac
In “Joan Is Awful,” Rob Delaney plays the real-life version of Joan’s ex-boyfriend, Mac. Over the years, the actor has become known for portraying some iconic characters, such as Peter in Deadpool 2, Rob Norris in Catastrophe, and Hatch Flood in The Man Who Fell to Earth. Delaney isn’t just an actor, though, but a writer and comedian, who got his very own standup comedy special in 2020, Rob Delaney: Jackie.
Ben Barnes as TV Mac
Ben Barnes is best known for playing the titular character in Dorian Gray, Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia franchise, Billy Russo in The Punisher, and the Darkling in Shadow and Bone. Despite being a familiar face in TV and cinema, Barnes’ career actually started with live theater, with his first-ever role being in the 1997 musical Bugsy Malone. In “Joan Is Awful,” the actor portrays the fictional version of Mac.
Michael Cera as Beppe
Beppe is a producer of the TV show recounting Joan’s life, and he’s played by Michael Cera. The actor scored his first acting gig in 1999, at age 11, and since then, the work hasn’t stopped. Cera is now well-known for his appearances in Arrested Development as George Bluth, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World as the titular character, Superbad as Evan, and Juno as Paulie Bleeker.
Season six of Black Mirror is available for streaming on Netflix right now.
