When the White House calls, you answer — even if you don’t want to. That’s exactly Kate Wyler’s (Keri Russell) sworn duty in The Diplomat when she’s ordered to hop on the next flight to London instead of Afghanistan. A change of mission wasn’t what she had in mind, and the new gig bears tectonic implications for her marriage and political future.

The show’s creator, Debora Cahn (The West Wing, Homeland), was drawn to the world of The Diplomat after meeting with a number of ambassadors while working on Homeland. “The Foreign Service is the first in and the last out of every disaster in the world, and nobody knows who they are or what they do,” she told Netflix. 

Cahn was also inspired by the idea of couples who work together, and the “tandem couples” who work in the Foreign Service are passionate about what they do — and each other. “But 10, 15 years later, you’re in a situation where the person you love most is also somebody you’re competing with all the time.”

Sounds like there’ll be plenty of drama to unpack when The Diplomat takes office April 20. For now, learn more about the key political movers and shakers of the series below.

Kate Wyler

Kate Wyler is a seasoned US diplomat who’s spent her career working behind the scenes in war-torn regions to make the world a better place. She planned on heading to Kabul for her next assignment, but is forced into an unfamiliar and uncomfortable realm when the president asks her to serve as the US ambassador to the UK — a far more formal and attention-grabbing position.

“I read Debora Cahn’s script, and I just thought it was so funny and sharp and messy and enjoyable, and I couldn’t say no,” Russell told Netflix. 

Russell is known for her roles in The Americans, Cocaine Bear, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, Waitress, August Rush, Austenland, Extraordinary Measures, Running Wilde and (getting her hair sheared off in) Felicity. 

Hal Wyler

Hal Wyler is Kate’s charismatic husband and a legendary diplomat. He’s negotiated the end of wars, but made a lot of enemies along the way through ruthless and unapologetically manipulative means. Standing outside the spotlight and letting his wife shine does not come naturally to Hal. 

“This part was exactly, exactly what I wanted to do,” Sewell told Netflix. “What struck me about it was the humor, the banter between the two central characters — my character, Hal, and Keri Russell’s character, Kate — was really funny and smart, and not something I’d really seen in a thriller before. There’s also a truthfulness to it; this isn’t a classic TV relationship. It has a reality about it, but also the speed and vim of a screwball drama, like the kind of movies that I used to love.”

Sewell is known for his roles in A Knight’s Tale, The Legend of Zorro, The Illusionist, The Holiday, Tristan & Isolde, Victoria, The Man in the High Castle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Pale Horse and Kaleidoscope. 

You can follow Sewell on Instagram.

Austin Dennison

Austin Dennison is the British foreign secretary under Prime Minister Trowbridge. Weighed down by his struggle to rein in his brash (and potentially dangerous) head of government, he and Kate come to rely on each other as unexpected allies.

“There was something about this script that leapt off the page and slapped me in the face and said, ‘Follow me into the audition room,’ ” Gyasi told Netflix. “One of the things that first slapped me in the face was the fact that, at that point, we hadn’t had a foreign secretary that looked like Dennison. And I just thought that’d be really fun to explore, and also to explore what it’d be like to be in a Tory government and look like Dennison.”

Gyasi is known for his roles in Interstellar, Carnival Row, Cloud Atlas, Annihilation, Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, The Sandman, Containment, Troy: Fall of a City, Dream Team, Mike Bassett: Manager and (playing the drums in) What a Girl Wants.

You can follow Gyasi on Instagram.

Stuart Hayford

Stuart Hayford is Kate’s deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in London. He’s basically her savvy right-hand man nudging her in the right diplomatic directions as needed. He’s also a former DC campaign manager, so often knows what’s going on at the White House before Kate does. 

“It was the best thing I’d read in a long time,” Essandoh tells Tudum. “It’s such a page-turner. What I love about the show is very powerful women are the centerpiece — Keri Russell obviously, Ali’s character, Nana Mensah’s character (Billie Appiah).”

Essandoh is known for his roles in Chicago Med, Copper, Jason Bourne, Garden State, Blood Diamond, Altered Carbon, The Code, Away, Elementary and Blue Bloods.

You can follow Essandoh on Instagram.

Eidra Park

Eidra Park is the chief of the CIA station in London, one of the largest CIA hubs in the world. She manages the very close, very important and very complicated relationship between the CIA and MI6 and is responsible for relaying intelligence information to Kate’s team. While initially suspicious of Kate, she eventually warms to her.

“I talked to a couple consultants — women who used to work within the CIA and were chiefs of stations,” says Ahn on her prep for the role. “Then I read some memoirs [by] people who lived their life undercover, which were basically things that Eidra would’ve done before she got to this job.” 

Ahn is known for her roles in Raising Dion, Liberal Arts, Billions, Supernatural, The Other Two, Next, The Breaks and Black Box.

You can follow Ahn on Instagram.

Nicol Trowbridge

Nicol Trowbridge is the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Foul-mouthed and volatile, Trowbridge never questions his own war hawk mentality. That’s Dennison’s (exhausting) job.

Kinnear is known for his roles in the James Bond films Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die. He also appeared in Lucan, Bank of Dave, Our Flag Means Death, Years and Years, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, The Imitation Game, Men and the first Black Mirror episode, “The National Anthem” (as yet another prime minister).

Billie Appiah

Billie Appiah is the White House chief of staff. Tenacious and a skilled fixer, she and Stuart used to run campaigns together, and she often relies on his judgment. She has her eyes on Kate’s political future.

Mensah is known for her roles in The Chair, Bonding, 13 Reasons Why, New Amsterdam, The King of Staten Island, Queen of Glory (which she also directed), An African City and Orange Is the New Black.

You can follow Mensah on Instagram.

Miguel Ganon

Miguel Ganon is the US secretary of state. Ambitious in his own right, Ganon disapproves when Kate goes rogue to get the job done. Not to mention her choice of husband.

Sandoval is known for his roles in Medium, Station 19, Clear and Present Danger, Jurassic Park, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever, DEA, L.A. Firefighters, 10-8: Officers on Duty, Bad Judge, Sharp Objects and Barry.

Michael McKean as President William Rayburn (center) in Season 1 of The Diplomat.

President Rayburn

President Rayburn is an aging but competent leader trying to restore America’s position on the world stage.

McKean is known for his roles in Laverne & Shirley, This Is Spinal Tap, Better Call Saul, Grace and Frankie, Rugrats, Saturday Night Live, Best in Show, Clue, Breeders, Primetime Glick, Tracey Takes On…, 101 Dalmatians: The Series, Jungle Cubs, Dream On, Sessions and Grand.

Margaret “Meg” Roylin

Meg Roylin is like political kryptonite in The Diplomat — potentially radioactive to the touch, but irresistible up close. She was the prime minister’s former — and unofficially current — adviser whose shrewdness is to be envied, no matter which party you support.

Imrie is known for her roles in Better Things, The Bridget Jones films, Keeping Faith, Nanny McPhee, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Dinnerladies, Acorn Antiques: The Musical!, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Love & Marriage, Kingdom and After You’ve Gone.

You can follow Imrie on Instagram.

T’Nia Miller as Cecilia Dennison (left) in Season 1 of The Diplomat.

Cecilia Dennison

Cecilia Dennison views politics as her brother Austin’s domain. When we meet the stylish firecracker midway through Season 1, she is residing with Austin, whose devotion to his sister runs deep.

Miller is known for her roles in Free Rein, Years and Years, Witless, Guilt, Marcella, The Feed, Banana, Sex Education and Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Bly Manor. Miller is set to reunite with Flanagan for his upcoming series The Fall of the House of Usher.

You can follow Miller on Instagram.

The Diplomat Season 1 TrailerInternational affairs meet personal affairs. London's newest diplomat has arrived.

Stream The Diplomat now.