Wicked Little Letters: Complete list of cast in the movie

Wicked Little Letters, the 2023 film directed by Thea Sharrock, is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. The synopsis of the film on Amazon Prime reads:

“In this riotous mystery-comedy, an outspoken member of the community is suspected when the inhabitants of a seaside town begin receiving anonymous letters full of hilarious profanities… But sensing something is amiss, the townswomen investigate.”

This British dark comedy mystery film greatly benefits from the impressive performances of the cast, which includes names like Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.

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Wicked Little Letters: Major cast members and their characters

Olivia Colman as Edith Swan

Colman is the receiver of the titular letters in Wicked Little Letters. A spinster and devout Christian residing in Littlehampton during the suffragette movement in Britain in the 1920s, Edith lives with her parents. The story begins when she starts receiving hate mail.

Colman’s character is multi-dimensional, and the major twist of the film centers around a surprising fact pertaining to Edith. By the end of Wicked Little Letters, the viewers see a different Edith Swan than the one seen towards the beginning of the film.

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Jessie Buckley as Rose Gooding

Jessie Buckley in Wicked Little Letters (Image via StudioCanal)

If Coleman’s Edith is the receiver of hate mail, Buckley’s Rose is suspected of being the sender of the same. In fact, she is arrested on this charge and remains in prison for much of the movie since she cannot afford bail.

Much of the humor of Wicked Little Letters comes from the foul-mouthed Rose, who is famous for spewing profanities. An Irish immigrant and a single mother, the character Rose is also politically significant. By the end of the film, Rose ends up gaining the sympathy of the viewers.

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Anjana Vasan as Gladys Moss

A still from the film (Image via StudioCanal)

Wicked Little Letters features several prominent women characters who use their aptitude and instincts to solve mysteries and get out of problems. The character of Gladys, played by Anjana Vasan, is one such woman. A constable with a keen eye, she is the one who is successful at cracking the case of hate mail eventually.

Gladys is undeterred in her pursuit of truth, braving chastisement and even suspension. As the film nears its end, she gains the town’s respect for her efforts.

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Timothy Spall as Edward Swan

Timothy Spall plays Edward Swan in Wicked Little Letters (Image via StudioCanal)

The film does not feature a villain in the conventional sense. Rather, the subtext of patriarchy runs throughout the film, and the film critiques the same. Edward Swan emerges as the personification of the patriarchal order in the story.

Edith’s father, Edward, is a controlling man who often uses condescension and manipulation in his behavior towards women. His controlling and conservative nature throttles the nature of Edith. By the end of the film, the negative impact of his attitude on Edith is revealed.

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Paul Chahidi as Chief Constable Spedding

Constable Spedding is Gladys' senior. When she starts probing into the case and finding out details not noticed before, she reports to Spedding.

However, Spedding is a misogynist who cannot tolerate women doing things that were not done before. As a result, he dismisses Gladys and orders her not to pursue the case further.

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Gemma Jones as Victoria Swan

Victoria Swan may not play a crucial role in Wicked Little Letters, but her caring and sensitive ways present an effective contrast against her husband Edward’s behavior. Victoria dies of shock when she mistakenly receives one of the letters.

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Other cast members in Wicked Little Letters

• Joanna Scanlan as Ann
• Malachi Kirby as Bill
• Lolly Adefope as Kate
• Eileen Atkins as Mabel
• Hugh Skinner as Constable Papperwick
• Alisha Weir as Nancy Gooding
• Jason Watkins as Mr. Treading
• Richard Goulding as Mr. Scales

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What is Wicked Little Letters about?

The story is set in Littlehampton in 1920. Edith Swan becomes the victim of hate mail, and suspicion falls on her foul-mouthed neighbor, Rose. Previously, Rose and Edith were friends, though they parted ways with mutual resentment.

Rose is arrested. Meanwhile, Gladys, a constable, probes into the case and finds similarities between Edith’s handwriting and the one found in the letters. Things take several surprising turns from here onward, culminating in the twist that Edith indeed sent all those letters to herself.

The finale of the film reveals the impact of Edward’s overbearing nature on Edith. A public confrontation between the two forms of the climax of the film. At last, Edith is punished by law and Rose is freed from the charges.

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Wicked Little Letters is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.