Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine
DC fans may know the many incarnations of the comics character John Constantine, from Keanu Reeves to Matt Ryan, but Jenna Coleman has her own name recognition in the role of Johanna Constantine, who has her own connections to the noted exorcist. Coleman is most recognized for her time as Doctor Who companion Clara Oswald opposite Matt Smith, but is also noted for her titular role in Victoria.
Nina Wadia, Souad Faress, and Dinita Gohil as The Fates
The Three Fates are what is known as a triple goddess in mythology. No matter what form they take – Fate Mother, Fate Maiden, and Fate Crone – they represent the same entity. In The Sandman, Fate Mother is played by Nina Wadia, who is most known for her roles in the BBC’s Eastenders and Prime Video’s The Outlaws, may also be recognized for her smaller roles in Bend it Like Beckham and the 2019 live-action Aladdin. Dinita Gohil is Fate Maiden. You may recognize her from her role in the recent mini-series Our House as well as her roles in the films The Infiltrator and The Snowman. Souad Faress brings her extensive filmography to the role of Fate Crone, with her performances as a Bene Gesserit Sister in the 2021 adaptation of Dune and as a Dosh khaleen high priestess in Game of Thrones being the most notable.
Sanjeev Bhaskar and Asim Chaudhry as Cain and Abel
In The Sandman these famous brothers from the Bible live in The Dreaming and help Morpheus regain his strength after he escapes his imprisonment. Black Mirror fans should recognize Abel actor Asim Chaudhry from his role in the choose-your-own-adventure style interactive movie Bandersnatch. Chaudhry also starred in and co-created the mockumentary series People Just Do Nothing, which he received BAFTA nominations for in 2017 and 2018. Sanjeev Bhaskar, who plays Cain, has done a lot of voice acting work for series such as Thomas & Friends and the Netflix original Hilda. This isn’t his first Neil Gaiman project either. Bhaskar was also in an episode of the Prime Video series Good Omens based on Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel of the same name. Bhaskar’s most notable role, however, is in the film Yesterday.
Charles Dance as Roderick Burgess
Another Game of Thrones actor who makes an appearance in The Sandman is Royal Shakespeare Company veteran Charles Dance (a.k.a. Tywin Lannister), who plays Roderick Burgess in this series. True genre fans may remember him from as far back as his villainous role in 1986’s The Golden Child, but he also had plenty of more recent notable roles in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Mank, and The Crown.
David Thewlis as John Dee
David Thewlis definitely has one of those faces that audiences immediately recognize but can’t always place. In The Sandman he plays John Dee, who attempts to steal some of Dream’s power, but as Ares in Wonder Woman, he was a god who had plenty of his own, and as Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter movies he was no slouch either. Viewers may also know Thewlis from his role as V. M. Varga in season three of Fargo, or they may have heard his voice in Big Mouth or Human Resources, in which he plays Shame Wizard.
Niamh Walsh and Joely Richardson as Ethel Cripps
Ethel Cripps, also known as Ethel Dee, is the mother of John Dee and former mistress of occultist Roderick Burgess. Niamh Walsh plays the younger version of Ethel who first steals Morpheus’ totems of power from Roderick. Walsh has also appeared in Gaiman’s Good Omens for a couple of episodes, but she’s most recognizable for her role in the period dramas The English Game and Jamestown. Joely Richardson is the older version of Ethel, and is most known for her roles in the series Nip/Tuck and the movies Event Horizon and the live-action version of 101 Dalmatians.
