Warning: Contains spoilers for Russian Doll season 2.
In Russian Doll Season 2, much of the season 1 cast returns alongside a selection of new characters. Russian Doll Season 1 followed Nadia and Alan as they were trapped in a time loop that saw their repeated deaths. Russian Doll Season 2 has a new take on the dark time-bending comedy as Nadia and Alan discover the ability to travel back in time.
While Russian Doll Season 1 was relatively contained within a small recurring cast of characters, Russian Doll Season 2’s framing makes for a more diverse cast. Russian Doll Season 2’s time travel works by Nadia and Alan taking trains to the past, where they inhabit their ancestor’s bodies. This means that the Russian Doll Season 2 cast not only includes new characters for those time periods, but also actors representing Nadia and Alan’s ancestors.
Russian Doll is created by Amy Poehler, Leslye Headland, and Natasha Lyonne. As with Russian Doll Season 1, Season 2 is led by Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov, but a strong cast of characters round out the show. Here is the full Russian Doll Season 2 cast guide and where the cast have appeared before.
In Russian Doll Season 2, Nadia Vulvokov is played by Natasha Lyonne, as she reprises her starring role from Season 1. Russian Doll Season 1’s time loop had Natasha repeatedly die in dark, comical ways before eventually discovering that Alan was trapped in the time loop with her. Season 1 helped Nadia to grow and allow more real connections with people in her life. In Russian Doll Season 2 Nadia Vulvokov ends up traveling back in time to experience life as her mother and grandmother as she attempts to change the past to change her present. However, her ill-fated time travel attempts primarily serve to help her process her intergenerational trauma. Natasha Lyonne is best known for her appearances as Megan in But I’m a Cheerleader and Nicky Nichols in Orange is the New Black.
Alan Zaveri is played by Charlie Barnett in Russian Doll Season 2. As in Russian Doll Season 1, Alan’s story is secondary to Nadia’s, but intrinsically entwined with the main narrative. At the start of Russian Doll Season 2m, Alan is still struggling to get back into the dating game, but his experiences with time travel place him in the body of his grandmother, Agnes. In East Berlin in 1962, Alan/Agnes have a romantic relationship with Lenny as they prepare an escape tunnel through the Berlin Wall. While Nadia’s arc in Russian Doll Season 2 explores her intergenerational trauma, Alan’s centers on his continuing struggles with social anxiety. Charlie Barnett has previously appeared as Peter Mills in Chicago Fire and as Patrick Warner in Secrets and Lies.
Actress Elizabeth Ashley reprises her season 1 role as Ruth Brenner in Russian Doll Season 2 for the scenes set in 2022. Having served as Nadia’s mother’s therapist before Nora’s death, Ruth has become a maternal figure for Nadia. Russian Doll Season 2 shows Ruth’s health declining as she struggles with driving and complications from a lifetime of smoking. Elizabeth Ashley is best known for her appearance in Stagecoach as Dallas and the role of Ethel in Ocean’s Eight.
When Nadia travels back to 1982 and inhabits the body of her mother, she comes face-to-face with a young Ruth Brenner, played by Annie Murphy. Ruth and Nora already clearly have a close relationship in 1982, as Ruth provides Nora with strength and guidance as she prepares for Nadia’s birth. Annie Murphy is well known for her roles as Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek and Allison McRoberts in Kevin Can F**k Himself.
In Russian Doll Season 2, Chloë Sevigny plays Lenora “Nora” Vulvokov, Nadia’s mother. Sevigny previously played Nora in Russian Doll Season 1 during flashbacks to the period shortly before her death. In Russian Doll Season 2, Sevigny returns to play a younger version of Nora in the ten days leading to Nadia’s birth in 1982. Chloë Sevigny has previously appeared as the characters Dr. Alex Lowe and Shelley in American Horror Story and had a recurring role as Christina in The Mindy Project.
Russian Doll Season 2 introduces Irén Bordán as Vera Peschauer, Nora’s mother and Nadia’s grandmother. While Vera was referenced in Russian Doll Season 1, she did not appear. In 1982 she is shown as Nora’s disapproving mother, but Irén Bordán also plays a younger version of Vera in 1968, the point at which she recovers the family valuables that become the Krugerrands. Irén Bordán appeared as Pilar de Santa Fe in Day of Wrath and Lina’s Mother in The Man with the Iron Heart.
Vera’s friend, Delia, is played by Athina Papadimitriu in Russian Doll Season 2. While Russian Doll Season 2 shows Nora’s friendship with Ruth and Nadia’s friendship with Maxine, Vera has a parallel friendship with Delia, who supports her when she needs it. Athina Papadimitriu is known for her roles as a Midwife in Hercules (2014) and as Aunt Bardi in Den of Lions.
Agnes, Alan’s grandmother, is played by Carolyn Michell Smith. While she is primarily seen in East Berlin when inhabited by Alan in 1962, she also appears to Nadia/Nora in 1982 while working for the New York Mass Transit Authority (MTA). Agnes also appears in The Void to Alan and seems to know more about time travel than expected. Carolyn Michelle Smith is known for her roles as Charmaine Cole in How To Get Away With Murder and Danita in Cherish the Day.
Lenny is played by Sandor Funtek in Russian Doll Season 2. Lenny serves as a romantic interest for Agnes and attempts to escape to West Berlin, with Russian Doll Season 2 leaving it unclear what happened to Lenny. Sandor Funtek is a European actor known for his roles as Gardien in Dheepan and Valentin in Blue is the Warmest Color.
In Russian Doll Season 2’s earliest time period, a young Vera Peschauer is played by Ilona McCrea in 1944. As Nadia inhabits her young grandmother, she attempts to steal back the family’s valuables from the Nazis in WWII-era Budapest. Ilona McCrea was previously in Law & Order: SVU as Lia Kratsova and 79 Parts as Sarah.
Alongside the young Vera, in 1944 a young version of Delia is played by Franciska Farkas in Russian Doll season 2. When Nadia is struggling to find her way in Vera’s body, Delia helps to guide her, retroactively foreshadowing their long-lasting friendship. Franciska Farkas is best known for her role as an actress in Love You Like An Animal.
One of Russian Doll Season 1’s most enigmatic characters returns to Season 2 with Brendan Sexton III reprising his role as Horse. Having previously cut Nadia’s hair and had his life saved by her, Horse briefly appears to Nadia immediately before her first instance of time travel. Later on, Horse helps to guide Nadia and Alan while wearing an MTA uniform, implying a connection to Agnes and his greater knowledge of time travel. Brendan Sexton III has an extensive acting record, but is known for his roles as Raylan in Don’t Breathe 2 and Kowalewski in Black Hawk Down.
Russian Doll Season 2 brings back Nadia’s friend Maxine, portrayed by Greta Lee. While the Russian Doll Season 1 time-loop narrative primarily locked Maxine into repeatedly saying, “Happy birthday, baby!” season 2 allows her to be more emotionally available for Nadia. Greta Lee previously appeared as Princess Vicki in Miracle Workers and Stella Bak in The Morning Show.
Rebecca Henderson as Lizzy: Rebecca Henderson returns for Russian Doll Season 2 to continue playing the role of Lizzy, Maxine’s romantic partner. Rebecca Henderson has also played ADA Catherine McCaw in Inventing Anna and Olivia Elliot in Single Drunk Female.
Brooke Timber as Young Nadia: Young Nadia appears throughout Russian Doll Season 2, once again portrayed by Brooke Timber, who also performed in Netflix’s Maniac.
Sharlto Copley as Chezare “Chez” Carrera: One of Russian Doll Season 2’s entirely new characters, Chez, is played by Sharlto Copley. Copley plays Chez both in 1982 as Nora’s romantic interest and again in 2022 when Nadia confronts him, with Copley wearing extensive prosthetics. Sharlto Copley is known for his appearance as Wikus Van De Merwe in District 9.
Ephraim Sykes as Derek: Derek is a member of The Guardian Angles, an NYC crime watch group. Ephraim Sykes is known for his role as George Eacker in Hamilton.
Ritesh Rajan as Farran: Farran returns in a reduced role for Russian Doll Season 2, portrayed by Ritesh Rajan. Ritesh Rajan played Mowgli’s father in Disney’s 2016 live-action remake of The Jungle Book.
Anoop Desai as Salim: Salim owns the bodega in 1982, is well acquainted with Nora, and is Farran’s father. Salim is played by Anoop Desai who is known for his role as Dev Satyal in Billions.
Jeremy Bobb as Mike Kershaw: The character of Mike Kershaw returns in Russian Doll Season 2, portrayed by Jeremy Bobb in brief scenes that echo his Season 1 appearances. Jeremy Bobb is also known for his role as Alec Pelley in The Outsider.
Rosie O’Donnell as Train Announcer: Rosie O’Donnell is credited as a guest star in every episode of Russian Doll season 2, which might seem strange but she has a guest cameo as the train announcer. This might be related to previous praise she has given both Russian Doll and Natasha Lyonne. Rosie O’Donnell is known for The Rosie O’Donnell Show and A League of Their Own.
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Author: Faefyx Collington
