Get ready to dive into political intrigue and diplomatic drama with the highly anticipated Netflix series The Diplomat.
Starring Keri Russell, the Golden Globe Award-winning actress, as the lead, the show promises to be a thrilling ride for viewers who enjoy political thrillers like The Night Agent and The Recruit.
The Netflix series that premiered on April 20 follows Kate Wyler, who was appointed American ambassador to the United Kingdom during a global crisis.
Janice Williams, Ali Ahn, David Gyasi, Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, Ato Essandoh, Nana Mensah, and Debora Cahn attend The Diplomat – NY Premiere on April 18, 2023, in New York City (Credit: M10s / TheNews2 / Cover Images)
With her new role comes new challenges as she navigates the spotlight and forges new alliances while maintaining her marriage to fellow diplomat and political star Hal Wyler, played by Rufus Sewell.
Although their characters may not always get along, The Diplomat boasts a cast of exceptional actors and well-known celebrities.
Let’s look at the six actors lending their skills to the series and their previous appearances and rank them from tallest to shortest.
1. Ato Essandoh (Stuart Hayford) – 6ft 3 ¼ in. (191.1 cm)
In The Diplomat, Ato Essandoh, who towers at 6 ft 3 ¼ inches (191.1 cm), plays the character of Stuart Hayford, Kate’s right-hand man and deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in London.
Ato Essandoh is a 6’3.25″ (191.1 cm) American actor known for his roles in Altered Carbon, Chicago Med, Jason Bourne, Blood Diamond, and Garden State (Credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock)
As a former campaign manager in Washington, DC, Stuart has his finger on the pulse of events at the White House, often knowing what’s happening before Kate does.
Ato Essandoh brings his considerable acting chops to the role, having appeared in various films and television shows. His recent credits include X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Chicago Med, and the Showtime adaptation of Let the Right One In.
Ato Essandoh plays the role of Stuart Heyford, the Deputy Chief of Mission, while Keri Russell plays the role of Ambassador Kate Wyler in the American political thriller television series The Diplomat (Credit: Netflix)
However, the 50-year-old American actor is best known for his work in Copper, Jason Bourne, Garden State, Blood Diamond, Altered Carbon, The Code, Away, Elementary, and Blue Bloods.
2. Rufus Sewell (Hal Wyler) – 6ft 0 in. (182.9 cm)
Rufus Sewell is 6 ft (182.9 cm) tall and portrays the character of Hal Wyler, Kate’s husband and a seasoned professional diplomat. Hal has made a fair share of enemies as a key player in numerous war endings.
Despite his support for Kate’s new role as the American ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hal struggles to take a back seat and watch from the sidelines.
Posing with his girlfriend, Vivian Benitez, Rufus Sewell is an English actor, standing 6 feet (182.9 cm) tall and known for his roles in films like Dark City, The Illusionist, Gods of Egypt, and the TV series The Man in the High Castle (Credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock)
Rufus showcases his exceptional skills in the show, leveraging his recent experiences in popular Netflix series such as Kaleidoscope and his notable performances in films such as Old and the American sci-fi series The Man in the High Castle from 2014 to 2019.
With a career spanning over three decades, Sewell has appeared in numerous acclaimed films such as Judy, A Knight’s Tale, The Legend of Zorro, The Illusionist, The Holiday, and Tristan & Isolde.
Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler and Celia Imrie as Margaret Roylin in Netflix’s latest thriller series The Diplomat (Credit: Netflix)
Among the notable projects featuring the 55-year-old British actor are popular television series such as Victoria, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Pale Horse.
3. Rory Kinnear (Nicol Trowbridge) – 6ft 0 in. (182.9 cm)
Rory Kinnear portrays the obnoxious and self-absorbed British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge, who is 6 ft (182.9 cm) tall.
Nicol’s hawkish approach to politics often overshadows his better judgment, and his erratic behavior and misguided worldview constantly challenge Kate and her team.
Posing with his wife, Pandora Colin (née Pandora Ormsby-Gore), Rory Kinnear is a British actor, standing at 6 feet (182.9 cm) tall, who is best known for his roles in Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, The Imitation Game, and the TV show Penny Dreadful (Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock)
The 45-year-old English actor, who is known for his roles in Men, the Daniel Craig era of the James Bond film franchise, and the American period romantic comedy television series Our Flag Means Death, previously played a different British Prime Minister in the debut episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.
Rory Kinnear plays the role of the volatile Conservative Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge in the Netflix series The Diplomat (Credit: Netflix)
In addition, Rory has appeared in various acclaimed films and TV shows, including The Imitation Game, Years and Years, Bank of Dave, Lucan, and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
4. David Gyasi (Austin Dennison) – 5ft 9 ¾ in. (177.2 cm)
David Gyasi stands at 5ft 9 ¾ inches (177.2 cm), bringing his talent to The Diplomat as British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison. Austin is a crucial ally for Kate in the U.K., mainly when dealing with a significant issue.
The 43-year-old British actor portrays him as a principled, distant, and highly competent diplomat, although he becomes frustrated when his head of state begins acting erratically and possibly dangerously.
Posing with Ali Ahn and Nana Mensah, David Gyasi is a British actor, standing at 5 feet 9.75 inches (177.2 cm) tall, who is best known for his roles in Interstellar, Cloud Atlas, Shooting Dogs, and the TV show White Heat (Credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock)
David is a highly regarded actor with a diverse portfolio of film and television credits. He has graced the big screen in major productions such as Interstellar and Annihilation and critically acclaimed films including Cloud Atlas, The Whale, and Panic.
David Gyasi portrays British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison and Keri Russell portrays the new United States ambassador to the United Kingdom in the TV series The Diplomat (Credit: Netflix)
On the small screen, David delivered standout performances in notable shows like the BBC series White Heat in 2012 and Troy: Fall of a City in 2018.
He also starred in the CW miniseries Containment in 2016 and captivated audiences in the Amazon Prime series Carnival Row from 2019 to 2023.
5. Keri Russell (Kate Wyler) – 5ft 4 in. (162.6 cm)
Keri Russell is 5ft 4 inches (162.6 cm) tall and plays the lead character, Kate Wyler. Kate is an experienced U.S. diplomat about to embark on a mission in Afghanistan when the President of the United States gives her a new assignment to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.
She is initially overwhelmed by the new challenge, feeling unprepared and underqualified for such a prestigious position.
The TV series The Diplomat features Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell as Kate and Hal Wyler, respectively, portraying the roles of the newly appointed American ambassador to the UK and her former diplomat husband, who is also known as her overly involved and potentially soon-to-be ex-husband (Credit: M10s / TheNews2 / Cover Images)
Keri is a well-known American actress who gained fame as the titular character in the television series Felicity, which won her a Golden Globe Award.
The 47-year-old star has also appeared in various films, including Antlers, Waitress, August Rush, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, We Were Soldiers, Mission: Impossible III, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
To promote her new television show, The Diplomat, Keri Russell arrived at the NBC studios in New York City to make a guest appearance on the Today Show in Bottega Veneta Mostra Mary-Jane pumps paired with a grey skirt and a Celine blouse showcasing the brand’s signature Triomphe print (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
Additionally, Keri has appeared in several critically acclaimed television shows, such as The Americans, Austenland, Extraordinary Measures, and Running Wilde. Recently, she portrayed a supporting role in the comedic film Cocaine Bear.
Keri Russell Stuns in Saint Laurent Gown at The Diplomat Premiere
Keri Russell, accompanied by her husband Matthew Rhys, graced the black carpet at the Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan for The Diplomat New York premiere. Matthew sported a sophisticated navy blue jacket and matching pants, complemented by a crisp white button-up shirt.
On the other hand, the actress looked stunning in a floor-length deep purple cut-out gown from Saint Laurent’s Spring 2023 collection, which exuded the brand’s signature combination of feminine and edgy style.
Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell met in 2013 when they starred together in the TV series “The Americans,” in which they played a married couple (Credit: M10s / TheNews2 / Cover Images)
Her gown featured slouchy long sleeves with a diamond-shaped peekaboo cutout at the navel, making her look effortlessly chic.
Keri carried a navy rectangular purse to complement her outfit and wore hanging earrings adorned with diamonds and gemstones, adding glamour to her overall look. Her luscious light brunette hair cascaded down her shoulders and perfectly complemented the dress’s dark color.
Although her shoes were hidden underneath the long skirt of her ensemble, it’s safe to assume that Keri wore her go-to pair of strappy sandal heels that have been a staple of her current wardrobe.
Matthew Rhys is taller than his wife, Keri Russell. Matthew Rhys stands at 5 feet 10.5 inches (179.1 cm) tall, while Keri Russell is 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm) tall (Credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock)
As she posed for photos on the black carpet, Rufus Sewell, dressed in a stunning burgundy suit, joined her for a snapshot. His outfit was perfectly contrasted with a white button-up shirt, making him look sharp and dapper.
6. Ali Ahn (Eidra Park) – 5ft 1 in. (154.9 cm)
Ali Ahn may only be 5ft 1 inches (154.9 cm) tall, but she stands out in playing Eidra Park in The Diplomat.
As head of the CIA station in London, she oversees the intricate relationship between MI6 and the CIA and provides Kate’s team with intelligence information. Although she initially doesn’t get along with Kate, the two eventually become close.
Ali Ahn is an American actress, standing at 5 feet 1 inch (154.9 cm) tall, who is known for her roles as Suzanne Wu in Raising Dion and Nicole in The Path (Credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock)
Ali’s impressive resume includes appearances in popular shows such as the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, the superhero drama series Raising Dion, and the 2012 comedy-drama film Liberal Arts.
In The Diplomat, Ali Ahn portrays Eidra Graham, a high-ranking CIA official who serves in the United Kingdom and is Kate’s main source of information (Credit: Netflix)
At only 31, the American-Asian star has already established herself as a versatile and talented actress in the entertainment industry. Her roles in Supernatural, Next, The Breaks, Odd Mom Out, The Path, and Little Demon have been praised by fans and critics alike.
Will There Be a Season 2 of The Diplomat?
The Diplomat debuted on Netflix amidst much anticipation and quickly garnered a dedicated fanbase eager for more. Fortunately, their patience was rewarded when the series was officially renewed for a second season in May 2023.
This renewal was no surprise, especially considering the success of similar shows like The Night Agent, which likely bolstered Netflix’s confidence in investing in thrilling, espionage-centric narratives. Viewers of The Diplomat are particularly excited to see the direction the story takes following the dramatic conclusion of the first season.
The potential second season could explore the aftermath of the devastating events as Kate tries to prevent a catastrophic global conflict.
Fans are eager to see what will happen to Kate and Hal’s marriage after the first season’s events. The fate of characters like Grove, Ronnie, and Stuart will also likely be revealed.