Based on the mystery novel of the same name by Harlan Coben,Fool Me Oncemade its Netflix premiere on July 28, 2025. The 8-episode miniseries traces Maya Stern, a woman grieving over the recent murder of her husband, Joe. However, when Maya receives a nanny camera and witnesses footage that suggests Joe is still alive and well, the strong-willed widow becomes entangled in a vicious web of deceit.
Fool Me Onceboasts a terrific ensemble of international talent that many fans will recognize from various movies and TV shows. While how the intriguing new Netflix miniseries lives up to the previousHarlan Coben adaptationslikeThe Stranger, Safe, Stay Close,is yet to be seen, perhaps the official cast and character guide forFool Me Oncewill compel viewers enough to tune in to Netflix’s latest offering.
Fool Me Once
Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern
Michelle Keeganplays the protagonist, Maya Stern, inFool Me Once. Maya is married to a man named Joe Burkett when the series begins. When Joe is reportedly murdered, Maya is left in emotional ruins. However, Maya receives a surveillance nanny camera from a friend and sees footage that indicates her husband is still alive. Determined to solve the mystery, Maya is thrown into a confounding puzzle that makes her question what is real and what is not.
Keegan is an experienced English actor who has spent most of her career on television. After honing her chops inCoronation Streetfor five years, thebest and longest-running soap opera on TV, Keegan appeared in such small-screen projects as Ordinary Lies, Plebs, Tina & Bobby, and Our Girl.Fool Me Oncemarks Keegan’s first time appearing in a Coben adaptation and just her second miniseries behindOn Kosovo Fieldin 2017.
Richard Armitage as Joe Burkett
Richard Armitageportrays Joe Burkett in the mystery miniseries. Joe is the husband of Maya Stern, who is murdered in a drive-by motorcycle incident when the series begins. Joe soon shows up on the nanny cam gifted to Maya, prompting a dogged search for his whereabouts and his ulterior motives. As the series unfolds, Joe’s violent past comes to light and forces Maya to reexamine her entire marriage.
Armitage is an accomplished English actor with a classically trained theater background. While best known for playing Thorin in Peter Jackson’sHobbitfranchise, Armitage has starred in such popular projects asCaptain America: The First Avenger, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Ocean’s Eight, Hannibal, and more. Armitage has also appeared in multiple Harlen Coben adaptations beforeFool Me Once, includingThe StrangerandStay Close.
Adeel Akhtar as Sami Kierce
Adeel Akhtarplays Sami Kierce. Sami is a police Detective Sergeant assigned to investigate the so-called murder of Joe Burkett. During his investigation, Sami discovers clues about Joe’s untoward past. Sami also discovers that Maya isn’t always truthful, forcing him to wade through sham testimonies to find the truth. Meanwhile, Sami must look after his subordinate officer, DCI McGreggor.
Akhtar is a talented English-Pakistani actor who continues to land one high-profile gig after another. After coming of age inFour Lionsin 2010, Akhtar has starred in such diverse projects as the TV sitcomGhosts, the tender rom-comThe Big Sick, bothEnola Holmesmovies, and the TV adaptation ofLes Misérables. Most recently, Akhtar playedDr. Singh in the Netflix fantasy seriesSweet Tooth.
Dino Fetscher as Marty McGreggor
Portrayed byDino Fetscher, Marty McGreggor is the Detective Chief Inspector assigned to investigate the murder of Joe Burkett inFool Me Once. Dino works with his commanding officer, DS Sami Kierce, to find clues regarding how and why Joe potentially faked his death to escape his troubled past. Although Sami and Marty respect each other personally, they begin to differ professionally as the case becomes harder to crack.
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Fetscher is a fast-rising Welsh actor with plenty of experience with TV miniseries. Since 2015, Fetscher has been in such miniseries asBanana, Cucumber, Paranoid, andYears and Years. Fetscher has also appeared in TV shows likeGentleman Jack, Foundation, Humans, and The Split, proving his ability to play a wide range of genres on the small screen.
Joanna Lumley as Judith Burkett
Joanna Lumleyplays Joe’s mother, Judith Burkett. When the series begins and Judith is informed of her son’s so-called murder, she becomes a sympathetic figure as she and Maya console each other. However, when Joe’s sordid past comes to light, Judith turns out to be harboring her own mysterious secrets that Maya must reconcile with when she visits her mother-in-law.
Lumley is a 4-time BAFTA winner with immense comedic and dramatic acting range. While Lumley will go down as a comedy legend for her work as Patsy inAbsolutely Fabulous, the famous English actor has starred in Tim Burton’sCorpse Bride,Martin Scorsese’s biopicThe Wolf of Wall Street, Peter Bogdanovich’sThe Cat’s Meow, as well asElla Enchanted, Paddington 2, Me Before You,and many more.
Emmett J. Scanlan as Shane Tessier
Played byEmmett J. Scanlan, Shane Tessier is one of Maya’s friends and former colleagues inFool Me Once. Maya and Shane served in the military together in the past and, thanks to Shane’s current connections within the military police, he can access profiling resources that help Maya discover the truth about Joe. Alas, with nobody to be trusted on the show, Shane often toes the line between good guy and bad guy.
No stranger to hard-hitting British crime dramas as well, Scanlan is best known for his recurring stints onPeaky Blinders, Gangs of London, The Deceived, The Tower,and more. Scanlan also has expressed his comedic timing in such shows asDerry Girls, Ten Percent, Hollyoaks, andSnatch. Scanlan can also be seen in popular action series likeTreadstoneandKrypton.
Natalie Anderson as Claire Walker
Natalie Andersonplays Claire Walker inthe Netflix British crime drama. Claire is Maya Stern’s sister who works as a pharmaceutical technician and was hired by her brother-in-law, Joe Burkett, to work for his Burkett Global Enterprises corporation. When Claire is approached by a whistleblower claiming to have evidence proving Maya’s criminal behavior, Claire risks her life to protect her sister and expose the truth.
A talented English actor who began her career inThe Bizin 1996, Anderson is best known for her performances as Stella Davenport inThe Royal,Lexi Calder inHollyoaks, and Alicia inEmmerdale Farm. AlthoughFool Me Onceis the first time she’s appeared in a Harlan Coben adaptation, fans can also see Anderson in the 2023 TV showsBoiling PointandHappy Valley.
Marcus Garvey as Eddie Walker
Marcus Garveyplays Eddie Walker inFool Me Once. Eddie is the husband of Claire, Maya’s deceased sister. When Joe is reported dead, Maya seeks solace from Eddie, knowing that he has suffered a similar loss. Alas, Eddie has never gotten over Claire’s death, and his despair leads to constant contention with Maya. Obsessed with Claire’s cryptic death, Eddie forces his children to help him investigate the mysterious circumstances.
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After starring alongside Akhtar in Four Lions early in his career, Garvey has made lasting TV impressions inWolfblood, The Lodge, Viewpoint, Last Tango in Halifax,andBroadchurch. Although Garvey has played in several crime shows and miniseries,Fool Me Oncerepresents the English actor’s first foray into a Netflix Harlen Coben adaptation.
Laurie Kynaston as Corey Rudzinski
Portrayed byLaurie Kynaston, Corey Rudzinski is an internet whistleblower who plays a key role inFool Me Once. On one hand, Corey investigates Joe Burkett’s business company, Burkett Global Enterprises, which he believes is legally corrupt. On the other, Corey begins accusing Maya of murdering innocent victims and makes a bargain with Claire that may have ties to Claire’s death. At the end of the miniseries, Corey and Sami work in lockstep to solve the central crime.
Kynaston is an English actor with roughly 30 credits under his belt thus far in his career. After starring in his first miniseries in 2015’sCradle to the Grave, Kynaston has recently shown up in everything fromNeil Gaiman’sThe SandmanandThe Doll FactorytoA Small Lightand theMan Who Fell to Earth.Fool Me Oncemarks the first Harlan Coben adaptation that Kynaston has appeared in so far.
Joe Armstrong as Alexander Dosman
Played byJoe Armstrong, Alexander Dosman is the ex-boyfriend of Claire Walker, Maya Stern’s sister. Alexander is also the CEO of the biotech firm Bimbal, which rivals Burkett’s Global Enterprises. After Alexander unwittingly impregnates Claire with a son named Louis, Claire keeps the baby a secret from him and gives him up for adoption, which has unintended ramifications.
Fresh off his recurring arcs inThe BayandGentleman Jack, Armstrong is an English actor who continues to excel in television. Perhaps best known for portraying Allan A Dale inRobin Hood, Armstrong has also stood out in such shows asThe Village, Happy Valley, Britania, Public Enemies,and more. Following his stint onFool Me Once, Armstrong will appear next in the 2024 British miniseriesRuth.
