Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ Masters Of The Air – based on the exploits of the World War II American Bombardment Group of the air force, known as The Bloody Hundredth – is packed with a huge, stellar cast of actors.
But amid all the nicknames and seemingly mandatory sheepskin bomber jackets, Brylcreemed hair and ‘taches for most of the force, it can be tricky to keep track of who everyone is, as well as that nagging feeling that you can’t quite place on where you’ve seen the actor before.
Here’s our explainer on the major players; who is who in Masters Of The Air and what other productions you’re likely to know the actors for. Chocks away!
Austin Butler is Major Gale Cleven, aka Buck
Who is Buck? That’s Major Buck to you. He's the super smooth, Southern-drawling superstar of the operation, and best friends with Bucky.
What’s the actor been in before? Butler – and his perma-pouting lips – were last seen in Elvis, where he played the Hound Dog himself. He’s also appeared in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and The Dead Don’t Die.
Callum Turner is Major John Egan, aka Bucky
Who is Bucky? Bucky is the womanising, hard drinking pilot who can’t help but charm anyone who encounters him.
What’s the actor been in before? BBC conspiracy thriller, The Capture, two Fantastic Beasts films, and most recently, The Boys In The Boat. You may have also seen him stepping out recently with Dua Lipa, his rumoured new girlfriend.
Barry Keoghan is Lt. Curtis Biddick, aka Curt
Who is Curt: The wise-cracking, punch-throwing New Yoiker on the airbase.
What’s the actor been in before? Very much the actor of the moment, Keoghan has been winning plaudits – and awards – for his star turns in everything from The Banshees Of Inisherin, Dunkirk, The Batman and The Killing Of A Sacred Deer, to mostly recently, the bath water-slurping creep Oliver in the divisive Saltburn. Also, Esquire US’s cover star from October 2023.
Anthony Boyle is Major Harry Crosby, aka Crosby
Who is Crosby? Crosby, the narrator of the series, starts off as the navigator who can’t hold his stomach when up in a plane – not ideal, really – but became lead navigator of The Hundredth and its missions.
What’s the actor been in before? He’s previously been in films like The Journey, Danny Boy and Tetris, while you might recognise him from TV series such as Ordeal Of Innocence, Come Home, or The Plot Against America.
Ncuti Gatwa is 2nd Lt. Robert Daniels
Who is Daniels? One of the solid, stoic members of the Tuskegee Airmen
What’s the actor been in before? Gatwa is perhaps most well known for his role as Eric in Sex Education, but has also appeared in Barbie and, of course, is now the new Doctor Who.
Nate Mann is Major Robert Rosenthal, aka Rosie
Who is Rosie? Leader of the Rosie's Riveters crew, he is a distinguished and loyal pilot.
What’s the actor been in before? A relative newcomer, he’s recently starred in Licorice Pizza and Ex-Husbands, plus the TV series Evil.
Rafferty Law is Sgt. Ken Lemmons
Who is Lemmons? An affable crew chief who works on the planes in the Thorpe Abbott base.
What’s the actor been in before? The son of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, his only other appearance is in the 2021 crime thriller, Twist.
James Murray is Colonel Neil Harding aka Chic
Who is Chic? One of the big bosses, the Commanding Officer of the 100th.
What’s the actor been in before? Most recently, you’ll have peeped him as Prince Andrew in The Crown, but he’s also appeared in Cutting It – and married his co-star, Sarah Parish – Primeval, Cucumber and McDonald & Dodds.
Stephen Campbell Moore is Major Marvin Bowman, aka Red
Who is Red? Another key Major in the forces.
What’s the actor been in before? Campbell Moore is probably most well known for The History Boys, The Lady in the Van and Burnt, along with other TV appearances of War of the Worlds and The One.
Fionn O'Shea is Sgt. Steve Bosser
Who is Bosser? Bosser is a sergeant in the 100th.
What’s the actor been in before? Last seen as the resident villain, Jamie, Marianne’s abusive boyfriend in Normal People, O’Shea’s also appeared in Hang Ups, Innocent and the 2021 films Cherry and Wolf.
Tommy Jessop is Tommy
Who is Tommy? A local in the pubs of Thorpe Abbott, with a keen eye for a bullseye in darts.
What’s the actor been in before? Jessop is probably most well known for his role as Terry Boyle in Line Of Duty, and has also done the British medical trio of appearing in all Doctors, Holby City and Casualty.
Bel Powley is Alexandra Wingate, aka Sandra
Who is Sandra? One of the rare recurrent women in the series, Sandra is an intelligent, straight-talking British forces key player who has an instant connection with Crosby.
What’s the actor been in before? Starting out on kids TV series M.I. High, Powley has since received critical acclaim for her roles in A Royal Night Out and The Diary Of A Teenage Girl, and has recently starred in Everything I Know About Love, The Morning Show and A Small Light.
