Get to Know the 'Jay Kelly' Cast & Characters

• Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly stars George Clooney as an actor looking back on his life and career and the mistakes he made along the way.
• The film was released in theaters Nov. 14 and hits Netflix Dec. 5.
• Below, find a rundown of the cast members and the roles they play.

George Clooney is Jay Kelly in Jay Kelly, a movie about Jay Kelly and sort of about George Clooney. Got that? The new movie from Noah Baumbach follows a super famous movie star, who got his big break in his twenties and went on to huge success. Now in his sixties, Jay is coming to terms with overlooking other aspects of his life during his ascent, including not being a present dad to his older daughter, having a strained relationship with his own father, and not exactly knowing where the line is drawn between friendship and entourage.

The personal aspects of Jay’s life don’t really match up with Clooney’s, but the role makes a lot of sense for the actor given the major theme is a huge star looking back at his life. The trailer even makes this point by including a line where Jay says, "It's like a movie where I'm playing myself."

While the movie is focused on Clooney’s Jay Kelly and his very familiar face, there are plenty of other familiar faces in the movie, too. These actors make up Jay’s family, co-workers, and others he encounters on the European journey in the film. Read on to meet the cast and characters of Jay Kelly.

George Clooney as Jay Kelly

Jay Kelly is an actor who ends up on traveling through Europe after finding out his younger daughter, Daisy, is taking a pre-college trip and thus cutting down on the time they’ll get to be together before she starts school and he starts another movie. The film features a lot of flashbacks of Jay looking back on his early days as an actor and his relationships with loved ones.

Like Jay, Clooney is an actor who has long been famous and who has now received a number of lifetime achievement awards. Just a few of his movies are Ocean’s Eleven, Syriana, Michael Clayton, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

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Adam Sandler as Ron Sukenick

Ron is Jay’s longtime manager, who finds himself unsure just how close he really is with Jay due to the blurred lines of friendship and business.

Adam Sandler plays Ron. This is his second Baumbach film after The Meyerowitz Stories, which like, Jay Kelly, was another dramatic role for the comedian. Some of his other more drama-focused movies are Uncut Gems and Punch-Drunk Love.

Instagram: @adamsandler

Laura Dern as Liz

Liz is Jay’s publicist, who has a clearer vision of her working relationship with Jay than Ron does.

Liz is played by Laura Dern, who previously worked with Baumbach on Marriage Story for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Dern’s other projects include Jurassic Park, Wild, and Big Little Lies.

Instagram: @lauradern

Billy Crudup as Timothy

Timothy is an old friend of Jay’s who he studied acting with when they were young. Timothy comes back into Jay’s life, and they have a meetup that goes in an unexpected way for Jay.

Billy Crudup plays Timothy. The actor is known for Almost Famous, Spotlight, and The Morning Show.

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Riley Keough as Jessica Kelly

Jay Kelly has two daughters. The older one, Jessica, has a fraught relationship with her dad, because he wasn’t around much when she was growing up.

Riley Keough plays Jessica. Keough has starred in American Honey, Zola, and Daisy Jones & the Six.

Instagram: @rileykeough

Grace Edwards as Daisy Kelly

Daisy is Jay’s younger daughter, with whom he has a closer relationship than with Jessica.

Daisy is played by Grace Edwards, who has previously appeared in Modern Love and Asteroid City.

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Stacy Keach as Jay’s Dad

Jay’s father is another person who he has a complicated relationship with, but they get in touch during the course of the film.

Stacy Keach takes on this role. The actor is best known for his work in theater, but has appeared in movies including The Bourne Legacy and Nebraska.

Instagram: @stacykeach

Jim Broadbent as Peter Schneider

Peter Schneider is the director who gave Jay his big break and who became a father figure and mentor for him.

Jim Broadbent plays the director. You may know Broadbent from the Bridget Jones movies, the Harry Potter movies, and the Paddington movies—among non-franchise work, too.

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Patrick Wilson as Ben Alcock

Ben Alcock is another famous movie star, who is also a client of Ron’s.

Actor Patrick Wilson is known for starring in the Conjuring movies, for the Aquaman movies, and for the miniseries Angels in America.

Instagram: @thereelpatrickwilson

Eve Hewson as Daphne

Jay co-stars with Daphne in a film during his early career, and they fall in love on set.

Eve Hewson plays Daphne. Hewson starred in the series The Knick and Bad Sisters, and appeared in movies including Bridge of Spies and Tesla.

Instagram: @evehewson

Greta Gerwig as Lois Sukenick

Lois is Ron’s wife, who is dealing with whatever random issues pop up with their kids back home while Ron travels around with Jay.

Longtime Baumbach collaborator Greta Gerwig—they’re also married—plays Lois. The actor and filmmaker is known for roles in Frances Ha and 20th Century Women and for directing Barbie, Little Women, and Lady Bird.

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Alba Rohrwacher as Alba

Alba is one of the people organizing a tribute to Jay at a film festival in Italy.

Alba is played by Alba Rohrwacher, an Italian actor, who American audiences may have seen in The Lost Daughter and Maria.

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Josh Hamilton as Carter

Carter is Jessica’s therapist, who she takes Jay to visit with her.

Josh Hamilton plays Carter. Hamilton previously worked with Baumbach on the movies Kicking & Screaming, France Ha, and The Meyerowitz Stories. This year, he also appeared in the movie The Long Walk.

Instagram: @jhamilton

Lenny Henry as Larry

Lenny Henry plays the character Larry.

Henry is a comedian and actor, who co-founded Comic Relief. He starred in the long-running British comedy series The Lenny Henry Show. Recently, he starred in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and he’s also had voice roles in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Trolls Band Together.

Instagram: @lennyhenryofficial

Emily Mortimer as Candy

Emily Mortimer plays Jay’s hairstylist, Candy.

In addition to her role as Candy, Mortimer is the co-writer of the film. As an actor, she’s known for Shutter Island, Mary Poppins Returns, and The Newsroom.

Instagram: @emortimer

Nicôle Lecky as Krista

Another member of Jay’s team is Krista, his stylist.

Krista is played by Nicôle Lecky, an actor and writer, who is best known in the U.K. She created and starred in the series Mood and also appeared in the show Sense8.

Instagram: @thelecky

Thaddea Graham as Meg

Thaddea Graham plays Meg an assistant to Jay.

Graham also appeared in the movie After the Hunt this year. Her TV projects include Doctor Who, Sex Education, and Bad Sisters.

Instagram: @thaddeagraham

Isla Fisher as Melanie Alcock

Melanie is Ben Alcock’s wife.

Melanie is only featured briefly, but she’s played by a recognizable actor, Isla Fisher. Fisher is known for films such as Wedding Crashers, Bachelorette, and the Now You See Me movies.

Instagram: @islafisher

Charlie Rowe as Young Jay Kelly

No digital de-aging here. The young version of Jay Kelly in the movie is played by Charlie Rowe.

Rowe has had roles in the movies Never Let Me Go and Rocketman and in the TV series Salvation and Slow Horses.

Instagram: @charlierowe

Louis Partridge as Young Timothy

We also see a young version of Timothy in the movie.

Young Timothy is portrayed by Louis Partridge, an actor known for the Enola Holmes movies and the TV series Medici and House of Guinness.

Instagram: @louispartridge_