While we are loving soaking up every single Christmas TV show and movie on offer right now, we do occasionally need a break from the festive entertainment and so we are thrilled there's a brand new Western drama landing on our Netflix accounts today. The Abandons is a seven-part drama set in the 1850s about two rival groups and is lead by two of our favourite actors - Gillian Anderson and Lena Heady.
Lena stars as Fiona Nolan, who, unable to have children of her own, adopts four orphans to make her own family. However, Fiona and her children are up against it when a group of European aristocrats lead by Gillian Anderson's character Constance Van Ness claim her land as their own.
With a number of feuding families on the scene, we've done a breakdown of all the important characters you need to know and the cast who play them.
The cast of The Abandons
Lena Heady as Fiona Nolan
Who is Fiona Nolan?: Fiona is one of the series main characters and is a woman who has adopted four orphans in order to make a family of her own. The family lives on a cattle ranch they've built from the ground up but the ranch becomes threatened when the Van Ness family comes on the scene.
What else has Lena Heady been in?: You will likely know Lena Heady from her iconic role as Cersei Lannister in Game Of Thrones. She's also known for her roles in 300, The Brothers Grimm, Ripley's Game, The Purge and many others.
Gillian Anderson as Constance Van Ness
Who is Constance Van Ness?: Constance is the other matriarch leading The Abandons. She's protected and grown the mining fortune left to her by her husband and stops at nothing that gets in her way.
What else has Gillian Anderson been in?: You'll most recently recognise Gillian from her role in Netflix's Sex Education as Jean Milburn or for portraying Margaret Thatcher in Netflix's The Crown. She's also very well known for playing Dana Scully in The X-Files and for her roles in The Fall, The House of Mirth and many many others.
Lucas Till as Garret Van Ness
Who is Garret Van Ness?: Garret is Constance's son and is described as "ambitious".
What else has Lucas Till been in?: Lucas Till was first on many of our screens in the Hannah Montana movie. Since then he's gone onto have the leading role in the TV series MacGyver, and played Alex Summers in various X-Men spin-offs.
Aisling Franciosi as Trisha Van Ness
Who is Trisha Van Ness?: Trisha is Constance's daughter and is described as being "rebellious"
What else has Aisling Franciosi?: Aisling previously worked with her on-screen mother Gillian Anderson in the show The Fall. She's also known for playing Lyanna Stark in Game Of Thrones, and for starring in the movies The Nightingale, Speak No Evil and The Unforgivable.
Nick Robinson as Elias Teller
Who is Elias Teller?: Elias is one of Fiona's adopted children and is described as "devoted.
What else has Nick Robinson been in?: Nick first appeared on our screens in the sitcom Melissa and Joey, which he starred in for four seasons. Since then he's become well known for his roles in Love, Simon, Maid and Jurassic World.
Lamar Johnson as Albert Mason
Who is Albert Mason?: Albert is another one of Fiona's adopted children and is described as teh "level-headed" one of the group.
What else has Lamar Johnson been in?: Lamar was originally best known for starring in the dance drama The Next Step for five years, but since then he's gone onto star in The Last Of Us, for which he was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in. He's also had roles in The Hate U Give, Your Honor and The Wilderness.
Diana Silvers as Dahlia Teller
Who is Dahlia Teller?: Dahlia is another of the adopted children of Fiona and she is said to be "spirited".
What else has Diana Silvers been in?: Diana is best known for her role in the series Space Force. She's also appeared in Booksmart, MA, and Glass.
Natalia del Riego as Lilla Belle
Who is Lilla Belle?: Lila is the fourth and final of Fiona's children and described as "fiercely loyal".
What else has Natalia del Riego been in?: Natalia is best known for her role in NCIS: Los Angeles and for starring in the family drama series The Promised Land.
The Abandons is available on Netflix now
