EileenmarksWilliam Oldroyd’s second directorial feature afterLady Macbeth. The dark psychological thriller comes as an adaptation of the eponymous debut novel byOttessa Moshfegh, published in 2015. The PEN/Hemingway Foundation-winning novel follows the story of Eileen Dunlop, told by the protagonist herself as a flashback. Set in the 1960s in a small town in Massachusetts,Eileenfollows the titular protagonist, a 24-year-old secretary at a juvenile detention center who gets enchanted by the center’s new counselor, Rebecca. Drawn by Rebecca’s glamorous personality, Eileen quickly befriends her. With Rebecca’s guidance and friendship, Eileen begins to discover new aspects of her character that would change her life forever. The book was critically acclaimed for its plot and narrative, with reviewers describing it as “playful, shocking, wise, morbid, witty, searingly sharp.” And now, the2023 film adaptationbrings the powerful story to life.
To portray Moshfegh’s gritty characters, Oldroyd has put together an equally powerful cast led byThomasin McKenzieandAnne Hathaway, among several other popular faces of the stage and screen. After all, as is evident from the original novel,Eileenis a character-driven story that explores the complexities of human relationships and the two leading ladies of the film have a resume that makes them a good fit. For instance, McKenzie’s 2021 psychological thriller,Last Night in Sohoalso shows the actor in a role where she is enamored by a dazzling singer and how that unravels her life. Similarly, Hathaway is also experienced with emotionally complex and challenging roles, whether it’s the anguished Kym inRachel Getting MarriedorEsther Graff inArmageddon Time, where she “shows all the layers of what she’s hiding underneath her smile in every scene”. As Collider’sRoss Bonaimedescribes the characters ofEileenin his review:
“McKenzie plays the timid Eileen in an understated, meek way, yet since we see her when no one else does, we know that there’s more that meets the eye with her character. It’s especially fun to watch McKenzie play off Hathaway’s Dr. St. John, a character who dominates every room she’s in, and knows fully who she is, even if the characters around her see her as a mystery.”
Now, as the film is all set to hit the big screens this December, find out the stellar cast ofEileenand the characters that they portray.
A woman’s friendship with a new co-worker at the prison facility where she works takes a sinister turn.
Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen Dunlop
The 24-year-old Eileen Dunlop is the story’s heroine, so to speak. She lives in a small town in Massachusetts, which she calls X-ville, and works as a secretary in a juvenile correctional center she calls Moorehead. Eileen lost her mother several years earlier and now lives with her alcoholic, paranoid father, who only makes her life more difficult. Needless to say, she is saturated with her boring life and often fantasizes about leaving town and moving to New York City. But on meeting Rebecca, she finds excitement in her mundane life. Rebecca’s dazzling disposition charms the young, dreamy Eileen, revealing facets of her personality she never knew existed.
Thomasin McKenzie stars as the titular protagonist, Eileen. Starting her career as a teenage actor with aminor role inThe Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, MzKenzie shot to fame with her performance inLeave No Trace, followed by films likeJojo Rabbit,Lost Girls,Old,Last Night in Soho, andThe Power of the Dog. Her work inLeave No Traceearned her a National Board of Review Award forBreakthrough Performance. She is next to appear in upcoming films such asBen Taylor’sJoy,Olivia Wilde’sPerfect, andSelf-Portrait.
Anne Hathaway as Dr. Rebecca St. John
Dr. Rebecca St. John is the new prison psychologist at the same juvenile correctional facility where Eileen works. She is bold, beautiful, sharp, stylish, and stands out among the rest. The simple and quiet Eileen is instantly taken by Rebecca’s striking personality and befriends her. But behind Rebecca’s glamorous exterior lies a dark secret. As the two women keep bonding, Rebecca’s influence begins to change Eileen and brings a turning point in her life.
Talking about her characterinEileen, Hathaway told Collider:
“And to be able to hold someone, in particular a young woman in her glory and her complication and her ugliness, it made me feel very switched on and I was very excited to see what happened next with this one.”
Academy Award winner, Anne Hathaway stars as Dr. Rebecca St. John. From her breakthrough role inThe Princes Diaries, Hathaway has made a mark as one of Hollywood’s A-list stars. Some of her most notable works includeBrokeback Mountain,The Devil Wears Prada,Rachel Getting Married,Love and Other Drugs, andLes Misérables.Eileenmarks the actress' second film in 2023, afterShe Came to Me, which she also produced. Hathaway will next appear in the upcoming films,Mothers' Instinct, co-starring fellow Oscar winnerJessica Chastain,The Idea of YouoppositeNicholas Galitzine, andDavid Lowery’sMother Mary.
Shea Whigham as Jim Dunlop
Jim is Eileen’s alcoholic father. A former police officer, Jim now seems dependent on alcohol to survive. He also suffers from paranoia and believes that he is always being watched. Although he doesn’t have a strained relationship with his daughter, Jim usually ends up making Eileen’s life harder.
Playing the role of Jim Dunlop isShea Whigham, an actor best known for portraying Elias ‘Eli’ Thompson in HBO’sBoardwalk Empire. He has also appeared in films likeTake Shelter,Silver Linings Playbook, andAmerican Hustle, and made a mark withhis characterson popular television series likeFargoSeason 3,Homecoming, andGaslit.Eileenmarks the actor’s fourth film in 2023, afterSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,Fancy Dance, andMission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. He will be reprisinghis role of Jasper Briggs, in the untitled eighthMission: Impossiblefilm.
Marin Ireland as Rita Polk
Rita Polk might not seem like a major character in the film, but she is a very significant element in Eileen’s story, as well as her life. Rita is the mother of Lee Polk, a young boy incarcerated in the same correctional facility where Eileen works. As described in the initial reviews and reveals about the character, Rita is “a mother who feels trapped by her options within her family.” Her actions or rather the lack of one could prove detrimental to everyone involved.
An actor best known for her work on stage and independent films,Marin Irelandstars as Rita Polk. She appeared in three other films in 2023 –Birth/Rebirth,The Boogeyman, andSomewhere Quiet, all of which are horror thrillers. Earlier in her career, Ireland has also appeared in films likeRachel Getting MarriedandGlass Chin, the latter of which earned her a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. She later appeared in films likeHell or High WaterandThe Irishmanand in important roles in the seriesSneaky Pete,The Divide, andThe Umbrella Academy. Ireland will next appear inApple TV+’sSinking Spring.
Other Supporting Characters
Besides these four main characters, the cast of Eileen also includes these supporting characters –
Randy, a prison guard at the juvenile correctional center where Eileen works is her love interest. The character is played byOwen Teague, an actor best known for his roles in series likeBloodline,Mrs. Fletcher, andThe Stand, and films likeIt,It Chapter Two, andYou Hurt My Feelings. He will be next seen in the upcomingKingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Tonye Patanoplays the role of Mrs. Stevens, Eileen’s co-worker and secretary at the prison. Patano is best known for portraying Heylia James onWeeds(which isset for a revival), and for playing various roles in television shows such asLaw & Order,Sex and the City,Monk,One Life to Live, andThird Watch.
Actor-comedianSiobhan Fallon Hoganplays the character of Mrs. Murray, a secretary working with Eileen at the prison. She is most known for her work in films likeMen in Black,Forrest Gump,The Negotiator,Charlotte’s Web,Daddy Day Care,Going in Style, andThe House That Jack Built.In 2021, she wrote and starred in the mystery thriller,Rushed.
The rest of the cast also includesJefferson White(Yellowstone) as Buck Warren andSam Nivola(White Noise) as Lee Polk, Rita’s son.
Eileenhad its global premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in January 2023. Distributed by Neon and Focus Features, the film is set to get a limited theatrical release on July 23, 2025, followed by a wider expansion on June 01, 2025. You can buy tickets using the link below.
