You know that feeling when you're watching a movie and you realize you're actually looking at a "before they were famous" goldmine? That's the About Time movie cast in a nutshell. Back in 2013, it felt like a cozy British rom-com from the guy who gave us Love Actually. Today, looking back at the roster is a bit like looking at a draft for an Avengers-level talent team.
Domhnall Gleeson was a skinny, red-headed kid most people only knew as one of the many Weasleys. Margot Robbie was basically a newcomer. Vanessa Kirby hadn't even touched a royal crown yet. It's wild. Honestly, the casting director, Fiona Weir, deserves a trophy just for the foresight.
The Core Trio That Anchors the Magic
Most people come for the time travel, but they stay because the chemistry between the leads is just... natural. It doesn't feel like "acting."
Domhnall Gleeson (Tim Lake)
When Gleeson showed up to audition for Richard Curtis, he apparently had a massive, bushy orange beard because he was filming Anna Karenina. Curtis later said he looked like a "Russian autocrat." He almost didn't get the part. But once the beard was gone, he became Tim. He’s awkward. He’s gangly. He’s every guy who has ever tripped over his own words trying to say something cool.
Rachel McAdams (Mary)
Here’s a fun fact: Zooey Deschanel was originally in talks to play Mary. Scheduling conflicts happened, and McAdams stepped in. It's funny because McAdams is basically the Queen of Time Travel movies (The Time Traveler's Wife, Midnight in Paris, Doctor Strange), but this is the one where she’s the only person not jumping through years. She plays Mary with this specific kind of insecurity that makes the romance feel earned, not just inevitable.
Bill Nighy (James Lake)
He’s the heart. If you don't cry during the ping-pong scene or the walk on the beach, you might be a robot. Nighy plays Tim's dad with that classic Nighy-ness—lots of twitchy movements and dry wit—but there’s a layer of soul here that feels deeply personal to Richard Curtis.
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The Support Squad You Probably Forgot
The About Time movie cast isn't just about the three people on the poster. The "edges" of the movie are where the real character lives.
- Margot Robbie (Charlotte): This was her first big international role right before The Wolf of Wall Street blew her up. She plays the "first love" who is way out of Tim's league.
- Lydia Wilson (Kit Kat): Tim's sister is the emotional ballast of the second half. Her relationship with Tim is arguably more important than his marriage.
- Tom Hollander (Harry): He plays the angry playwright friend. He’s bitter, he’s rude, and he provides the perfect cynical contrast to the sugary sweetness of the Lake family.
- Vanessa Kirby (Joanna): Before she was Princess Margaret in The Crown, she was Mary's best friend.
Why the Chemistry Actually Mattered
Most time travel movies get bogged down in "the rules." If you change X, then Y happens. This movie doesn't care. It treats time travel as a metaphor for being present.
The About Time movie cast had to sell that. If the actors didn't feel like a real family, the stakes wouldn't matter. You’ve got Lindsay Duncan as the no-nonsense mother and Richard Cordery as the wonderfully dim-witted Uncle Desmond. They feel like people you’d actually find in a house in Cornwall.
One of the most touching bits of trivia is that the film is dedicated to Richard Griffiths. He makes an uncredited cameo as a lawyer in a play Harry writes. It was his final film appearance before he passed away. That kind of real-world weight hangs over the movie’s themes of loss and saying goodbye.
What Happened to Everyone?
It’s been over a decade. Looking at where the About Time movie cast is now is kind of staggering.
- Domhnall Gleeson: He went from Tim to General Hux in Star Wars and starred in Ex Machina. He’s basically everywhere now.
- Rachel McAdams: She finally joined the MCU and got an Oscar nomination for Spotlight.
- Margot Robbie: Do we even need to mention Barbie? She’s a mogul.
- Vanessa Kirby: Action star. Oscar nominee. Total powerhouse.
Actionable Takeaway for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going to watch it again (which you should), don’t focus on the plot holes in the time travel. The rules make no sense. Instead, watch the background characters. Watch the way Bill Nighy looks at Domhnall Gleeson in their final scene together.
Next Steps:
- Check out the soundtrack. It features Ben Folds and Ellie Goulding, and it’s a huge reason the "vibe" of the cast works so well.
- Look up the filming locations in Cornwall. Most of the Lake family scenes were shot at Porthpean House, which you can actually visit.
- Watch Love Actually right after. It’s the same director and features Bill Nighy in a completely different, much louder role.