Augustine Hare once wrote about the permanence of the written word, but let's be honest, most of us just want to see a good cry-fest on Netflix. When Jojo Moyes’ beloved novel was adapted into a film, the weight of expectations was heavy. People weren't just looking for a plot; they were looking for a specific kind of chemistry that feels almost extinct in modern cinema. The Last Letter from Your Lover cast had to bridge two distinct timelines—the swinging, stiff-upper-lip 1960s and the fast-paced, digital-heavy 2003. It's a tall order. If the actors don't click, the whole "star-crossed lovers" thing feels like a high school play.
The movie follows Jennifer Stirling, a 1960s socialite who wakes up with amnesia after a car crash, only to find a series of love letters from a man known only as "B." In the "present" day (well, 2003), a journalist named Ellie Haworth finds these letters and decides to track down the truth.
Shailene Woodley as Jennifer Stirling
Shailene Woodley took on the role of Jennifer, and she brought a certain groundedness to a character that could have easily felt like a cardboard cutout of a 60s housewife. You've seen her in Divergent or Big Little Lies, so you know she can do "distressed" very well. But here, she had to play a woman trapped by her own privilege.
Jennifer’s life is glamorous but hollow. Woodley plays the pre-accident Jennifer with a subtle, icy distance, while the post-accident version is raw and confused. It's a weirdly difficult thing to act out—forgetting who you are while everyone around you is pretending they know exactly what’s best for you. Critics often point to her chemistry with Callum Turner as the film's heartbeat. Without that specific spark, the movie would’ve just been a nice costume piece.
Callum Turner and the "B" Factor
Callum Turner plays Anthony O’Hare, the journalist who falls for Jennifer. Turner has this specific kind of old-school leading man energy. He isn't overly polished. He feels a bit rugged, a bit out of place in the high-society world Jennifer inhabits.
Basically, Anthony is the catalyst. He’s the one who forces Jennifer to see the bars of the golden cage she lives in. When Turner and Woodley are on screen together, the 1960s segments feel alive. It's a stark contrast to the stifling dinner parties and the coldness of her husband, Laurence.
Felicity Jones: Connecting the Past and Present
Then we have Felicity Jones as Ellie Haworth. Honestly, some people found the 2003 storyline less compelling than the 60s drama, but Jones brings a frantic, relatable energy to the role. She’s a modern woman—messy, career-driven, and slightly cynical about love.
- She discovers the letters in the archives of The London Chronicle.
- She partners with an archivist named Rory (played by Nabhaan Rizwan).
- She obsesses over finding out if Jennifer and Anthony ever made it.
Jones is an Oscar nominee for a reason. She makes the act of digging through old files look like a high-stakes thriller. Her character represents us—the audience. We are the ones rooting for a happy ending that happened forty years ago.
The Supporting Players: Joe Alwyn and Nabhaan Rizwan
Joe Alwyn plays Laurence Stirling, Jennifer’s husband. He’s not a "villain" in the traditional sense, but he is the personification of the era’s patriarchal control. Alwyn plays him with a chilling, polite indifference. He treats Jennifer like a prized possession—one that he’d rather keep slightly broken so she stays put.
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On the flip side, Nabhaan Rizwan as Rory provides the lightheartedness the film desperately needs. His back-and-forth with Felicity Jones offers a breather from the heavy emotional lifting of the 1960s scenes. Their relationship is a slow burn, a mirror to the intense, flash-fire romance of the past. It’s a clever bit of casting that balances the "hopeless romantic" tropes with something a bit more grounded.
A Quick Look at the Main Cast List
- Shailene Woodley as Jennifer Stirling (The 1960s Lead)
- Callum Turner as Anthony O’Hare (The Lover)
- Felicity Jones as Ellie Haworth (The 2000s Journalist)
- Joe Alwyn as Laurence Stirling (The Husband)
- Nabhaan Rizwan as Rory McCallan (The Archivist)
- Diana Kent and Ben Cross (Playing the older versions of the characters)
Why This Cast Worked (And Where It Didn't)
Casting a period drama is risky. If the actors look too "modern," it breaks the immersion. Shailene Woodley has a face that fits the 1960s aesthetic surprisingly well, especially with the heavy eyeliner and the structured hair.
However, some viewers felt the jump between timelines was jarring. This isn't necessarily a fault of the actors, but rather how we perceive age. Ben Cross and Diana Kent had the monumental task of playing the older versions of Anthony and Jennifer. They had to capture the mannerisms of Turner and Woodley while showing forty years of regret and longing in their eyes. Ben Cross, in one of his final roles, was particularly haunting. He conveyed so much with just a look toward the end of the film.
The Director’s Vision: Augustine Frizzell
Augustine Frizzell directed the film, and she clearly leaned into the "sweeping romance" genre. She chose actors who could handle the silence. In a movie about letters, what isn't said is often more important than the dialogue.
The chemistry was the primary directive. Frizzell mentioned in interviews that they needed people who felt like they belonged to another time. Turner, specifically, was chosen because he didn't feel like a 21st-century guy in a suit. He felt authentic to the grit of a 1960s foreign correspondent.
Comparing the Book to the Cast
Readers of Jojo Moyes' book are notoriously protective. Most fans felt the The Last Letter from Your Lover cast honored the source material. Jennifer in the book is perhaps a bit more internal, which is hard to film, but Woodley's expressive eyes bridged that gap.
The biggest change people talk about is Ellie. In the book, she’s a bit more of a "disaster," but Felicity Jones makes her more driven. It changes the dynamic slightly, making the search for the letters feel like a professional mission that turns personal, rather than just a distraction from a messy life.
Practical Takeaways for Fans of the Film
If you're watching The Last Letter from Your Lover for the first time or revisiting it because you loved the cast, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
Pay Attention to the Color Palette
The 1960s are filmed in warm, saturated tones—golds, deep blues, and rich oranges. This reflects the intensity of Jennifer and Anthony's affair. The 2003 scenes are cooler, flatter, and more clinical, highlighting Ellie's initial emotional detachment.
Look for the Subtle Parallels
Notice how Ellie and Jennifer often mirror each other's movements. There is a scene where they both look through windows that is framed almost identically. This is a visual cue that their souls are navigating the same loneliness, regardless of the year.
Research the Filming Locations
Much of the 1960s "French Riviera" scenes were actually shot on location, which added a layer of realism that helped the actors get into character. Knowing the backdrop is real makes the performances feel less like they are on a soundstage.
Explore the Rest of the Cast's Work
To see the range of these actors, watch Shailene Woodley in The Fallout or Callum Turner in The Capture. Seeing their different styles makes you appreciate the specific choices they made for these roles. Turner’s work in Masters of the Air also shows his ability to play that "man out of time" archetype incredibly well.
The beauty of this film isn't just in the letters. It's in the way these actors handled the idea of "lost time." It's a heavy theme to carry, but the ensemble managed to make a decades-long wait feel both agonizing and, eventually, worth it.