It feels like a lifetime ago that we were watching a young Carrie Bradshaw navigate the neon-soaked streets of 1980s Manhattan. Honestly, it’s wild to think that The Carrie Diaries only ran for two seasons on The CW before getting the axe in 2014. At the time, it felt like a gamble. How do you replace Sarah Jessica Parker? You don't. You find someone who can embody the pre-Manolo Blahnik innocence of the character, and the casting directors absolutely nailed it.
The show was a neon-hued fever dream of leg warmers, cassette tapes, and forbidden trips to Interview Magazine's offices. But looking back at the actors in The Carrie Diaries, the show wasn’t just a prequel; it was a massive launchpad. Some of these faces have gone from teen heartthrobs to Oscar nominees and Elvis-level superstars. If you haven't checked your IMDb lately, you might be shocked at who was walking the halls of Castlebury High.
Austin Butler: From Sebastian Kydd to Cinematic Royalty
Let’s be real. If you watched the show back in 2013, you knew Sebastian Kydd was special. Austin Butler played the ultimate brooding bad boy with a heart of gold (and a very nice Porsche). He had that "it" factor even then. But nobody—literally nobody—predicted he’d eventually become one of the most respected actors of his generation.
After the show ended, Butler didn't just fade away. He put in the work. He did some time on The Shannara Chronicles and had a small but terrifying role in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Tex Watson. Then came the big one: Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. Butler didn’t just play the King; he basically became him, even keeping the voice for about two years after filming ended.
His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe win. Since then, he’s moved into "prestige" territory with Dune: Part Two and the Apple TV+ epic Masters of the Air. It’s a massive jump from being the guy Carrie was crying over in her diary.
AnnaSophia Robb: The Heart of the Prequel
AnnaSophia Robb had the impossible task of stepping into Sarah Jessica Parker’s shoes. She wasn't trying to do an impression, though. Her Carrie was softer, more wide-eyed, and fiercely ambitious in a way that felt authentic to a teenager in 1984.
Robb was already a seasoned pro before the show—remember Bridge to Terabithia or Soul Surfer? She brought a lot of groundedness to a show that could have easily become a cartoon of the 80s. Post-Carrie, she hasn’t chased the massive blockbuster fame in the same way Butler has, but she’s stayed consistently busy in high-quality projects.
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You’ve probably seen her in The Act on Hulu, where she played Lacey, or the 2020 miniseries Little Fires Everywhere. More recently, she starred in the Netflix action-thriller Rebel Ridge. She seems to pick projects that have some meat on the bones rather than just taking any lead role that comes her way. Honestly, she’s one of those actors who just feels reliable. You know if she’s in it, the performance will be solid.
What Happened to the Rest of the Castlebury Crew?
It wasn't just the leads. The supporting actors in The Carrie Diaries have fanned out across the industry in some pretty interesting ways.
- Stefania LaVie Owen (Dorrit Bradshaw): Carrie’s rebellious younger sister was always the best part of the family scenes. Stefania has carved out a niche in some really cool, slightly "alternative" projects. She had a major role in the Netflix hit Sweet Tooth as Bear. She also appeared in the beach horror flick The Beach House. She has this edgy, indie energy that works so well in genre pieces.
- Katie Findlay (Maggie Landis): Maggie was the complicated, sometimes messy best friend. Since the show ended, Katie Findlay has been everywhere. She was a lead in the first season of How to Get Away with Murder (Rebecca Sutter, anyone?) and has done a ton of work in shows like Man Seeking Woman and Nancy Drew.
- Ellen Wong (Jill "The Mouse" Chen): Everyone needs a friend like Mouse. Ellen Wong has stayed very active, most notably playing Jenny Chey (aka "Fortune Cookie") in the beloved Netflix wrestling dramedy GLOW. She also popped up in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, reprising her Knives Chau energy in voice form.
- Brendan Dooling (Walt Reynolds): Walt’s coming-out arc was one of the most sensitive and well-handled storylines on the show. Dooling has kept a bit of a lower profile than some of his co-stars but has appeared in projects like Bull and Losing Addison.
Why The Casting of The Carrie Diaries Was Genius
When you look at the actors in The Carrie Diaries collectively, you see a masterclass in CW casting. The network gets a lot of flak for being "teen trash," but their casting directors have a weirdly prophetic ability to spot future stars.
The chemistry between the core group felt earned. It wasn't just a bunch of pretty people standing in a room. You actually believed that Carrie and Mouse were stressed about their SATs. You believed that Walt was terrified of his own secrets. This emotional weight is why the show has such a strong cult following a decade later. It wasn't just about the clothes. It was about that specific, agonizing transition from being a kid in the suburbs to trying to be an adult in the city.
The New York Factor
Because the show was filmed on location in New York, it gave a lot of local actors a chance to shine in guest spots. You’ll see faces that eventually popped up in Law & Order: SVU or Broadway shows. It gave the production an authenticity that you just can't get on a backlot in Burbank.
The "adult" cast was also top-tier. Matt Letscher, who played Carrie’s dad, Tom Bradshaw, brought a lot of warmth to a role that could have been a one-dimensional "angry dad." He’s since gone on to play Eobard Thawne (Reverse-Flash) in the Arrowverse, which is about as far from a suburban dad as you can get.
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The Legacy of the Show in 2026
We’re living in an era of reboots and revivals. Is there a chance we see these actors back together? Probably not. Austin Butler is busy being a movie star, and AnnaSophia Robb has moved on to more mature roles. But the show lives on through streaming.
New generations of fans are discovering it on platforms like Max (formerly HBO Max). They aren't watching it as a Sex and the City prequel—they’re watching it as a standalone coming-of-age story. For many, this version of Carrie is their Carrie.
There’s a specific kind of nostalgia for the way this show handled the 80s. It wasn't just "look at this big hair," it was "look at this world before the internet." The actors in The Carrie Diaries captured that sense of discovery. When Carrie enters a club for the first time or sees a designer dress in a window, you feel that spark.
Why the Show Was Cancelled Too Soon
Rating were never huge. That’s the simple truth. It was a victim of its time. In 2014, the CW was moving toward superheroes (The Flash, Arrow) and away from "girly" dramedies. Had The Carrie Diaries premiered five years later on a streaming service, it probably would have run for five seasons.
It’s a shame, because the second season was really starting to find its groove. We were seeing the early versions of Samantha Jones (played brilliantly by Lindsey Gort), and the bridge between the teen show and the adult show was finally being built. Gort, by the way, was uncanny as a young Kim Cattrall. She captured the swagger and the vulnerability of Samantha perfectly.
Taking Action: How to Revisit the World of Carrie
If this trip down memory lane has you wanting to re-watch the series or follow the cast's new work, here’s the best way to do it.
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1. Stream the Series Properly
Check current listings on Max or purchase the seasons on Amazon Prime Video. It’s worth a re-watch just to see Austin Butler’s early work and appreciate the costume design by Eric Daman (who also did Gossip Girl).
2. Follow the "Class of 2013"
If you want to see the range of these performers, watch these specific projects:
- Austin Butler: Elvis (for the transformation) and The Bikeriders (for the grit).
- AnnaSophia Robb: The Act (it’s a total 180 from Carrie Bradshaw).
- Ellen Wong: GLOW (she’s hilarious and heart-breaking).
- Stefania LaVie Owen: Sweet Tooth (a great show for all ages).
3. Read the Source Material
Candace Bushnell’s books, The Carrie Diaries and Summer and the City, offer a different vibe than the show. They’re a bit darker and more cynical, which provides an interesting contrast to the bright TV adaptation.
4. Track the Creators
Keep an eye on Amy B. Harris, the showrunner. She has a specific voice for female-led stories that always feels authentic and snappy. Following the creators often leads you to your next favorite show.
The actors in The Carrie Diaries might have traded their 80s neon for red carpets and gritty dramas, but for a specific group of fans, they’ll always be the kids from Castlebury trying to make it in the big city. The show remains a bright, optimistic time capsule of both the 1980s and the early 2010s TV landscape. It's a rare prequel that actually adds depth to the original character rather than just riding her coat-tails.