You remember 2014, right? It was that weird, transitional year where everyone was obsessed with Pharrell’s "Happy" and the world seemed to have an insatiable appetite for jukebox musicals. Right in the middle of that neon-soaked fever dream, we got Walking on Sunshine. It wasn't Mamma Mia!, and it certainly wasn't trying to be Les Misérables. It was basically a 90-minute music video for 80s hits set against the gorgeous backdrop of Puglia, Italy. Honestly, looking back at the cast of Walking on Sunshine, it’s a fascinating snapshot of "it" actors of the moment and a few legitimate legends.
The plot was paper-thin—Maddie gets engaged to a gorgeous Italian guy named Raf after a whirlwind romance, only for her sister Taylor to arrive and realize she had a massive fling with that same guy years prior. Awkward. But the people playing these roles? They actually had some serious pipes.
The Sisters at the Center of the Storm
Hannah Arterton played Taylor, our main protagonist who just wanted a quiet holiday but ended up dodging "Eternal Flame" references left and right. If the last name sounds familiar, it should. She’s the younger sister of Gemma Arterton. While Gemma was doing Bond films and blockbuster fantasy, Hannah was carving out a space in the indie and TV world. She brought a certain groundedness to Taylor that the script probably didn't even ask for. Since the film, she’s stayed pretty busy, notably appearing in Netflix’s The Stranger and the Harlan Coben series Safe. She didn't pivot into a full-time pop career, which is almost a shame because she actually carried those 80s tracks surprisingly well.
Then we have Annabel Scholey as Maddie. Maddie was the chaotic, impulsive sister who decided to get married after five minutes of dating. Scholey is a powerhouse. If you haven't seen her in Britannia or The Split, you are genuinely missing out. In Walking on Sunshine, she had to balance being somewhat unlikable (because she's accidentally dating her sister’s ex) with being the emotional heart of the wedding prep. Her rendition of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" alongside Katy Brand is probably the most high-energy moment in the whole flick.
The Leading Man and the X Factor Connection
Let's talk about Raf. Giulio Berruti.
He was essentially the human embodiment of a Mediterranean summer. Before the cast of Walking on Sunshine catapulted him onto international screens, he was already a massive star in Italy. Interestingly, Berruti isn't just a face; he’s a trained dentist. Yeah, seriously. He has a degree in dentistry and dental prosthodontics. Imagine going in for a filling and that guy walks in. Since the movie, he’s become a bit of a staple in the Gabriel’s Inferno film series, which has a very specific, very dedicated fanbase.
But the real "get" for the production back in 2014 was Leona Lewis.
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It’s easy to forget just how huge Leona Lewis was following The X Factor. Bringing her in as Elena was a strategic move to ensure the soundtrack had some serious vocal credibility. It was her film debut. She didn't have the heaviest lifting to do in terms of dramatic acting—she was mostly there to be the supportive friend and hit the high notes in "Walking on Sunshine"—but she added a layer of polish to the musical numbers that made the film feel more legitimate. She’s mostly returned to music and theater since then, famously playing Grizabella in Cats on Broadway.
The Comedic Heavyweights Who Stole the Show
Katy Brand is a national treasure in the UK, and as Lil, she was doing the heavy lifting for the comedy. Lil was the cynical, witty best friend every musical needs to keep things from getting too sugary. Brand is a writer, comedian, and actress who understands timing better than almost anyone else in that lineup. Her presence meant the movie could poke a little bit of fun at itself.
And then there’s Greg Wise.
If you’re a fan of Sense and Sensibility or The Crown (where he played Lord Mountbatten), seeing him as Doug—the sleazy, over-the-top ex-boyfriend—was a trip. He was clearly having the time of his life. He spent most of the movie wearing linen shirts unbuttoned way too far and trying to win Maddie back with zero shame. It’s the kind of performance that knows exactly what kind of movie it’s in. Wise didn't try to make it Shakespeare; he made it fun.
Why the Ensemble Worked (Against the Odds)
Musicals live or die on the chemistry of the group. If the cast of Walking on Sunshine hadn't looked like they were actually having a blast in Italy, the whole thing would have fallen apart. You had:
- Danny Kirrane as Mikey: The "everyman" who provided the physical comedy.
- Giulio Corso as Enrico: Adding that extra layer of Italian charm.
They spent weeks in the Salento region of Puglia. That sun-drenched look isn't CGI. The cast was actually filming in places like Nardò and Gallipoli. When you see them dancing on the beach to "Venus," they’re dealing with actual sand and actual heat. That shared "summer camp" vibe translates to the screen.
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Critics at the time were... well, they were critics. They pointed out the predictable plot and the jukebox nature of the soundtrack. But the movie found a second life on streaming services. People started realizing that the vocal performances were actually live-recorded on set in many instances, or at least handled with more care than your average low-budget musical. The actors weren't just lip-syncing; they were performing.
A Quick Look at the Soundtrack Hits
The cast didn't just show up; they recorded a full studio album for the film. You’ve got covers of:
- "Holiday" (originally Madonna)
- "How Will I Know" (Whitney Houston)
- "The Power of Love" (Huey Lewis and the News)
- "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (Wham!)
It was a bold move to cover Whitney and Madonna in the same film, but Scholey and Arterton held their own.
What People Get Wrong About the Movie
Most people assume this was a Hollywood production. It wasn't. It was a British musical, directed by Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini (the duo behind StreetDance). This is why the humor feels a bit drier and the cast is largely made up of British TV stalwarts and European actors rather than A-list Americans.
There's also a misconception that the actors were "one-hit wonders" for this film. In reality, the cast of Walking on Sunshine represents a very successful cross-section of the industry. Between them, they have Laurence Olivier Award nominations, multi-platinum albums, and starring roles in some of the biggest prestige dramas of the last decade.
The Italian Influence
We can't talk about the cast without mentioning the "location" as a character. The producers deliberately chose Italian actors for the supporting roles to keep some level of authenticity. Giulio Berruti was already a heartthrob in Rome, but this film introduced him to the London and New York markets. The chemistry between him and the British leads was the result of a deliberate "clash of cultures" vibe the directors wanted to foster on set. It worked because it felt like a real holiday romance—messy, fast-paced, and slightly ridiculous.
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Impact on the Actors' Careers
For Hannah Arterton, it proved she could lead a feature film and sing. For Annabel Scholey, it displayed a comedic range that she doesn't always get to show in her more "serious" BBC roles. For Leona Lewis, it was a successful foray into acting that didn't tarnish her brand but rather expanded it.
The film didn't change the face of cinema. It didn't win Oscars. But it remains a go-to "comfort watch." In a world of gritty reboots and three-hour epics, there’s something genuinely refreshing about a cast that just wants to sing "Don't You Want Me" in a town square.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans of the Cast
If you loved the cast of Walking on Sunshine, you don't have to stop at this one movie. There are specific projects you should check out to see these actors at their best:
- Watch Annabel Scholey in The Split: If you want to see her do incredible, nuanced dramatic work, this legal drama is the gold standard.
- Follow Giulio Berruti’s Italian projects: If you can handle subtitles (or speak the language), his work in Italian TV movies shows a lot more range than just being the "pretty guy" on the beach.
- Listen to Hannah Arterton’s actual music: She’s collaborated on various soundtracks and has a folkier, more indie vibe than the pop songs in the movie.
- Track down Katy Brand’s writing: She’s an accomplished author and screenwriter. Her perspective on the industry is sharp and worth your time.
The legacy of the film isn't just the songs; it's the fact that it captured this specific group of talented people at a very specific moment in their careers. They took a simple premise and made it infectious. Sometimes, that's more than enough.
To see what the cast is up to lately, check their recent credits on IMDb or follow their theater work in London’s West End, where many of them—especially Scholey and Wise—frequently return to their roots.