Jennifer Kaytin Robinson didn’t just make a movie about a breakup. She made a movie about the people who survive it with you. When Someone Great hit Netflix in 2019, it didn’t just trend because of the soundtrack or the neon-soaked shots of New York City; it worked because of the chemistry. Honestly, the cast of Someone Great is a masterclass in modern ensemble casting. It feels less like a group of actors hitting marks and more like a genuine, messy, tequila-soaked Saturday night.
Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, and DeWanda Wise. That’s the core. It’s the tripod that keeps the whole film from falling into standard rom-com clichés. If one of them didn’t click, the whole "ride or die" vibe would’ve felt forced. It didn’t.
Gina Rodriguez and the Art of the Messy Breakup
Gina Rodriguez plays Jenny Young. You probably know her from Jane the Virgin, but this isn't Jane. Jenny is a music journalist who just landed a dream job at Rolling Stone in San Francisco. The catch? Her boyfriend of nine years, Nate, isn't coming with her.
Rodriguez does something really specific here. She captures that raw, snot-crying, "I might actually die from this" energy that comes when a long-term relationship ends. It’s not a pretty movie breakup. She’s wearing oversized t-shirts, drinking out of the bottle, and oscillating between total empowerment and soul-crushing despair. Her performance anchors the film because it’s so grounded in the reality of 20-something transitions.
What's cool is how Rodriguez handles the flashback scenes. We see the evolution of her relationship with Nate, played by Lakeith Stanfield. Stanfield is incredible—he has this effortless, laid-back charisma that makes you understand exactly why Jenny is so devastated. He’s not a villain. He’s just a guy who can’t make it work anymore. The cast of Someone Great needed that balance; if Nate was a jerk, we wouldn't care about Jenny’s pain. Because he’s lovable, we feel the loss too.
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The Supporting Duo: More Than Just Sidekicks
Then there’s Blair and Erin. In most movies, the best friends are there to give advice and then disappear until the next scene where the lead needs to cry. Not here.
Brittany Snow plays Blair. She’s the "responsible" one. Or at least, she thinks she is. She’s stuck in a passionless relationship with Will (played by Alex Veadov) and is basically terrified of change. Snow plays the "tightly wound" character with a lot of nuance. You see the cracks in her perfectionism early on. By the time she’s getting high and having an existential crisis in a bodega, you're fully on her side.
DeWanda Wise is the secret weapon of the cast of Someone Great. She plays Erin. Erin is a queer woman who is deathly afraid of commitment. She’s dating Leah (played by Rebecca Naomi Jones) and is doing everything in her power to keep things "casual" even though she’s clearly catching feelings. Wise has this incredible comedic timing. She delivers lines with a dryness that cuts through the sentimentality of the film. But she also brings the heart. When she finally admits she’s scared of being vulnerable, it’s one of the most honest moments in the movie.
Cameos That Actually Matter
Small roles can make or break a "one crazy night" movie. Someone Great nails the peripheral characters.
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- Jaboukie Young-White: He shows up as a guy at a party and, as usual, steals every second of screen time.
- RuPaul Charles: Yes, RuPaul is in this. He plays Hype, the girls' drug dealer/spiritual advisor. It’s a hilarious, slightly surreal cameo that fits the vibrant, heightened reality of the film’s New York.
- Rosario Dawson: She has a brief but pivotal role as Nate’s cousin. It’s a small touch that makes the world feel lived-in.
The inclusion of these actors makes the movie feel like a love letter to a specific New York creative scene. It’s diverse, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetic.
Why the Chemistry Works (And Why It Ranks)
Why are we still talking about the cast of Someone Great years later?
It’s the dialogue. Robinson wrote the script with these specific voices in mind, and the actors clearly had room to breathe. There’s a scene where they’re dancing in a kitchen to Lizzo’s "Truth Hurts." This was before that song became a global phenomenon. It felt organic. It didn't feel like a "movie moment" choreographed by a studio executive; it felt like three friends who had one too many mimosas.
The film tackles the "Quarter-Life Crisis" better than almost any other Netflix original. It acknowledges that your late 20s are a weird time where you're supposed to be an adult but you still feel like a kid. The cast embodies this friction. They are professional women with real jobs, yet they are still capable of making terrible, impulsive decisions when their hearts are broken.
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Beyond the Script: Real Life Connections
Interestingly, the bond between Rodriguez, Snow, and Wise extended off-camera. They’ve spoken in interviews about how they spent time together before filming to build that history. You can’t fake the way friends touch each other—the casual leaning, the way they finish each other’s jokes, the "look" they give each other when someone is spiraling.
Critics, including those at Rolling Stone and Variety, noted that while the plot is simple, the performances elevate it. It’s a character study masquerading as a party movie.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking at why this cast resonated so deeply, there are a few takeaways whether you're a casual viewer or someone interested in film:
- The Power of Trio Dynamics: Notice how the film uses three distinct archetypes (The Griever, The Perfectionist, The Commitment-Phobe) to ensure every viewer has someone to relate to.
- Representation Done Right: The film doesn't make a "big deal" out of Erin’s sexuality or the cultural backgrounds of the characters. They just are. This is how modern casting should look.
- Chemistry Over Starpower: While Gina Rodriguez was a big name, the movie relied on how she worked with Snow and Wise. Casting directors often prioritize the "sum of the parts" over one individual star.
To really appreciate what this cast did, go back and watch the scenes where they aren't speaking. Watch their reactions to each other. That’s where the real acting happens.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist
If you loved the cast of Someone Great, your next move is to check out the actors' other projects that carry a similar energy. Watch DeWanda Wise in She's Gotta Have It on Netflix for more of her powerhouse leading energy. Check out Brittany Snow’s directorial debut, Parachute, which deals with similar themes of modern struggle and intimacy. Finally, if you haven't seen it, Lakeith Stanfield in Short Term 12 shows the early range of the man who broke Jenny's heart. Understanding these actors' broader careers makes their "lightning in a bottle" moment in Someone Great even more impressive.