You know that feeling when a show just clicks? It’s rare. Usually, there’s one actor who feels a bit "off" or a child star who can’t quite carry the emotional weight of a scene. But the cast of the Durrells in Corfu managed something almost miraculous over its four-season run on ITV and PBS. They didn't just play a family; they actually felt like one.
Maybe it was the heat of the Greek sun. Maybe it was the fact that they were filming in a literal paradise, far away from the cynical grind of London studios. Whatever the alchemy was, it created a version of Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals that felt lived-in, messy, and deeply affectionate. It wasn't just a period drama. It was a chaotic, bohemian experiment in living.
Honestly, when the show first aired, people weren't sure if anyone could replace the versions of these characters from the 1987 or 2005 adaptations. But Simon Nye’s writing, combined with this specific group of actors, gave the story a modern pulse without losing that 1930s nostalgia.
The Matriarch: Keeley Hawes as Louisa Durrell
Keeley Hawes was already a powerhouse when she took the role of Louisa. She’d done Line of Duty and Ashes to Ashes. She knew how to lead. But Louisa Durrell is a tricky character. She’s a widow who drags her four ungrateful children to a foreign country with basically no money and a faint hope that things will just... work out.
Hawes played her with this beautiful, frantic optimism. It wasn't just "worried mother" tropes. She allowed Louisa to be a woman with her own desires, her own frustrations, and a very dry sense of humor. You’ve got to admire the way she anchored the show. While the kids were off chasing birds or getting into trouble with the local police, Hawes provided the emotional spine.
Interestingly, Hawes has mentioned in interviews that the heat in Corfu was a genuine challenge for the cast. Wearing 1930s wool and silk in 35-degree weather isn't exactly a picnic. It added a layer of genuine exhaustion to her performance that made the "struggling mother" bit feel incredibly real.
The Breakout: Josh O’Connor as Larry Durrell
Before he was winning Emmys as Prince Charles in The Crown, Josh O’Connor was Larry. And he was brilliant. Larry is the eldest brother, a pretentious, aspiring novelist who spends most of his time typing naked or complaining about the lack of intellectual stimulation in Corfu.
O'Connor’s timing was impeccable. He could deliver a scathing insult about his sister's fashion or his brother's lack of hygiene with a deadpan precision that stole every scene. But he also showed Larry’s vulnerability. Beneath the arrogance, there was a guy who desperately wanted to be taken seriously as an artist.
It’s fun looking back at his performance now. You can see the seeds of the great actor he’s become. He didn't play Larry as a caricature. He played him as a young man who was terrified of being ordinary. If you watch the later seasons, his transition from the "annoying older brother" to someone who genuinely respects his mother's strength is one of the best arcs in the series.
The Rest of the Brood: Margo, Leslie, and Gerry
Then you have the middle children. Daisy Waterstone played Margo, the boy-crazy, slightly dim-but-secretly-wise sister. Waterstone brought a physical comedy to the role that was honestly underrated. Her facial expressions alone were worth the price of admission. Margo’s journey from a superficial teenager to a woman finding her feet as a nurse (sorta) was genuinely touching.
Callum Woodhouse as Leslie was the heart of many of the show's more grounded conflicts. Leslie was the one with the guns. The one who didn't really "fit in" with the intellectual or artistic pursuits of his siblings. Woodhouse played him with a puppy-dog energy that made you forgive his constant blunders. He represented the practical side of the family, even if his "practicality" usually involved accidentally shooting a hole in the ceiling.
And, of course, Milo Parker as Gerry.
Finding a child actor who can carry a show is like finding a needle in a haystack. Parker had to play a young Gerald Durrell, the man who would go on to become one of the world's most famous naturalists. He had to be obsessed with animals in a way that felt authentic, not scripted. Parker’s chemistry with the animals—the pelicans, the sloths, the dogs—was seamless. He never felt like he was "acting" curious; he just seemed genuinely fascinated by the world around him.
The Local Flavor: Spiros and Lugaretzia
You can't talk about the cast of the Durrells in Corfu without mentioning Alexis Georgoulis as Spiros Halikiopoulos. He was the family's fixer, driver, and Louisa’s "will-they-won't-they" love interest. Georgoulis is a massive star in Greece, and he brought a rugged, soulful energy to the show. The chemistry between him and Hawes was the "slow burn" that kept audiences coming back. It wasn't a fairy tale; it was complicated by culture, marriage, and timing.
And then there’s Anna Savva as Lugaretzia, the world’s most pessimistic housekeeper. Her constant moaning about her ailments and her skeptical view of the English family provided the perfect counterpoint to the Durrells' manic energy. She represented the "real" Corfu—a place of hard work and ancient traditions, not just a playground for expats.
Why the chemistry felt so authentic
The production team actually stayed in Corfu for months. They didn't fly in and out. They lived there.
This is a detail that often gets lost in the PR fluff, but it matters. The actors spent their downtime together at local tavernas. They swam in the same bays where their characters swam. When you see them eating a meal on screen, half the time they are actually laughing at an inside joke from the night before.
Director Steve Barron pushed for a sense of "naturalism" that allowed the actors to overlap their dialogue and improvise small moments. It made the house feel alive. The house itself—the "Daffodil Yellow Villa"—was a character in its own right. It was crumbling, it was beautiful, and it was crowded.
The Supporting Players
- Ulric von der Esch as Sven: The Swedish goat-herder and Louisa’s first real shot at romance in Corfu.
- Leslie Caron as the Countess: A legendary piece of casting. Having a French cinema icon on the show added a layer of old-world prestige.
- Yorgos Karamihos as Theo: The mentor to Gerry. His calm, scientific approach was the perfect foil to the Durrell family's chaos.
Where are they now?
Since the show ended in 2019, the cast has scattered into some pretty major projects.
Keeley Hawes continued her streak of hits with Bodyguard and It's a Sin. She’s basically the queen of British television at this point. Josh O’Connor, as mentioned, became a global star thanks to The Crown and films like Challengers. He’s moved far beyond the "Larry" archetype, though he often speaks fondly of his time in Greece.
Callum Woodhouse went on to star in the reboot of All Creatures Great and Small, playing Tristan Farnon—another role that requires a mix of charm and chaotic energy. Milo Parker has continued to act while also pursuing his education, and Daisy Waterstone has moved into more stage and indie film work.
Final thoughts on the legacy of the cast
The cast of the Durrells in Corfu succeeded because they didn't try to be "perfect." They embraced the sweat, the shouting, the failures, and the awkwardness of a family trying to reinvent itself. They made us believe that even if your life is a mess, as long as you have a few animals and a view of the Ionian sea, you might just be okay.
If you are looking to dive deeper into the world of the Durrells, there are a few things you should actually do rather than just re-watching the show for the fifth time.
First, read Gerald Durrell’s original trilogy if you haven't. The show takes a lot of liberties—Larry wasn't actually that much of a jerk, and Louisa was arguably even more eccentric. Second, look into the work of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The show isn't just entertainment; it’s based on the life of a man who changed how we think about extinction. Finally, if you ever get the chance to visit Corfu, head to the north-east coast. The "White House" in Kalami, where the real Lawrence Durrell lived, is still there. You can eat dinner on the terrace and look out at the same water that inspired the stories.
The show might be over, but the world it created—and the performances that brought it to life—remains a masterclass in ensemble acting.
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Next Steps for Fans:
- Read: My Family and Other Animals to see the contrast between the "TV Larry" and the real one.
- Watch: The Durrells in Corfu: What the Durrells Did Next, a documentary hosted by Keeley Hawes that explores the true history of the family.
- Explore: The official Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust website to see how Gerry’s legacy continues today.