Eric Dane, Colman Domingo, Zendaya, Sam Levinson, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Angus Cloud, Maude Apatow, Dominic Fike and Austin Abrams attend HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 Photo Call at Goya Studios on January 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Few television shows have generated pop culture buzz quite like HBO’sEuphoria.
The series, which premiered in 2019, centers on Rue Bennett, a teenager struggling with a drug addiction and the realities of complicated high school relationships. In addition to breakout performances from stars likeZendaya,Sydney Sweeney,Alexa DemieandBarbie Ferreira,Euphoriais also known for its memorable beauty andfashion moments.
The series wasrenewed for season 3in 2022, though there hasn’t been any announcement of a premiere date and the series wasput on hold temporarilyin March 2024.
“HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season. In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities," the network toldDeadlinein a statement.
During season 3’s production pause, the now all-star cast is taking on a variety of highly-anticipated films and series. Elordi will star in Guillermo del Toro’sFrankenstein,Sweeneyis acting in the thrillerAmericanaand Zendaya is taking the lead inLuca Guadagnino’s tennis filmChallengers.
While fans wait for updates on season 3, here’s everything to know about the cast ofEuphoria, from their previous roles to their personal lives.
Zendaya as Rue Bennett
Zendaya inEuphoria.Eddy Chen/HBO
Zendaya was already in the midst of a transition from child star to prestigious actor, but landing the lead role inEuphoriamarked a pivotal moment in her career. Long before playing the troubled teenager Rue Bennett, Zendaya appeared in theDisney ChannelsitcomShake It Up. She went on to star in another Disney series,K.C. Undercover, as well as two Disney Channel original movies,FrenemiesandZapped.
In 2017, Zendaya made her big-screen debut as MJ inSpider-Man: Homecoming. She reprised her role in the sequelsSpider-Man: Far From HomeandNo Way Home. The Emmy winner is also a recording artist and showed off her vocal chops in the 2017 movie musicalThe Greatest Showman, in which she starred oppositeZac Efron. Some of her other film credits includeSmallfoot,Dune,Space Jam: A New LegacyandMalcolm & Marie.
In 2020, at age 24, Zendayawon an Emmyfor outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her work onEuphoria,making her the youngest recipient of the award. Shewon the same awardtwo years later.
In her personal life, Zendaya is dating herSpider-MancostarTom Holland. The pair confirmed their romance in 2021 and have since shared Instagram tributes to each other. They generally keep their relationship out of the spotlight.
Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard
Sydney Sweeney HBO ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 3.Eddy Chen/HBO
Sydney Sweeney plays the insecure and self-sabotaging Cassie Howard. After guest-starring on shows such as90210andPretty Little Liars, Sweeney took on bigger roles inSharp ObjectsandTheHandmaid’s Tale. She also appeared in the Netflix original seriesEverything Sucks!and theQuentin TarantinofilmOnce Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
The actress quickly gained widespread recognition for her role inEuphoriaafter the series premiered in 2019. Her portrayal of Cassie, who often entangles herself in toxic relationship drama, earned her a nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series at the2022 Emmys.
In 2021, Sweeney appeared in season 1 of HBO’s dark comedyThe White Lotus, which earned her a second Emmy nomination in 2022 and a spot on theTIME100 Nextlist. She has also starred inMadame WebandRealitysince acting inEuphoria.
Sweeney is also a producer with her own company called Fifty-Fifty Films. Her most successful project so far wasAnyone But You, a rom-com starring herself andGlen Powellwhich made arecord-breaking over $200 millionat the box office. Sweeney also starred in and produced the horror movieImmaculate— next, she will take onThe Caretaker.
Outside of her producing roles, Sweeney will star inAmericanaalongsidePaul Walter Hauserand herEuphoriacostar Dane. She is also joining an all-star cast, includingAna de ArmasandJude Law, for the thrillerEden,perDeadline.
Off-screen, Sweeney is passionate about vintage cars and documented the process ofrestoring her 1969 Ford Broncoon social media. In 2022, shegot engagedto her restaurateur boyfriendJonathan Davino.
Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn
Hunter Schafer in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 8.Eddy Chen/HBO
Hunter Schaferplays the new girl in town, Jules Vaughn. Prior to starring inEuphoria, Schafer worked as a model for fashion houses such as Prada, Dior andMarc Jacobs. She has also made waves advocating for transgender rights.
Schafer has spoken about working withEuphoriacreatorSam Levinsonto create her character, who is also transgender.
She toldVarietyin 2019,“All the complications that come with being trans and queer simultaneously, as far as that being something the public is going to see: That’s really exciting to me, because that story will be accessible. But what’s also exciting is that it’s not about that at all.”
Next, she will act alongsideEmma Stonein the Yorgos Lanthimos movieKinds of Kindness. Schafer is also working on the horror moviePaletteand starring alongsideAnne HathawayandMichaela Coelin A24’sMother Mary, perDeadline.
As for her personal life, the actress dated herEuphoriacostar,Dominic Fikefrom 2022 to 2023.
Alexa Demie as Maddy Perez
Alexa Demie in ‘Euphoria’.Eddy Chen/HBO
Alexa Demie plays Maddy Perez, a straight-talking high school student in an on-again, off-again relationship with football player Nate Jacobs.
Like her character Maddy, Demie also has a passion for fashion. In a 2020 episode ofThe A24 Podcast, the actress revealed that in high school, she created her own line of embellished sunglasses called Mainframe. Her designs drew the attention of celebrities likeJennifer LopezandNicki Minaj, but Demie eventually gave up the business.
In March 2024, the actress appeared onstage withMadonnaat one of the performer’s Celebration tour concerts.
Barbie Ferreira as Kat Hernandez
Barbie Ferreira HBO ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 3.Eddy Chen/HBO
Barbie Ferreiraplayed Kat Hernandez onEuphoria. In her teens, Ferreira began modeling for brands including Aerie and H&M. She then moved into on-camera hosting, starting with Vice’s 10-episode seriesHow to BehaveandTeen Vogue’s web seriesBody Party.
Her first acting role was on HBO’sDivorcein 2018, and she later appeared onEuphoriaas a high school student who, after a classmate posts a video of her having sex online, begins making money as a camgirl.
In August 2022, Ferreiraannounced her exitfrom the HBO series after her character was given a noticeably smaller role in season 2. After her time onEuphoria, Ferreira starred in the dramaBob Trevino Likes ItandJordan Peele’sNope.
Next, the actress will star alongsideAriana DeboseinHouse of Spoils, perVariety, andThe Young KingwithMichael Shannon, perDeadline.
Maude Apatow as Lexi Howard
Maude Apatow in ‘Euphoria’.HBO
Maude Apatow plays Lexi Howard, Cassie’s more studious sister.
The daughter of director-screenwriterJudd Apatowand actressLeslie Mann, Maude is no stranger to Hollywood. Her first roles were in her father’s filmsKnocked UpandThis Is 40.Maude later appeared in the filmsOther PeopleandThe King of Staten Island.
One ofEuphoria’s casting directors, Jessica Kelly, toldIndieWirethat Levinson wrote the character of Lexi specifically for Maude after working with her onAssassination Nation.
In 2022, Maude’s father Judd toldEntertainment Tonightthat he was “really emotional” after watching his daughter inEuphoria.“I’m just in a puddle,” he said. “I’m just bawling and crying … You’re always happy when your kids are doing well and have a job.”
On Feb. 7, 2023, Maude made herNew York City stage debutas Audrey in the Off-Broadway revival ofLittle Shop of Horrors.
Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs
Jacob Elordi in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 3.Eddy Chen/HBO
Jacob Elordiappears onEuphoriaas star quarterback Nate Jacobs. In a 2022 appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, he describedhis characteras a “sweet, lovable, relatable, giant, 18-year-old psychopath.”
BeforeEuphoria, the Australian actor was best known for his role as Noah Flynn in Netflix’s romantic comedyThe Kissing Booth.He also starred in the film’s two sequels.
After gaining fame on the HBO series, Elordi playedElvis Presleyin Sofia Coppola’sPriscillaand starred in Emerald Fennell’sSaltburn. Next, the actor will take on a bevy of projects, including the Australian miniseriesThe Narrow Road to the Deep North,del Toro’sFrankenstein,the war filmOh, CanadaandOn Swift HorseswithDaisy Edgar Jones.
As for his personal life, Elordi dated hisThe Kissing Boothcostar Joey King for over a year before they broke up in 2018. The following year, he sparked romance rumors with hisEuphoriacostar Zendaya, and he dated modelKaia Gerberfrom 2020 to 2021.
The BAFTA nominee has been datingOlivia Jade Giannulli, daughter ofLori LoughlinandMossimo Giannulli, since December 2021.
Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs
Eric Dane in ‘Euphoria’.HBO
Eric Daneplays Nate’s father, Cal Jacobs, onEuphoria.
Off-screen, Dane married actressRebecca Gayheartin 2004 and the pair welcomed two daughters before separating in 2018.
Angus Cloud as Fezco
Angus Cloud in ‘Euphoria’.HBO
Angus Cloudplayed the scene-stealing drug dealer Fezco beforehis death in July 2023at age 25.
Born Conor Angus Cloud Hickey in Oakland, California, the artist had no acting experience prior toEuphoria. He was scouted while walking down the street in N.Y.C.
“I hope I did a good job,” he toldVarietyin 2022. “I don’t know how to act. I just do it. I’m in rooms with people that have been acting their whole life, and I’m like, ‘Why am I here?’ I got imposter-type s—.”
Cloud’s castmatesreacted to the news of his deathwith Instagram tributes and statements about their grief and connection to the late actor.
“Angus was the funniest person ever,” Maude wrote onInstagram. “I would get so excited to see on the schedule that we would be working together because I knew we’d have the best day, laughing so hard. He was the sweetest and made everyone around him so happy. He was just the best. Words can’t really capture how magical of a person he was. My heart is broken.”
Storm Reid as Gia Bennett
Storm Reid in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 6.Eddy Chen/HBO
Storm Reidplays Rue’s younger sister, Gia. In 2023, she told thePEOPLE Every Daypodcast that she had bonded with her on-screen sister Zendaya in real life.
“I always go to her for advice,” Reid said. “She’s always just super honest, super blunt, in the most loving, gentle way. But she’s still gonna tell you how she feels. And I love that because I am a very blunt, straightforward person.”
As a child, Reid appeared in films like12 Years a SlaveandSleight. In 2018, she received critical acclaim for her role inAva DuVernay’sA Wrinkle in Time. Reid also got praise for her guest appearance onThe Last of Usin 2023.
Next, the Emmy winner is acting inKilling Winston Jonesand starring inTeyana Taylor’s directorial debut,Get Lite,perDeadline.
Outside of her career, Reid attends theUniversity of Southern California. She also previously dated football quarterbackShedeur Sanders— the former couple madetheir red carpet debutin January 2023.
Nika King as Leslie Bennett
Nika King in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 5.Eddy Chen/HBO
Nika Kingplays Leslie Bennett, Rue and Gia’s mother. She is an actress and stand-up comedian who previously appeared onHannah Montana,2 Broke GirlsandNCIS: Los Angeles.
In March 2022, King told theTodayshow that she drew on personal experience to tackle her role as the mother of a teen living with addiction.
“I do not take this lightly, I do not go into this thinking, ‘Oh it’s just a role, it’s just acting’ — no, I understand the gravity of addiction,” she said. King also toldForbesthat her uncle had died from addiction-related causes just a few months before she started filmingEuphoria.
“The emotions were still raw. I thought about him and the moments we had together before shooting,” she told the outlet.
In March 2024, King empathized withEuphoriafans over the distress of a delayed season 3 duringone of her stand-up sets.
Colman Domingo as Ali Muhammad
Colman Domingo in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 6.Eddy Chen/HBO
Colman Domingoplays Ali Muhammad, a man in recovery from drug addiction and Rue’s sponsor.
Domingo began his career in the late ’90s as a theater actor, starring in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions likePassing StrangeandChicago. In 2011, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role inThe Scottsboro Boys.
His film credits includeLincoln,SelmaandIf Beale Street Could Talk.Next, Domingo is starring as Joe Jackson in theMichael Jackson biopicand taking on a role in the Netflix thriller seriesThe Madness, perVariety.
“I know that my win is a huge boon for not only African American men that look like me, but also people who live in queer spaces as well,” he said. “And showing that there’s no limits to what we can play, what we can do.”
Off-screen, Domingo has been married to his husband, Raúl Domingo, since 2014.
Algee Smith as Chris McKay
Algee Smith in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 - Episode 1.Eddie Smith/HBO
Algee Smithplays football player Chris McKay. As Cassie’s love interest, McKay was a central character in season 1 ofEuphoria, but he appeared in only two episodes of season 2.
The actor took on small roles in film and television before gaining critical attention in the 2017period crime dramaDetroit, which earned him a nomination for outstanding actor in a motion picture at the 2018 NAACP Image Awards. Smith went on to star inThe Hate U GiveandJudas and the Black Messiah.
He is also a recording artist and has released several EPs.
Austin Abrams as Ethan Daley
Barbie Ferreira, Austin Abrams in ‘Euphoria’ Season 1 - Episode 5.Eddy Chen/HBO
Austin Abramsplays Ethan, Kat’s love interest in season 1 ofEuphoria,and the unexpected star of Lexi’s play in season 2.
Abrams' supporting character got his moment in the spotlight — literally — in the second season of the series. In Lexi’s autobiographical play,Our Life, Ethan took on multiple roles, including the Nate Jacobs character who had an elaborate musical number.
“That’s not something previously that I had done in a long time, with dancing and stuff,” the actor toldEntertainment Tonightin 2022. Abrams also said that the scene took three days to film with choreographerRyan Heffington.
Before his time on the HBO series, Abrams appeared onThis Is UsandThe Walking Deadand also played the titular Dash in Netflix’s YA seriesDash & Lily. Next, the actor will appear inWolfsalongsideBrad PittandGeorge Clooney.
Dominic Fike as Elliot
Dominic Fike on ‘Euphoria’.hbo max
Dominic Fikeplays Elliot, who is introduced in season 2 when Rue meets him at a New Year’s Eve party.
An established musician, Fike’s role inEuphoriamarked his acting debut. He had a string of successful singles, like “3 Nights” and “Phone Numbers,” and released his first studio album,What Could Possibly Go Wrong, in 2020.
After playing Elliot, Fike acted inEarth MamaandLittle Death.As for his personal life, Fike previously dated his on-screen love interest, Schafer.
WhileEuphoriaremains on hold, the singer is set to play multiple music festivals in the summer of 2024, including Governors Ball, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.
Chloe Cherry as Faye
Chloe Cherry as Faye on ‘Euphoria’.Courtesy toska husted
Chloe Cherry joinedEuphoriain season 2 as Faye, a quirky character who first crosses paths with Rue during a drug deal gone wrong.
Cherry eventually auditioned and ended up becoming one of the season’s most memorable characters. After finding success onEuphoria, Cherry decided to leave the adult film industry and focus on acting.
She has since acted inFemdom Empireand appeared on an episode ofZiwe. Next, Cherry will appear in the indie filmTwo Neighbors, perDeadline.
Minka Kelly as Samantha
Minka Kelly in ‘Euphoria’.Eddy Chen/HBO
Kelly is best known for her role as Lyla Garrity on the football drama seriesFriday Night Lights, which aired from 2006 to 2009. Her other television credits includeParenthood,Charlie’s Angels,Jane the Virginand the DC Universe seriesTitans. She’s also starred in movies includingThe RoommateandSearching for Sonny.
Next, Kelly will star alongsideJosh Duhamelin the Netflix romantic drama seriesRansom Canyon,perDeadline.
In her personal life, the actressdated comedianTrevor Noahfrom 2020 to 2022. She’s also been romantically linked to other A-listers, includingJesse WilliamsandChris Evans.
source: people.com
