A Family Affair Cast & Character Guide

The renaissance of the modern rom-com continues with Netflix’s A Family Affair, which features an impressive cast of notable actors and actresses such as Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman. The 2024 romantic comedy film, directed by Richard LaGravenese and written by Carrie Solomon, chronicles the story of a young woman (Joey King) whose mother (Kidman) enters a relationship with her boss (Efron), much to her dismay. Unfortunately, as teased in the trailer for A Family Affair, King’s character learns of the scandalous (which is only so due to the couple’s age gap) affair when she walks in on them about to have sex.

The trope of an older woman dating a younger man in rom-coms seems to be trending upwards, as the premise of Zac Efron’s new movie sounds quite similar to The Idea of You on Amazon Prime Video. However, based on the trailer, A Family Affair seemingly leans more into its comedic roots and the role of the daughter plays a bigger part. Meanwhile, The Idea of You, which starred Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, is fraught with drama. A Family Affair also arguably includes a more renowned cast of well-rounded and iconic actors and actresses.

Zac Efron As Chris Cole

Date Of Birth: October 18, 1987

Actor: Zac Efron was born in San Luis Obispo, California, where he grew up before pursuing an acting career when he was a teenager. Efron participated in school theater, but after graduating high school, he started auditioning for (and landing) guest roles on television shows such as Firefly and ER. The actor scored his first main role as Cameron in the second season of the WB drama series Summerland, but Efron’s breakthrough was undoubtedly High School Musical on the Disney Channel. Efron played Troy Bolton throughout the popular musical trilogy, which led to numerous other opportunities in Hollywood.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Zac Efron’s A Family Affair character, Chris Cole, is a famous movie star (known for his role in the Icarus Rush franchise) who begins dating his assistant’s older mother, Brooke. At first glance, Chris is perceived as conceited and self-absorbed, which is why his assistant is so against him dating her mother and inserting himself into their family. However, as time goes on, it becomes clear how much Chris cares about Brooke and vice versa.

Nicole Kidman As Brooke Harwood

Date Of Birth: June 20, 1967

Actress: Nicole Kidman was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Australian parents who were in the United States on student visas. However, a few years after she was born, Kidman and her family moved back to Sydney, Australia, where she grew up participating in theater and dance. Kidman later dropped out of high school to pursue acting full-time and made her film debut in the Australian Christmas drama Bush Christmas at 16 years old. However, Kidman’s breakout role came when she starred as Rae Ingram in Dead Calm in 1989. Since then, Kidman has starred in numerous notable movies.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Nicole Kidman stars as Brooke Harwood, Chris Cole’s love interest, in the 2024 Netflix rom-com. Kidman and her A Family Affair costar Zac Efron share a 20-year age gap, which drives the conflict in the movie (alongside the fact that Kidman’s character is the mother of Chris’ assistant). Brooke is a writer and a widow who falls for her daughter’s boss.

Joey King As Zara Ford

Date Of Birth: July 30, 1999

Actress: Joey King was born in Los Angeles, California, and began acting at a young age. When she was four, King started starring in commercials before moving on to guest appearances in television shows such as Ghost Whisperer and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody as she got older. King’s breakthrough came when she was cast as Ramona Quimby in Ramona and Beezus opposite Selena Gomez in 2010. Since then, King has starred in various popular and renowned movies and shows.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Joey King plays Zara Ford in A Family Affair on Netflix. As mentioned above, Zara is Chris’ assistant who is disturbed to learn that her boss is sleeping with her mother, Brooke. Chris often takes Zara for granted and expects a lot from her, which is why King’s character is so against him dating her mother in the 2024 rom-com.

Liza Koshy As Eugenie

Date Of Birth: March 31, 1996

Actress: Liza Koshy was born in Houston, Texas, and got her start on the social media app Vine in 2013 after moving to Los Angeles. She accumulated millions of followers on Vine, and after the app was shut down, Koshy moved her content to YouTube, where she continued posting comedic videos. Koshy made her acting debut in 2016 when she starred as Violet Adams in the Hulu horror television series Freakish. Koshy has continued to pursue an acting career while also keeping her YouTube active.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Liza Koshy portrays Eugenie in the 2024 Netflix romantic comedy. Eugenie is Zara’s best friend in A Family Affair, who supports Zara when she learns that her nightmare boss is dating her mother.

Kathy Bates As Leila Ford

Date Of Birth: June 28, 1948

Actress: Kathy Bates was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where she grew up before moving to New York City to pursue a stage career. She worked various odd jobs to make ends meet while playing minor roles in theatrical productions and films. However, Bates started getting recognized for her stage work, including her role as Jessie Cates in the 1983 play ‘night, Mother, which earned her a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Play. However, Bates made her movie breakthrough when she starred as Annie Wilkes in Misery in 1990, which won her the Oscar for Best Actress.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Kathy Bates stars alongside Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman in the 2024 movie A Family Affair on Netflix. Bates plays Leila Ford, Brooke’s mother-in-law and Zara’s grandmother, who is ultimately the voice of reason and wisdom throughout the film.

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A Family Affair Supporting Cast & Characters

Shirley MacLaine – Shirley MacLaine, the Academy Award-winning actress known for her roles in The Trouble with Harry, Around the World in 80 Days, The Apartment, Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias, and numerous other notable films, is confirmed to appear in the 2024 Netflix rom-com. However, details surrounding Shirley MacLaine’s role have not been made available to the public. So, fans will have to watch A Family Affair to learn more about the supporting character played by the legendary performer.

A Family Affair (2024)

A young woman discovers her mother is having an affair with her boss, complicating her professional and personal life. As she navigates the emotional fallout, unexpected relationships and family secrets come to light. The film delves into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the ties that bind, offering a blend of drama and comedy as the characters confront their intertwined fates.

Director

Richard La Gravenese

Release Date

June 28, 2024

Writers

Carrie Solomon

Runtime

111 Minutes