The 2012 movieZero Dark Thirtyis a gripping political thriller that was highly successful at the box office and was nominated for and won several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing and a Best Actress Golden Globe for Chastain’s performance. Because ofits gritty portrayal of real events,Zero Dark Thirtyis considered one of the best movies of the 2010s, and its streaming availability has brought it back into popularity.
The movie depicts adramatized version of the US military’s hunt for Osama bin Ladenin the decade following the September 11 attacks.Zero Dark Thirtyprimarily follows Maya, a CIA intelligence analyst, in her work to track bin Laden as she interacts with different CIA and US Navy teams. While Maya is the primary character,Zero Dark Thirtyfeatures a broad and impressive cast of well-known actors who take inspiration from real figures in recent US history.
Jessica Chastain As Maya
Date Of Birth: August 19, 2025
Actor:Jessica Chastain was born in Sacramento, California in 1977, and she became interested in acting as a child. Chastain studied at Julliard, and, after graduating, she began gaining small roles in television programs such asVeronica MarsandLaw & Order: Trial by Jury.Jessica Chastain got her big breakthrough in 2011 when she had six films released, includingTake Shelter, The Tree of Life, andThe Help, which garnered her critical and commercial success. Since then,Chastain has gone on to star in numerous filmsand several TV series to further acclaim.
Scenes from a Marriage
George & Tammy
Tammy Wynette
Character:InZero Dark Thirty, Jessica Chastain plays the main character Maya who is a CIA analyst. Maya is the leader of the team who is looking for Osama bin Laden, and she works both with other CIA agents in the US and undercover in other countries and with US Naval officers.
Jason Clarke As Dan
Date Of Birth: July 13, 2025
Actor:Jason Clarke was born in Winton, Queensland, Australia in 1969 and initially wanted to become a lawyer before becoming interested in acting. Clarke appeared in guest roles in Australian television series such asBlue Heelers, Mercury, Heartbreak High, Stingers, and more.Jason Clarke got his breakthrough in 2006 with the Showtime TV series Brotherhood. Following this role, Clarke has appeared in numerous movies and has garnered critical acclaim for his performances.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Oppenheimer
Roger Robb
Character:InZero Dark Thirty, Jason Clarke plays Dan. Dan is a CIA intelligence officer who works with Maya in trying to find leads about who committed the September 11 attacks.
Joel Edgerton As Patrick Grayston
Date Of Birth: June 14, 2025
Actor:Joel Edgerton was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia in 1974. Edgerton had guest roles in several Australian television shows and small parts in movies in the late 1990s, andhe got his big break in 2002 when he played Owen Lars inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, which he reprised inEpisode III. After this role,Edgerton has gone on to star in many popular filmsincludingThe Great Gatsby, Black Mass, The Green Knight, andThe Boys in the Boat.
The Boys in the Boat
Al Ulbrickson
Character:Joel Edgerton stars as Patrick Grayston inZero Dark Thirty. Patrick Grayston is the SEAL Team Six leader who, with his team, raids the compound where the CIA believes Osama bin Laden to be hiding and kills him.
Jennifer Ehle As Jessica Karley
Date Of Birth: August 16, 2025
Actor:Jennifer Ehle was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1969, and as the daughter of actor Rosemary Harris, Ehle was involved in acting from a young age.Jennifer Ehle rose to fame through her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the 1995 BBCPride and Prejudiceminiseriesopposite Colin Firth, after which she went on to star in numerous well received movies and TV shows. Ehle is likely most known for her roles inThe King’s Speech, Zero Dark Thirty, and theFifty Shades of Greyseries.
Pride and Prejudice
Dead Ringers
Rebecca Parker
Character:Jennifer Ehle plays Jessica Karley inZero Dark Thirty. Jessica Karley is a CIA Analyst who travels to Afghanistan to meet with a spy, but she is killed when he turns out to be working against the US.
Mark Strong As George
Date Of Birth: August 07, 2025
Actor:Mark Strong was born in London, England in 1963. Strong began his career in British television shows such asEastEndersandInspector Morse.Mark Strong rose to fame for his roles in the moviesStardustandRocknRollain 2007 and 2008, and he continued to gain popularity through roles inKick-Ass, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, andZero Dark Thirtyin the early 2010s. Strong has starred in many well-known movies and has received several awards and nominations for his work.
Cruella
John
Character:InZero Dark Thirty, Mark Strong plays George. George is a CIA supervisor who works with Maya and helps advise government oficials on the location of bin Laden and best course of action.
James Gandolfini As CIA Director
Date Of Birth: August 04, 2025
Actor:James Gandolfini was born in Westwood, New Jersey in 1961 and began acting after graduating from college. Gandolfini gained attention in the early 1990s after appearing in films such asMoney for NothingandTrue Romance.James Gandolfini is best known for playing Tony Soprano inThe Sopranosfrom 1999 to 2007.The role garnered him numerous awards and nominations, including three Emmy Awards. AfterThe Sopranos, Gandolfini starred in several movies. Sadly, he passed away in 2013 at the age of 51.
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Killing Them Softly
Mickey
Character:InZero Dark Thirty, James Gandolfini plays the CIA Director Leon Panetta. In real life, Panetta held several different governmental positions during his time in Washington, but served as the CIA director from 2009-2011. InZero Dark Thirty, Panetta presides over the operations to find bin Laden which are undertaken by the other characters.
Zero Dark Thirty Supporting Cast & Characters
Kyle Chandler as Joseph Bradley: Kyle Chandler plays the CIA Islamabad station chief. Chandler is best known for portraying Eric Taylor in the series Friday Night Lights, and he has also made appearances inSuper 8, The Wolf of Wall Street, Carol, and many other films.
Reda Kateb as Ammar: Reda Kateb plays a detainee who is tortured for information on bin Laden’s whereabouts. Kateb has appeared in movies such asLost River,Stop Me Here, Submergence,andThe Specials.
Chris Pratt’s Zero Dark Thirty Character Explained (& How It Affected The Actor)
Chris Pratt gives a career-best performance in Zero Dark Thirty, but the role in the action thriller impacted the actor more than audiences know.
Stephen Dillane As Tom Donilon: Stephen Dillane plays the National Security Advisor, Tom Donilon, who worked for the Obama administration from 2010 to 2013. Stephen Dillane is best known for playing Stannis Baratheon inGame of Thrones. He has been in numerous film and television productions as well as stage productions.
Chris Pratt as Justin Lenihan: Christ Pratt features as Justin Lenihan, a member of the Navy SEAL team sent to raid bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan. Chris Pratt is best known for his character Andy Dwyer inParks and Recreation, as well as for portraying Peter Quill in numerous Marvel movies.
Harold Perrineau as Jack Fuller: Harold Perrineau makes an appearance as Jack Fuller, a CIA analyst. Perrineau is best known for his roles as Mercutio in the movieRomeo+Julietand as Michael Dawson in the seriesLost, but he has appeared in numerous other productions as well.
Zero Dark Thirty
Cast
Zero Dark Thirty chronicles the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 2001 attacks, culminating in his death by Navy SEAL Team 6 in May 2011.
