Netflix's Mother Of The Bride Cast & Character Guide
Summary
- Mother of the Bride boasts a star-studded cast including Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, and Benjamin Bratt.
- The film follows a high-concept premise with surprises, comical misunderstandings, and the potential for rekindled love.
- Director Mark Waters assembles a talented team to bring veteran screenwriter Robin Bernheim’s script to life on screen.
The cast of the Netflix romantic comedy Mother of the Bride includes such beloved actors as Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, and Benjamin Bratt. Mother of the Bride revolves around a woman who returns from a year abroad and surprises her mom with the news that she’s getting married. They promptly jet off to a resort in Thailand for the wedding, and when the mother of the bride meets the father of the groom, she’s even more surprised to find that he’s her ex-boyfriend. It’s a classic high-concept premise that promises awkward situations, comical misunderstandings, and the possibility of rekindled love.
Mother of the Bride sees the return of an ‘80s screen legend in a leading role. The cast also brings back a Nickelodeon star, a One Tree Hill star, and a wildly charismatic character actor who’s appeared in everything from Demolition Man to Modern Family. This May 2024 Netflix release is directed by Mean Girls and Freaky Friday’s Mark Waters from a script by veteran screenwriter Robin Bernheim. Waters assembled a heck of a cast to bring Bernheim’s script to life on the screen, featuring such revered stars as Rachael Harris, Wilson Cruz, and Michael McDonald.
Brooke Shields As Lana
Brooke Shields was born in New York City in 1965. She first broke out with her leading role as Violet in Louis Malle’s film Pretty Baby in 1978. The movie instantly shot Shields to stardom, but it was controversial due to the fact that Shields filmed nude scenes at the age of 11.
Shields gained further recognition for her roles in 1980s romance movies as Emmeline Lestrange in The Blue Lagoon, for which she won the inaugural Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress, and Jade Butterfield in Endless Love. Shields starred as Susan Keane in the sitcom Suddenly Susan, for which she received two Golden Globe nominations. More recently, she played the recurring role of Sheila Porter in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In Mother of the Bride, Shields plays the titular mother of the bride, Lana. Throughout the early scenes of the film, a bunch of big surprises are heaped on Lana. Not only is she surprised by the news that her daughter, who’s been away for a year, is getting married in a month; she’s surprised by the revelation that the father of the groom is her own ex-boyfriend from college.
Miranda Cosgrove As Emma
Miranda Cosgrove was born in Los Angeles in 1993. She made her acting debut with the role of band manager Summer Hathaway in School of Rock. Cosgrove first broke big with the role of troublesome younger sister Megan Parker in the cast of the hit Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh.
Cosgrove gained further recognition with the title role of Carly Shay in the subsequent Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly. She’s since reprised her role as Carly in Paramount+’s iCarly reboot. Cosgrove also voices Gru’s oldest adopted daughter, Margo, in the Despicable Me franchise.
In Mother of the Bride, Cosgrove plays the eponymous bride, Emma. At the beginning of the movie, Emma has just spent a year abroad in London. When she returns home, she surprises her mother with the news that she’ll be getting married in Thailand in a month.
Benjamin Bratt As Will
Benjamin Bratt was born in 1963. He first broke out with his role as Paco Aguilar in the classic crime film Blood In, Blood Out. He’s since avoided typecasting and played a wide range of roles in a wide variety of projects.
From 1995 to 1999, he starred as Detective Reynaldo Curtis in Law & Order. His other TV roles include Javier Delgado in Modern Family and Steve Navarro in 24: Live Another Day. His film roles include Officer Alfredo Garcia in Demolition Man, Captain Ramírez in Clear and Present Danger, and Ranger Johnny in The River Wild. He’s also played voice roles in animated movies, like Ernesto de la Cruz in Coco and Eduardo Pérez in Despicable Me 2.
In Mother of the Bride, Bratt plays Will. Will is the father of Emma’s fiancé who also happens to be the ex-boyfriend who broke Lana’s heart in college. Will and Lana’s lingering romantic feelings for each other form the dramatic backbone of the movie.
Chad Michael Murray As Lucas
Chad Michael Murray was born in 1981 in Buffalo, New York. Murray previously worked with Mother of the Bride director Mark Waters when he played Jake in Freaky Friday. He first broke big with the role of Lucas Scott in the hit teen drama series One Tree Hill.
Murray has played recurring TV roles in other teen dramas, such as Tristin DuGray in Gilmore Girls, Charlie Todd in Dawson’s Creek, and Edgar Evernever in Riverdale. He played Austin Ames in A Cinderella Story, Nick Jones in House of Wax, and Officer Ingram in Fruitvale Station. He also played serial killer Ted Bundy in the true-crime biopic Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman.
Murray plays Lucas, a first-aid responder who takes a romantic interest in Lana, in Mother of the Bride. Lucas’ interest in Lana throws a spanner into the works with her reconnection with Will. But Lana’s sister encourages her to go on a date with Lucas.
Rachael Harris As Janice
Rachael Harris was born in 1968 in Worthington, Ohio. Harris is a comedian who started out with the Los Angeles improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings. She first broke out as a correspondent on The Daily Show from 2002 to 2003.
Harris is known for playing Susan Heffley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies, Dr. Linda Martin in the Fox/Netflix series Lucifer, and Nora Parker in the Disney+/Hulu series Goosebumps. She also played Stu’s domineering girlfriend Melissa in The Hangover. Most recently, Harris played Ana Cabanna in Unfrosted and Dr. Lois Shmieckel-Turner in Old Dads.
Harris plays Lana’s sister, Janice, in Mother of the Bride. While Lana’s romantic history with Will is a surprise to Emma and Lucas, Janice is well aware of their relationship (and how it ended). She has to act as a sort of mediator between the two scorned lovers as she tries to keep the wedding on track.
Mother Of The Bride Supporting Cast & Characters
Sean Teale as RJ: The groom, RJ, is played by Sean Teale. Teale is best known for his TV roles as Prince Condé in Reign, Nick Levan in Skins, and Ben Larson in the Syfy series Incorporated.
Wilson Cruz as Scott: Wilson Cruz plays Scott in Mother of the Bride. Cruz is most renowned for playing Rickie Vasquez in My So-Called Life and Dr. Hugh Culber in Star Trek: Discovery.
Michael McDonald as Clay: Clay is played by Michael McDonald. McDonald was the longest-tenured cast member of the sketch comedy show MADtv, appearing from season 4 to season 13.
Tasneem Roc as Camala: Tasneem Roc appears in the Mother of the Bride cast as Camala, the wedding planner. Roc is best known for playing Anna Lucia in Love and Monsters, and for her recurring role as Suzy Sudiro on the Australian soap opera Home and Away.
Mother of the Bride
- Director
- Mark Waters
- Release Date
- May 9, 2024
- Cast
- Brooke Shields , Benjamin Bratt , Miranda Cosgrove , Rachael Harris , Sean Teale , Chad Michael Murray , Michael McDonald , Wilson Cruz