At 19, she was cast as a schoolgirl in 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night. She soon moved in with the then-20-year-old George Harrison, and the couple married in 1966. Boyd shared her husband’s interest in Eastern mysticism, yoga, and vegetarianism. However, by 1970, Harrison’s commitment to the Hare Krishna movement was straining their relationship.

In 1973, Boyd had an affair with Ronnie Wood, while Harrison did the same with Wood’s wife. Harrison also later romanced Ringo Starr’s wife, Maureen Cox. After divorcing Harrison in 1977, she married Eric Clapton in 1979; that marriage also ended after a decade. During this period, she inspired several songs by Harrison (“I Need You,” “Something,” and “For You Blue”) and Clapton (“Layla,” “Bell Bottom Blues,” and “Wonderful Tonight”). In 2007, Boyd published the best-selling autobiography Wonderful Today and has exhibited her own photographs from the 1960s, featuring friends and fellow luminaries. She is now 81.

Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Cox
BAFTA-winning, Bexley-born Mia McKenna-Bruce will play Maureen Cox, the first wife of Ringo Starr. The Liverpudlian hairdresser met the Beatle when they were performing at the Cavern Club, and they married in 1965. They had three children—Zak, Jason, and Lee—before divorcing a decade later due to Ringo’s infidelities and Maureen’s affair with George Harrison. She died of leukemia in 1994 at age 48. Paul McCartney later wrote “Little Willow” in her memory.

James Norton as Brian Epstein
The BAFTA-nominated Londoner will play Brian Epstein, The Beatles’ manager from 1961 until his death in 1967. Epstein first met the band at Liverpool’s Cavern Club while running his family’s music shop. Despite having no experience managing artists, he signed them in 1962 and encouraged them to adopt a clean-cut style. He secured them a recording contract with EMI’s Parlophone label, quickly catapulting them to superstardom. A month after his father’s death, Epstein was found dead; a coroner ruled it an accidental overdose of alcohol and barbiturates. He was 32. The Beatles were devastated, and his loss marked the beginning of the end for the band, which split in 1969.

David Morrissey as Jim McCartney
The Liverpool-born, TV BAFTA-nominated star will play Paul’s father. Though he worked as a salesman, Jim McCartney was also a trumpet player and pianist who led a jazz band in the 1920s. His encouragement was formative for the young Paul.

Leanne Best as Mimi Smith
Another Liverpudlian, recognizable from Line of Duty or Ted Lasso, Best will play John Lennon’s aunt Mimi, who raised him after being granted custody by his mother. She was skeptical of her nephew’s musical aspirations but supportive nonetheless.

Bobby Schofield as Neil Aspinall
The Merseyside actor will play Aspinall, a school friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison who later became The Beatles’ road manager and trusted confidant, driving them between shows at all hours. He was later promoted to personal assistant and eventually became the chief executive of The Beatles’ company, Apple Corps.

Daniel Hoffmann-Gill as Mal Evans
Following Aspinall’s promotion, Evans became The Beatles’ main roadie and will be played by Nottingham native Hoffmann-Gill. Formerly a bouncer at the Cavern Club, Evans was hired by Brian Epstein to assist the band and quickly became indispensable. He was present for all of The Beatles’ tours and nearly all their recording sessions, occasionally contributing as an uncredited musician on their later albums. After the band broke up,He continued to work as a record producer on the musicians’ solo projects.

Arthur Darvill as Derek Taylor
The actor from Birmingham, known for Doctor Who and Broadchurch and an Olivier Award winner for his stage work, plays Derek Taylor, The Beatles’ press officer. A journalist who became their media liaison, Taylor was famous for his innovative and lavish promotional campaigns.

Adam Pally as Allen Klein
The New York-born comedian and actor from The Mindy Project portrays Allen Klein, the New Jersey businessman and controversial music manager who began working with The Beatles after Brian Epstein’s death. Throughout his turbulent career, his aggressive negotiation tactics maximized his clients’ profits—and made him a fortune as well.

Harry Lloyd as George Martin
The Londoner and TV BAFTA nominee, known for Doctor Who, Wolf Hall, The Theory of Everything, and as Viserys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, will play The Beatles’ long-time music producer, George Martin. Martin was an arranger, composer, conductor, and musician who wrote most of the band’s orchestral and string arrangements and even played piano on several of their records. His celebrated career led to 30 UK number-one singles and six Grammy Awards.

Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Comparing the Cast of the Beatles Biopic to the RealLife Beatles

Beginner General Questions

1 Who is playing each Beatle in the new movie
Answer In Sam Mendess upcoming films Paul McCartney is played by Paul Mescal John Lennon by Harris Dickinson George Harrison by Charlie Rowe and Ringo Starr by Barry Keoghan

2 Do the actors look exactly like the real Beatles
Answer Not exactly but theres a strong effort to capture their essence Casting focuses on finding actors who can embody the personality energy and spirit of each member sometimes using makeup hairstyling and costuming to enhance the physical resemblance

3 Can the actors actually sing and play instruments
Answer This varies by production Some actors undergo intensive training to mimic playing and may do their own singing In other films the actors might lipsync to the Beatles original master tracks for authenticity

4 Why werent actors who look identical chosen
Answer Filmmakers often prioritize acting ability charisma and chemistry over perfect lookalikes The goal is to portray the people behind the iconstheir relationships conflicts and personalitieswhich requires strong dramatic skills more than just physical mimicry

5 How are they getting the Liverpool accents right
Answer The actors work extensively with dialect coaches to master the specific Liverpool accent of the 1960s which is crucial for making their performances believable

Advanced Detailed Questions

6 How do you even begin to cast someone to play a legend like John Lennon or Paul McCartney
Answer Casting directors look for actors who can capture the unique blend of traits Lennons sharp wit and intensity McCartneys melodic charm and optimism Harrisons quiet depth and spirituality and Starrs grounded affable nature Its about finding the right spark or aura

7 Whats the biggest challenge in portraying the reallife Beatles