Cast
38 actors are credited in the show's opening credits when they appear, with only Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Kerry Condon and James Purefoy appearing in every episode.
Kevin McKidd as Lucius Vorenus, a staunch, traditional Roman officer who struggles to balance his personal beliefs, his duty to his superiors, and the needs of his family and friends. He is based on the historical Roman soldier of the same name, briefly mentioned in Julius Caesar's De Bello Gallico 5.44.
Ray Stevenson as Titus Pullo, a friendly, upbeat, devil-may-care soldier with the morals of a pirate, the appetites of a hedonist, and a total lack of personal responsibility, who discovers hidden ideals and integrity within himself.
Polly Walker as Atia of the Julii, the niece of Julius Caesar and mother of Octavian and Octavia. She is depicted as a cheerfully amoral and opportunistic manipulator. Her family connections and sexual liaisons have brought her into contact with some of the most powerful individuals in Rome, making her a highly influential figure in Roman society. Atia is very loosely based on the historical figure Atia about whom little detail is known. Rome historical consultant Jonathan Stamp identifies the historical figure Clodia as the primary basis for the character of Atia.
Kenneth Cranham as Pompey Magnus (season 1), a legendary general, past the days of his prime, who tries to recapture the glories of his youth as well as to do what is right for the Republic. The real Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was a Roman general and politician who was as ambitious as Caesar and just as unorthodox in his youth. He chose to ally himself with the optimates in opposing Caesar and supporting the traditional Roman Republic.
Lindsay Duncan as Servilia of the Junii, the mother of Marcus Junius Brutus, lover of the married Julius Caesar, and enemy of Atia of the Julii. Servilia is depicted as a sophisticated and regal Roman matron who follows her heart to her detriment, betrayed by love, and hungering for revenge. Slowly she becomes as cold, calculating, and cruel as those whom she would destroy. Servilia is loosely based on the historical personage of Servilia, mother of Marcus Junius Brutus, and famous lover of Julius Caesar.
Tobias Menzies as Marcus Junius Brutus, based on the real Marcus Junius Brutus, he is portrayed as a young man torn between what he believes is right, and his loyalty and love of a man who has been like a father to him. The real Brutus was the most famous of Julius Caesar's assassins, and one of the key figures in the civil wars that followed the assassination.
Kerry Condon as Octavia of the Julii, based on the Roman matron Octavia Thurina Minor, sister of Roman Emperor Augustus, born to one of the most powerful families in Rome, the Julii. Octavia is the only daughter and elder child of Atia of the Julii, who is the niece of Gaius Julius Caesar. In season 2, for political reasons she is married to Mark Antony. This is something she did in real life when Antony was newly a widower in 40 BC as part of the Pact of Brundisium, having been ordered by the Senate to set aside the mandatory ten-month term of widowhood after the death of her first husband, Claudius Marcellus.
Karl Johnson as Porcius Cato (season 1), an extreme traditionalist, against political, social, and moral decay, and a staunch defender of the Roman Republic. The real Cato the Younger was a Roman orator, author and politician who committed suicide to avoid living under Caesar's tyranny.
Indira Varma as Niobe (season 1 & three episodes of season 2), a proud plebeian woman from a large clan. After marrying Lucius Vorenus and giving birth to their two daughters, she functioned as a single parent when Lucius went off to war. After being told (incorrectly) by the army that Vorenus is dead, she embarks on a love affair with her sister's husband, giving birth to a son a few months before a very much alive Vorenus returns home. Convinced he will kill her and all the children should he learn of the affair, she tells Vorenus that the baby Lucius is his grandson by their older daughter and her lover.
David Bamber as Marcus Tullius Cicero, a moderate politician and scholar, faced with trying to save the traditional Republic from the ambitions of the various characters on the show. The real Cicero was a Roman politician, writer and orator.
Max Pirkis (season 1 & first two episodes of season 2) and Simon Woods (season 2) as Gaius Octavian (Augustus), son and younger child of Atia, Octavian is presented as a cold, self-entitled student of power and politics. He is eager to enter political life and follow in Caesar's footsteps – an ambition more easily achieved when Caesar posthumously adopts him. The basis for this character is the early life of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.
Lee Boardman as Timon, a Jewish horse trader who serves as a loyal assassin and bodyguard for Atia. He accepts money as payment but prefers sex with Atia.
Nicholas Woodeson as Posca, a Greek slave of Julius Caesar, and also his friend, aide-de-camp, and confidant in most things personal and professional. As a slave, he will seldom receive credit, but it appears that some of the simpler and more elegant solutions to Caesar's problems come from the mind of Posca. Posca is freed and given a stipend in Caesar's will at the start of the second season. He throws his support behind Antony, but later strategically defects to Octavian.
Suzanne Bertish as Eleni, Servilia's slave.
Paul Jesson as Quintus Metellus Scipio, comrade and follower of Cato.
James Purefoy as Mark Antony, a very popular and cunning Roman general and politician and a close supporter of Julius Caesar in season 1. In season 2, he is in a power struggle with the power hungry and unaccomplished Octavian.
Ciarán Hinds as Julius Caesar (season 1 & first episode of season 2), who is ambitious but his aims and motives are often kept ambiguous to further complicate the plot and test the personal loyalties of other characters. He advertises himself as a reformer who sides with the plebeians, though he is himself a patrician. He is also merciful to his beaten enemies, genuinely distressed by their deaths, and relieved at their willingness to make peace where a more vindictive individual would have simply killed them.
Coral Amiga as Vorena the Elder, daughter of Lucius and Niobe.
Anna Francolini as Clarissa, Niobe's friend.
Enzo Cilenti as Evander Pulchio (season 1), Lyde's husband and Niobe's brother-in-law, with whom she has an affair.
Chiara Mastalli as Eirene, Pullo's slave and object of his affection.
Esther Hall as Lyde, Niobe's sister.
Rick Warden as Quintus Pompey, son of Pompey. There is no basis for this character, but he may be meant to represent the younger of Pompey's historical sons Sextus Pompeius.
Lorcan Cranitch as Erastes Fulmen, underworld criminal.
Haydn Gwynne as Calpurnia, wife of Caesar.
Guy Henry as Cassius (season 2; recurring season 1), a senator who plots the assassination of Caesar.
Ian McNeice as Newsreader (season 2; recurring season 1), a herald announcing state-sponsored news to the citizens of Rome.
Zuleikha Robinson as Gaia (season 2), slave and brothel keeper.
Lyndsey Marshal as Cleopatra (season 2; guest season 1), portrayed as a hedonistic co-Pharaoh of Egypt, she plots to seduce Caesar to obtain his aid and protection to depose her brother. After Caesar's death, she seeks Mark Antony's protection, thus also becoming Atia's rival.
Rafi Gavron as Duro (season 2), a slave who attempts to assassinate Atia.
Nigel Lindsay as Levi (season 2), Timon's brother.
Michael Nardone as Mascius (season 2, recurring season 1), an old comrade and fellow legionary of Pullo and Vorenus.
Daniel Cerqueira as Memmio (season 2), captain of underworld gang the Caelians.
Alan Williams as Acerbo (season 2), captain of the Oppian Colleges.
Allen Leech as Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (season 2), one of Octavian's chief advisors.
Camilla Rutherford as Jocasta (season 2), Octavia's friend.
Alex Wyndham as Gaius Maecenas (season 2), one of Octavian's chief advisors.
Ronan Vibert as Lepidus (season 2), general under Mark Antony.
