Directed by Kate Winslet.
Goodbye June was released in select cinemas in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 12, 2025.
Distributed by Netflix.
Goodbye June (2025) Review
Goodbye June is a quiet and emotional family drama that focuses on love, loss, and unfinished feelings.
The story follows four adult siblings who come together during the Christmas season to care for their dying mother, June.
Being under one roof again brings back old memories, unresolved arguments, and moments of warmth.
The film takes its time, allowing conversations and small gestures to show how grief affects everyone differently.
Helen Mirren gives a touching performance as June, bringing both strength and humor to the role.
The rest of the cast feels natural and believable, especially in scenes where family tensions rise.
The movie does not rely on big twists or fast pacing. Instead, it stays grounded and realistic.
While the story may feel familiar, its emotional honesty makes it meaningful.
Goodbye June is best suited for viewers who enjoy slow, heartfelt dramas about family bonds and saying goodbye.
CR Rating – 6.7/10
Goodbye June Actors
Helen Mirren as June Cheshire
DOB: July 26, 1945.
Bio: Dame Helen Mirren is an Oscar-, BAFTA-, and Tony-winning British actress whose career spans five decades on stage and screen.
Renowned for regal, authoritative roles and deeply human emotional work, she transitioned from repertory theatre to international film in the 1970s.
Role: June Cheshire is the film’s matriarch, sharp-witted, emotionally resonant, and the heart of a fractured family.
The story follows her terminal illness and the family gathered at her bedside, exploring grief, reconciliation, and mortality.
Interesting facts: Director Winslet and writer Joe Anders specifically sought an actress who could convey “truth to mortality.”
Notable works: The Queen, Gosford Park, The Thursday Murder Club, The Leisure Seeker.
Kate Winslet as Julia Cheshire
DOB: October 5, 1975.
Bio: Kate Winslet is an Academy Award–winning actor with a career spanning both blockbuster and independent cinema.
She has been a leading performer since the 1990s, celebrated for emotionally rich, layered portrayals that convey vulnerability, resilience, and complexity.
Role: Julia Cheshire is the second-oldest child of the Cheshire family, a working mother balancing career, children, and the emotional strain of a dying parent.
Winslet plays Julia as the practical, weary sibling striving to hold the family together while confronting unresolved family tensions.
Interesting facts: This film marks Winslet’s feature directorial debut.
She intentionally hired several newer department heads, including the composer and production designer, to cultivate a more intimate set environment.
Notable works: The Reader, Mare of Easttown, Titanic, Steve Jobs.
Andrea Riseborough as Molly Cheshire
DOB: November 20, 1981.
Bio: Andrea Riseborough is an award-recognized British actor known for fearless, complex performances in both supporting and lead roles.
She has earned acclaim for her versatility and emotional precision in films such as Birdman, To Leslie, and To the Lighthouse.
Role: Molly Cheshire is the youngest daughter of the Cheshire family, fiercely protective of her mother, June, and unafraid to challenge both hospital staff and family members.
She serves as the impulsive, emotional foil who forces unresolved family tensions and buried issues into the open.
Interesting facts: Riseborough was cast specifically to bring a sharp, sometimes uncomfortable emotional truth to Molly.
Notable works: To Leslie, Birdman, Alice & Jack.
Toni Collette as Helen Cheshire
DOB: November 1, 1972.
Bio: Australian actor known for her remarkable range across film, television, and stage.
She has delivered award-nominated performances in horror (Hereditary), dark comedy (Knives Out), and drama (Wayward), consistently blending emotional depth with warmth and humor.
Role: Helen Cheshire is the eldest Cheshire sibling, a free spirit living abroad who returns home, crystals in tow, to face her mother June’s decline.
Collette brings comic timing, grounded warmth, and emotional nuance to Helen, balancing the character’s eccentricities with her deep love and loyalty to family.
Interesting facts: Collette said working with Winslet was one of her best experiences; Winslet wanted an actor who could balance humour and poignancy.
Notable works: Hereditary, Knives Out, Wayward, Little Miss Sunshine.
Johnny Flynn as Connor Cheshire
DOB: March 14, 1983.
Bio: British actor, singer-songwriter, and stage performer.
He leads a folk-rock band and is known for combining musicality with subtle, naturalistic acting.
Flynn has earned acclaim for performances that balance vulnerability, charm, and emotional authenticity across film, television, and theatre.
Role: Connor Cheshire is the youngest Cheshire sibling who still lives at home and devotes himself to caring for his mother, June.
Flynn portrays Connor with quiet sensitivity, giving depth to the youngest sibling’s conflicted perspective.
Interesting facts: Flynn was reportedly shown an early draft of Joe Anders’ screenplay and immediately connected with the story.
Notable works: Emma (2020), Stardust (2007), Ripley, stage and musical projects including his folk-rock band.
Timothy Spall as Bernie Cheshire
DOB: February 27, 1957.
Bio: A veteran British character actor celebrated for his work with director Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Mr. Turner) as well as major film and television roles.
Known for combining subtle comic timing with deep emotional resonance, Spall has earned numerous awards, including a BAFTA.
Role: Bernie is June’s husband, slightly bumbling, in denial, prone to ill-timed jokes but quietly devastated.
Spall’s Bernie offers both comic moments and tender heartbreak as the family confronts loss.
Interesting facts: Winslet and Spall previously collaborated (Hamlet, 1996 stage/film work), and critics highlighted Spall’s nuanced ability to mask pain with humor.
Notable works: Mr. Turner, Spencer, Harry Potter series (Peter Pettigrew), Secrets & Lies, The King’s Speech.
Fisayo Akinade as Nurse Angeli
DOB: December 28, 1987.
Bio: English actor known for his work on stage and screen.
He gained wider recognition through television dramas and critically praised stage performances.
Akinade is noted for his emotionally resonant supporting roles and the ability to convey warmth and subtle depth, making him a standout in ensemble pieces.
Role: Nurse Angeli is a compassionate hospital nurse who quietly supports the Cheshire family during June’s terminal illness.
He becomes a stabilizing presence amid the family’s grief, and his gentle interactions with Connor offer moments of emotional intimacy and human connection that help the audience navigate the story’s heavier themes.
Interesting facts: Akinade has a strong theatre background and was praised for bringing depth to a role that anchors the family’s softer moments on screen.
Notable works: Heartstopper, The Personal History of David Copperfield, various stage credits including Royal Court Theatre productions.
Jeremy Swift as Dr. David Titford
DOB: June 27, 1960.
Bio: English character actor with an extensive career in theatre, television, and film.
He is known for playing warm, quietly humorous authority figures and bringing subtle nuance to supporting roles.
Role: Dr. David Titford is a calm, professional member of the medical staff caring for June.
His steady presence provides contrast to the emotional turbulence of the Cheshire family, offering both reassurance and narrative grounding in hospital sequences.
Interesting facts: Swift’s decades of experience in British theatre and television contribute to the ensemble’s cohesion.
Notable works: Downton Abbey, Mary Poppins Returns, Ted Lasso.
Raza Jaffrey as Dr. Simon Khal
DOB: May 28, 1975.
Bio: British actor with extensive experience in television, theatre, and film.
He is known for portraying composed, professional, and empathetic characters, often bringing a calm authority to supporting roles.
Role: Dr. Simon Khal is a medical professional involved in June’s care.
His composed, attentive presence helps anchor the hospital environment, allowing the Cheshire family’s emotional conflicts and grief to unfold naturally around a realistic clinical backdrop.
Interesting facts: Jaffrey’s background in both stage musicals and international television gives him range to play calm, humane supporting figures.
Notable works: Spooks, Homeland (recurring), Code Black.
Stephen Merchant as Jerry (Molly’s husband)
DOB: November 24, 1974.
Bio: British comedian, writer, director, and actor, best known as co-creator and co-writer of The Office and Extras.
He has a versatile career, moving fluidly between comedy and dramatic roles, and is recognized for his awkward charm, physical comedy, and precise timing.
Role: Jerry is Molly Cheshire’s husband.
His character provides both domestic tension and subtle comic relief.
Merchant portrays Jerry with warmth, awkwardness, and understated humor, leaning into tender, humanizing moments rather than broad comedy.
Interesting facts: Merchant is recognizable from acclaimed comedy projects; in Goodbye June he helps temper the gloom with humanizing warmth.
Notable works: The Office, Extras, The Outlaws.
Benjamin Shortland as Benji (Julia’s son)
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Benjamin Shortland is a young actor (credited as Benji in the film) who plays Julia’s child, giving the family story its younger perspective and the scenes of childhood tenderness that punctuate the film’s hospital setting.
Role: Benji is Julia Cheshire’s son.
His interactions with June and other family members provide poignant, heartfelt moments that highlight the emotional stakes of the story.
Interesting facts: As a child actor, Shortland’s personal details are kept private; the film uses the child’s warmth to balance adult grief.
Notable works: Goodbye June (feature debut).
James Trevelyan Buckle as Alfie
DOB: N/A.
Bio: James Trevelyan Buckle is a young actor making his feature debut in Goodbye June.
He appears as part of the film’s child cast, contributing naturalistic performances that enhance the family’s emotional authenticity.
Role: Alfie is one of the Cheshire grandchildren who participate in the film’s tender closing sequences.
His presence is central in moments that bridge grief and celebration, including a nativity play scene that highlights family warmth and continuity.
Interesting facts: Kate Winslet has mentioned practical casting choices for children to keep things simple on set; these young actors add authentic reactions in big emotional scenes.
Notable works: Goodbye June (feature debut).
More Actors
• Flora Jacoby Richardson as Ella.
• Elias Whittaker as Tibalt.
• Dexter Saville as Billy.
• Nancy Hannan as Sydney.
• Dan Li as Tom.
• Michelle Parker as Nurse Nancy.
• Blake Rowden & Casey Rowden as Baby Junie (twins).
• Georgia Landers as Jenny.
FAQ – Goodbye June (2025) Movie
What is Goodbye June about?
Goodbye June is a heartfelt family drama about four adult siblings who reunite during the Christmas season as their mother’s health suddenly declines. The film explores grief, family tension, love and reconciliation as they navigate difficult emotions together.
How long is the movie?
Goodbye June runs approximately 114 minutes (1 hour 54 minutes).
Is Goodbye June based on a true story?
It’s a fictional story, but Kate Winslet has shared that the emotional material draws inspiration from the personal experience of losing her own mother.
Is Goodbye June emotional?
Yes. Reviewers and viewers describe it as a bittersweet, tear-jerking family drama that blends humor with serious themes about life and loss.
What genre is Goodbye June?
The film is a holiday-season family drama that mixes warmth and emotional depth.
Where can I watch Goodbye June?
The drama is available to stream on Netflix.
Conclusion
Goodbye June (2025) is a gentle but powerful family drama that stays with you long after it ends.
Rather than relying on dramatic twists, the film finds its strength in honest conversations, emotional silence, and deeply human performances.
It captures how families come together during difficult times, even when old wounds resurface.
The cast delivers sincere and grounded performances that make the story feel real and relatable.
While the slow pace may not appeal to everyone, it perfectly suits the film’s reflective tone.
Overall, Goodbye June is a touching watch for audiences who appreciate emotional storytelling, strong character work, and films that explore love, loss, and the meaning of togetherness.