Created by Charlie Brooker.
Black Mirror first premiered on December 4, 2011.
Distributed by Netflix for international audiences.
Series Review
Black Mirror remains television’s sharpest mirror to our tech age.
Season 1 introduced bleak social satire and unsettling concepts.
Season 2 deepened emotional stakes with quieter horror and human cost. The Christmas special widened scope and proved the series could scale.
Season 3 on Netflix brought cinematic production and breakout episodes such as Nosedive and San Junipero.
Season 4 mixed satire and spectacle with inventive pieces like USS Callister and Arkangel. Bandersnatch experimented with interactive storytelling and choice as narrative.
Season 5 felt shorter and uneven but offered striking moments and strong guest work.
Season 6 returned with bold genre swings and renewed moral urgency. Across its run Black Mirror balances moral puzzles, strong performances, and speculative dread.
Season 7 rounds out the journey with fresh narratives and bold ideas, re-energizing the anthology with emotional weight and speculative thrill.
Its best episodes read like modern fables that linger long after watching. Even when uneven the series still forces you to think about technology costs and what it reveals about being human.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.7/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
• Google Audience Score: 91% liked this TV show.
Black Mirror Actors
Daniel Kaluuya as Bing Madsen
DOB: 24 February 1989.
Bio: London-born actor and writer who began his career in British television and theater before achieving international recognition.
Known for his intense emotional honesty and simmering energy, Kaluuya excels at roles that combine psychological depth with physical presence.
Role: Bing Madsen, a character in the Black Mirror episode “Fifteen Million Merits” (Series 1), navigating a dystopian world with moral stakes that drive the story’s emotional tension.
Season & Episodes: Series 1, single episode.
What to Expect: A raw, physical performance with a moral core; Kaluuya makes a thriller-like social satire feel visceral and urgent.
Favorite Things: Kaluuya has spoken about theatre roots and improvisation shaping his acting choices.
Notable Works: Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah, Black Panther, Queen & Slim, and British TV projects including Skins and Psychoville.
Domhnall Gleeson as Ash (Ashley)
DOB: 12 May 1983.
Bio: Irish actor and writer with a strong theater training background and a diverse film career.
Known for his versatility, Gleeson seamlessly navigates between earnest drama and dry, understated comedy, bringing subtlety and emotional depth to each role.
Role: Ash (Ashley), a character in the Black Mirror episode “Be Right Back” (Series 2), serving as the emotional center for a speculative narrative on grief and technology.
Season & Episodes: Series 2, single episode.
What to Expect: A grounded, human anchor who makes speculative grief feel painfully plausible.
Favorite Things: Gleeson often speaks about the importance of family and writing in his life, and he consistently chooses challenging and varied roles to stretch his craft.
Notable Works: Ex Machina, About Time, The Revenant, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and numerous stage productions.
Hayley Atwell as Martha
DOB: 5 April 1982.
Bio: British-American actor trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Known for her strong work in period pieces, genre projects, and emotionally layered roles, Atwell brings depth, nuance, and authenticity to her performances.
Role: Martha, a character in the Black Mirror episode “Be Right Back” (Series 2), navigating profound grief and the unsettling experience of interacting with an artificial version of her deceased partner.
Season & Episodes: Series 2, single episode.
What to Expect: Tender, believable grief; Atwell delivers quiet heartbreak and the terrifying awkwardness of technology replacing a person.
Favorite Things: Atwell has spoken publicly about her love for theatre, history, and games, emphasizing authenticity and research in her role preparation.
Notable Works: Captain America: The First Avenger, Agent Carter, stage work.
Bryce Dallas Howard as Lacie Pound
DOB: 2 March 1981.
Bio: American actress and director known for her precise physicality, sharp comic timing, and ability to navigate complex social satire.
She has earned critical praise and award recognition, including a SAG Award nomination, for her nuanced performances that blend charm, vulnerability, and wit.
Role: Lacie Pound, the central character in the Black Mirror episode “Nosedive” (Series 3), whose obsession with social media ratings spirals into a darkly comedic and poignant journey.
Season & Episodes: Series 3, single episode.
What to Expect: A layered, satirical performance: outwardly chipper, inwardly unravelling. Great at comedy with a sting.
Favorite Things: Howard frequently discusses her passion for directing, storytelling, and family, often balancing behind-the-camera work with acting.
Notable Works: Jurassic World films, The Help, Rocketman.
Toby Kebbell as Liam Foxwell
DOB: 9 July 1982.
Bio: English actor celebrated for intense, intimate performances.
He brings subtle awkwardness, simmering tension, and moral complexity to his roles, often exploring themes of memory, obsession, and interpersonal conflict.
Role: Liam Foxwell, the central character in the Black Mirror episode “The Entire History of You” (Series 1), whose obsessive scrutiny of memory technology drives the story’s moral and psychological tension.
Season & Episodes: Series 1, single episode.
What to Expect: A simmering, morally complicated central turn that unpacks jealousy and surveillance.
Favorite Things: Kebbell maintains a low public profile, emphasizing dedication to craft and thoughtful role selection.
Notable Works: Dead Man’s Shoes, War Horse, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Kong: Skull Island, Ben-Hur.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Kelly Jane Booth
DOB: 21 April 1983.
Bio: British actor trained in theater, who has steadily built a career in television and film.
Known for her emotionally truthful performances, she often chooses projects with depth and heart, balancing dramatic intensity with warmth and authenticity.
Role: Kelly Jane Booth, the central character in the Black Mirror episode “San Junipero” (Series 3), navigating love, memory, and self-discovery within a digital afterlife.
Season & Episodes: Series 3, single episode.
What to Expect: Warmth and a luminous vulnerability; the episode became a breakout, tender entry in the series.
Favorite Things: Mbatha-Raw advocates for representation in the arts, enjoys painting, and engages in humanitarian work.
Notable Works: Belle, Beyond the Lights, Loki, Surface, The Cloverfield Paradox, Misbehaviour.
Mackenzie Davis as Yorkie
DOB: 1 April 1987.
Bio: Canadian actor trained in theater who transitioned into indie and genre film.
She is known for her empathetic portrayals, precise physicality, and deadpan delivery, particularly in science fiction and character-driven roles.
Role: Yorkie, the central character in the Black Mirror episode “San Junipero” (Series 3), whose journey of self-discovery and love intertwines with Kelly Jane Booth in a digital afterlife.
Season & Episodes: Series 3, single episode.
What to Expect: Quiet intensity and emotional clarity; great chemistry with co-stars.
Favorite Things: Davis often discusses her craft, physical preparation for roles, and deliberately choosing challenging and diverse material.
Notable Works: Halt and Catch Fire, Blade Runner 2049, Terminator: Dark Fate, The Martian.
Cristin Milioti as Nanette Cole
DOB: 16 August 1985.
Bio: American actor and singer known for her versatility across stage, comedy, and drama.
She has earned acclaim for scene-stealing performances, emotional clarity, and the ability to anchor complex narratives while maintaining nuance and charm.
Role: Nanette Cole, a central character in the Black Mirror episode “USS Callister” (Series 4), whose bravery and ingenuity help navigate a high-stakes, genre-bending story set inside a digital simulation.
Season & Episodes: Series 4, single episode, and Series 7.
What to Expect: Brave, resourceful performance that anchors a sprawling, genre-playing story.
Favorite Things: Milioti often speaks about her musical theater roots, comedic timing, and dedication to nuanced character work.
Notable Works: How I Met Your Mother (The Mother), Palm Springs.
Jesse Plemons as Robert Daly (digital clone in “USS Callister” and more)
DOB: 2 April 1988.
Bio: American actor who began as a child performer and has evolved into a leading, often quietly intense presence in film and prestige television.
He is known for portraying unnerving, complex characters with subtlety and psychological depth.
Role: Robert Daly, the central character in the Black Mirror episode “USS Callister” (Series 4), including appearances as digital clones and variants in subsequent specials.
Daly is the creator of a virtual spaceship world whose authoritarian control drives the story’s tension and moral conflict.
Season & Episodes: Series 4 and the later sequel special; main central role in episode.
What to Expect: Chilling, precise control; Plemons can make toxicity feel both plausible and monstrous.
Favorite Things: Plemons is noted for being private but devoted to craft and family.
Notable Works: Friday Night Lights, Fargo, The Power of the Dog, Breaking Bad, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Irishman.
Jon Hamm as Matt Trent
DOB: 10 March 1971.
Bio:American actor best known for his iconic role as Don Draper in Mad Men.
He is acclaimed for his charismatic screen presence and his ability to navigate darkly comic, morally complex, or unsettling characters across film and television.
Role: Matt Trent, a central character in the Black Mirror special “White Christmas.” Trent is a morally compromised tech executive whose charm masks a disturbing, manipulative streak, driving the episode’s tension.
Season & Episodes: Christmas special, standalone.
What to Expect: An unnerving charm, playing a morally compromised tech figure with edge and menace.
Favorite Things: Hamm often speaks about his theater roots, love for character-driven work, and dedication to nuanced performances.
Notable Works: Mad Men, The Town, Baby Driver, Good Omens.
Miley Cyrus – as Ashley O / voice of Ashley Too
DOB: 23 November 1992.
Bio: Miley Cyrus is an internationally recognized pop star and actor, known for blending musical talent with bold, often provocative persona work.
She brings authenticity and emotional depth to roles exploring fame, identity, and control within the music industry.
Role: Ashley O / voice of Ashley Too, the central figure in the Black Mirror episode “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” (Series 5).
Ashley O is a pop star whose manufactured image contrasts with her true feelings, while Ashley Too, a robotic doll, reflects her unfiltered personality and struggles.
Season & Episodes: Series 5, single episode.
What to Expect: Big pop persona energy, plus surprising vulnerability when the plot pulls back the curtain.
Favorite Things: Music, performance, boundary-pushing artistic reinvention.
Notable Works: Hannah Montana, multiple pop albums, film appearances including The Last Song, and extensive concert and media performances.
Aaron Paul as Cliff Stanfield
DOB: 27 August 1979.
Bio: Emmy-winning American actor best known for his iconic role as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad.
He is acclaimed for combining intensity with vulnerability, creating deeply sympathetic, emotionally resonant characters.
Role: Cliff Stanfield, the central character in the Black Mirror episode “Beyond the Sea” (Series 6).
Cliff navigates a high-stakes, space-era narrative, providing the emotional and narrative anchor of the episode.
Season & Episodes: Series 6, single episode (major lead).
What to Expect: A potent, performance-driven center to a bleak, emotionally dense space-era story.
Favorite Things: Paul has shared a love for low-tech living, stargazing, and selectively choosing impactful roles.
Notable Works: Breaking Bad, BoJack Horseman (guest voice), Need for Speed, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.
More Actors (Season by Season)
Series 1 (2011)
• Rory Kinnear as Michael Callow (I’he
National Anthem.
• Jessica Brown Findlay as Abi (Fifteen Million Merits).
Series 2 (2013)
• Lenora Crichlow as Victoria Skillane (White
Bear).
• Daniel Rigby as Jamie Salter / Waldo (The
Waldo Moment).
Special – “White Christmas” (2014)
• Rafe Spall as Joe Potter.
Series 3 (2016) – Netflix era highlights
• Wyatt Russell as Cooper (Playtest).
• Alex Lawther as Kenny (Shut Up and Dance).
• Malachi Kirby as Stripe (Men Against Fire).
• Kelly Macdonald as Karin Parke (Hated in the Nation).
Series 4 (2017)
• Michaela Coel as Shania (USS Callister supporting / guest).
• Rosemarie DeWitt as Marie Sambrell (Arkangel).
• Bandersnatch (2018 interactive film) – selected players
• Fionn Whitehead as Stefan Butler (Bandersnatch).
Series 5 (2019)
• Anthony Mackie as Karl (Striking Vipers).
• Andrew Scott as Jamie (Smithereens).
Series 6 (2023) – selected highlights
• Salma Hayek as Joan (Joan Is Awful) alongside Annie Murphy as (lead) – major guest pairing.
• Josh Hartnett as David Ross (Beyond the Sea).
• Paul Giamatti and Emma Corrin appear in various roles across later seasons and specials.
Series 7 (2025) – selected highlights (new season, followups and big guests)
• Chris O’Dowd as Mike (Common People).
• Rashida Jones as Amanda (Common People).
• Tracee Ellis Ross as Gaynor (Common People).
• Returning USS Callister cast (selected) as Cristin Milioti; Jimmi Simpson; Billy Magnussen (in “USS Callister: Into Infinity”).
FAQ – Black Mirror Series
What is Black Mirror about?
Black Mirror is a sci-fi anthology series that explores the dark side of technology and its impact on society, human behavior, and morality. Each episode tells a standalone story.
Do you have to watch Black Mirror in order?
No. Each episode is independent, so you can watch in any order, though some small Easter eggs connect the universe.
What is the most popular episode of Black Mirror?
Fan favorites include San Junipero, USS Callister, and Hang the DJ.
Will there be another season of Black Mirror?
Yes, Netflix has confirmed more seasons, though release dates may vary.
Where was ‘Black Mirror’ filmed?
Black Mirror was filmed worldwide. Key locations include the UK (London, early seasons), South Africa (Nosedive), Iceland (Crocodile), Canada (Arkangel), Brazil (Striking Vipers), and Scotland (Loch Henry).
Each setting enhances the episode’s mood and realism.
Who was originally intended to return in Season 7’s USS Callister sequel?
Nearly all of the original cast returned, including Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, Jimmi Simpson-except Michaela Coel.
Due to scheduling conflicts, her character’s absence was explained in-universe. EW.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Black Mirror is more than just a sci-fi anthology. it’s a cultural lens reflecting our deepest anxieties about technology, power, and human behavior.
Season by season, it has redefined what modern storytelling can look like, from gut-punching emotional tales to bold experiments like Bandersnatch.
While not every episode lands equally, the series as a whole remains a rare mix of entertainment and social critique, leaving viewers unsettled yet thoughtful.
Ultimately, Black Mirror challenges us to question the world we are building – and whether we are ready to live in it.