The cast of See How They Run boasts some big names, and some of the characters they play are based on titans of the theater in their own right. A comedy mystery film, See How They Run self-consciously provides all the trappings of the cozy mystery genre that it parodies, with nods to other mystery tropes as well. Just how self-aware some of these jibes are become apparent just from the character names employed.
Centered around a performance of The Mousetrap in 1953 at the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre, See How They Run sees Inspector Stoppard and Constable Stalker called in to investigate a murder. The American director keen on adapting Agatha Christie’s play for a Hollywood movie has been murdered and his body left in the middle of the stage. Regardless, the show must go, and Stoppard and Stalker must conduct their investigation under increasingly strange circumstances.
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Much of See How They Run draws on the tropes of the closely guarded story behind The Mousetrap. However, just as important are its ties to the real-life events around the creation and production of the play, which help to build out the characters and eventually point towards the true solution to the case. Here’s a complete guide to See How They Run’s cast and (where relevant) who the characters are based upon in real life.
Sam Rockwell as Inspector Stoppard
Leading the See How They Run cast is Sam Rockwell as Inspector Stoppard. A world-weary police detective, Stoppard is in charge of running the investigation into the murder in See How They Run. While he’s not based on a real person, the name “Stoppard” is likely drawn from Tom Stoppard who penned a parody of The Mousetrap titled The Real Inspector Hound (along with Shakespeare In Love). Sam Rockwell has an extensive acting history, including as Dixon in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and as Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2.
Saoirse Ronan as Constable Stalker
Co-starring with Rockwell is Saoirse Ronan as the indefatigable Constable Stalker, a woman who joined the police during the war and is now preparing for her sergeants' exams. While prone to jumping to conclusions she’s a skilled investigator, and the characters name is likely simply a play on the word “stalker” and has no other real world tie-in. Saorise Ronan is not new to acting and previously appeared as Susie Salmon in The Lovely Bones, Hanna in the 2011 movie Hanna, and as Jo March in Little Women.
Adrien Brody as Leo Köpernick
It’s been said that every good mystery needs a murder and Adrien Brody plays See How They Run’s murder victim Leo Köpernick. Despite dying early in the movie, Brody’s Köpernick plays a larger role in See How They Run as he provides a noir-style narration and appears in several flashbacks. Leo Köpernick is a typically brash American among a group of seemingly-stoic Brits but is not based on a real figure. Adrien Brody’s previous performances include playing Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist, Dmitri in The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Luca Changretta in Peaky Blinders.
Harris Dickinson as Richard Attenborough
In See How They Run, Harris Dickinson plays the role of Richard Attenborough, and actor who in turn plays Detective Sergeant Trotter in the movie’s performance of The Mousetrap. Harris Dickenson’s character is a fictionalized version of the real-life actor Richard Attenborough who originated the role of Trotter in The Mousetrap back in 1952, and later played the part of John Hammond in Jurassic Park. Harris Dickinson played Conrad Oxford in The King’s Man and provided the voice or Gurjin in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Pearl Chanda as Sheila Sim
In See How They Run, the role of Sheila Sim is played by Pearl Chanda. Both the real and fictionalized versions of Sheila Sim were married to Richard Attenborough, and originated the role of Mollie Ralston, the character in The Mousetrap who sings the nurser rhyme Three Blind Mice – the original name of the play and the source of the movie’s name. Pearl Chanda is best known for her roles as Nilufer in I May Destroy You and Zoe in War of the Worlds.
Reece Shearsmith as John Woolf
The producer John Woolf, is played by Reece Shearsmith. Just as in the movie, the real John Woolf purchased the rights to turn The Mousetrap into a film (though not until 1956), he worked on The African Queen with Humphry Boggart, and was married three times. Reece Shearsmith is know nfor his work on The League of Gentlemen, Inside No. 9, and for the role of Steele in High-Rise.
Ruth Wilson as Petula Spencer
Ruth Wilson plays See How They Run’s Petula Spencer, a close friend and business partner of Agatha Christie, the author behind The Mousetrap. While she is seen as the person that convinces John Woolf to buy the film rights to The Mousetrap. The role was created for the See How They Run, but the clause that she slipped into the contract for the movie rights was very real. Ruth Wilson is known for her roles as Alice Morgan in Luther and as Jane Eyre in 2006’s Jane Eyre.
David Oyelowo as Mervyn Cocker-Norris
Another character created for See How They Run is Mervyn Cocker-Norris who is played by David Oyelowo. Mervyn plays the writer who appears to scuffle with Leo Köpernick over plot matters. David Oyelowo has previously appeared as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selm and as Amos Boone in The Water Man.
Supporting Cast & Characters
Sian Clifford as Edana Romney: Seen sporadically throughout the film, Sian Clifford plays Edana Romney, James Woolf’s second wife. Sian Clifford played Claire in Fleabag.
Pippa Bennett-Warner as Ann Saville: Pippa Bennett-Warner plays James Woolf’s secretary, Ann Saville. In real life, Woolf and Ann went on to marry, though Ann was the daughter of director Victor Saville. Pippa Bennett-Warner has appeared as Harriet Lennox in Harlots.
Tim Key as Commissioner Harrold Scott: Inspector Stoppard’s self-important boss, Commissioner Harold Scott, is played by Tim Key. Known for his comedy work, Tim Key has appeared as Simon Denton on This Time with Alan Partridge.
Charlie Cooper as Dennis the Usher: The put-upon usher of Ambassador’s Theatre, Dennis, is played by Charlie Cooper. Cooper’s previous roles include Lee ‘Kurtan’ Mucklowe” in This Country, and he has worked as a writer on several shows.
Shirley Henderson as “The Dame”: Shirley Henderson is mysteriously credited as “The Dame” but makes a surprise appearance as Dame Agatha Christie, the writer herself, in See How They Run. Henderson is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter franchise.
Lucian Msamati as Max Mallowan: Agatha Christie’s archeologist second husband, Max Mallowan, is played by Lucian Msamati, who is known for his roles as Beni in The Good Liar and as JLB Matekoni in The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency.
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Gio: Gio, heavily implied to be Mervyn’s partner, is occasionally seen and played by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, who played D.L. Townes in The Queen’s Gambit.
Paul Chahidi as Fellowes: The Christie house’s butler, Fellowes, is played be Paul Chahidi See How They Run, who played Nicolai Bulganin in The Death of Stalin.