The Lost Daughter: Who stars in Netflix thriller with Olivia Coleman - cast, release date, trailer and plot

If you’re planning for a night on the sofa this Hogmanay, then Netflix’s newest release is well worth the watch.

The Lost Daughter, a psychological thriller starring critically acclaimed actress Olivia Coleman, releases just in time for New Year and promises to be a compelling watch.

And the talent in front of the camera is mirrored behind the scenes, as the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal makes her directorial debut with the new Netflix drama.

So, what is it about, who is in the cast and when is it available to watch on Netflix? This is what you need to know.

What is The Lost Daughter about?

The 2021 film is based on highly acclaimed author Elena Ferrante’s book by the same name, and stars Coleman as literary professor Leda Caruso, as she holidays alone at a quiet resort in Greece.

Leda appears to have a fixation on a young mother, Nina, who is holidaying with her young daughter and their family at the same resort.

She engages with the young family on several occasions, commenting on the difficulties of parenting and seems triggered by the interactions of the mother and child.

When the young child goes missing, Leda finds herself eager to get involved, but could this unfurl a murky past? Will she regret it?

The movie has been described as “leaving you haunted like only the best films can,” by The Playlists’ Tomris Laffly and “Brilliant” by Variety.

The psychological drama has already been nominated for dozens of awards, including Golden Globes for Gylenhall as director and Coleman for Lead Actress.

The Lost Daughter cast

Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman leads the cast as Leda, she is joined by Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal and several other talented actors.

Coleman, best known for her roles in Broadchurch and as Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix’s The Crown, said of Leda: “I hadn’t played a Leda before, or seen a woman like her depicted so honestly on the screen, so that was intriguing,"

Dakota Johnson co-stars as young mother Nina who Leda takes a fascination with, as she struggles with the realities of raising her young daughter.

The Fifty Shades of Grey star is also known for her roles in The Social Network (2010) and Beastly (2011).

The Haunting of Hill House star Oliver Jackson-Cohen plays Nina’s husband Tony, while Polish-American actress Dagmara Domińczyk (The Immigrant; The Assistant) plays Toni’s sister Callie.

Irish actor Paul Mescal (Normal People) features as the resort waiter, Will, and Ed Harris (WestWorld) plays resort handyman Lyle.

The film also depicts flashbacks to Leda’s past, in which Poldark star Jack Farthing as Leda’s husband Joe and Peter Sarsgaard as Leda’s renowned peer Professor Hardy.

Jessie Buckley (Chernobyl, Wild Rose) plays a younger Leda in the flashback sequences.

When is The Lost Daughter released?

The Lost Daughter is released on Netflix on New Year’s Eve (31st December 2021).

It was released in UK cinemas on Friday 17th December 2021.