Premiering April 30, 2025, on Netflix, Exterritorial plunges viewers into a heart-pounding conspiracy when a soldier’s son vanishes inside a U.S. consulate. Leading the charge is an ensemble of global talent, blending seasoned stars and rising actors. From battle-hardened soldiers to shadowy operatives, here’s a deep dive into the cast bringing this tense drama to life.
Exterritorial Cast
1: Jeanne Goursaud as Sara
Born March 27, 1997, in Lille, France, Jeanne Goursaud gained fame as the fierce Germanic warrior Thusnelda in Netflix’s Barbarians (2020–2022). Fluent in French, German, and English, she transitioned from modeling to acting with roles in The French Dispatch (2021) and The Last Mercenary (2021). Goursaud’s intensity and physicality make her a natural fit for Sara, a soldier defying orders to rescue her son.
Off-screen, Goursaud advocates for environmental causes and women’s empowerment. Her preparation for Exterritorial included military training and studying maternal trauma in conflict zones. Up next, she stars in the sci-fi thriller Echoes of Eden (2026), but Sara’s desperate quest promises to be her most visceral role yet.
2: Dougray Scott as Erik Kynch
Veteran Scottish actor Dougray Scott (born November 25, 1965) brings gravitas as Erik Kynch, a shadowy consulate official. Known for Mission: Impossible II (2000) and Ever After (1998), Scott’s career spans blockbusters (Hitman) and TV hits (Snatch, Ironside). His knack for morally ambiguous characters shines in Kynch, a man torn between duty and secrets.
Scott, a father of two, draws on his own parental fears for the role. Recently, he directed The Ice House (2024), a noir thriller, and champions mental health awareness. “Erik isn’t just a bureaucrat—he’s a chess player in a life-or-death game,” Scott says.
3: Lera Abova as Irina
Moscow-born Lera Abova (born 1992) is a rising star in Russian cinema, acclaimed for The Student (2016) and Beanpole (2019). Her role as Irina, a cryptic consulate worker with ties to espionage, marks her English-language debut. Abova’s haunting presence and ballet training (she studied at the Bolshoi Academy) infuse Irina with lethal grace.
Abova, a vocal critic of the Ukraine war, relocated to Berlin in 2022. She balances acting with photography exhibitions exploring displacement. In Exterritorial, Irina’s loyalty shifts like smoke—a reflection of Abova’s own journey navigating political and personal borders.
4: Kayode Akinyemi as Sergeant Donovan
Nigerian-British actor Kayode Akinyemi (born 1988) broke out in The Last Tree (2019) and Top Boy (2022). As Sergeant Donovan, Sara’s steadfast ally, Akinyemi channels his upbringing in South London’s tough neighborhoods. His role required weapons training and studying PTSD in veterans.
A playwright and founder of the Afro-Caribbean theater collective Ubuntu Arts, Akinyemi infuses Donovan with quiet resilience. “He’s the moral compass in a world gone rogue,” he says. Next, he’ll star in Lagos Noir (2025), a crime series shot in his homeland.
5: Annabelle Mandeng as Deborah Allen
German-Cameroonian actress Annabelle Mandeng (born 1971) is a household name in Germany for Tatort and Jerks (2019–2023). As consulate head Deborah Allen, Mandeng balances icy authority with hidden vulnerability. Her fluency in four languages and UN advocacy work informed the role’s diplomatic tension.
Mandeng, a former MTV VJ, also hosts the podcast Mixed Voices, discussing biracial identity. For Exterritorial, she shadowed female diplomats to capture Allen’s razor-sharp poise. “Power isn’t loud—it’s calculated,” she notes.
6: Rada Rae as Aileen
Rada Rae (born 1990), a Serbian stage actress, makes her screen debut as Aileen, a consulate clerk with a dangerous double life. Trained at Belgrade’s Academy of Arts, Rae’s theater credits include The Maids and Three Sisters, where she honed her talent for playing trapped women.
Rae’s Aileen is a masterclass in subtlety, her every glance hinting at buried secrets. Off-camera, she’s a refugee aid volunteer, drawing parallels to her character’s covert missions.
7: Nina Liu as Joanna
Australian-Chinese actress Nina Liu (born 2003), of Heartbreak High (2022) fame, plays Joanna, a tech-savvy intern entangled in the conspiracy. Liu’s wit and Gen Z charm bring levity to the tense plot, but her character’s hacking skills prove crucial.
Liu, a STEM advocate, worked with cybersecurity experts to prep for the role. She’s set to star in Pacific Spy (2025), but Exterritorial showcases her range beyond teen dramas.
8: Jeremy Schuetze as Sergeant Howe
Berlin-born Jeremy Schuetze (born 1985), known for Babylon Berlin (2017–2022), portrays Howe, a by-the-book sergeant clashing with Sara. His military precision and stoic demeanor mask a hidden agenda, a trademark of Schuetze’s morally grey roles.
A former carpenter, Schuetze brings blue-collar grit to the screen. He’s also a climate activist, using his platform to push for green film sets.
9: Lara Babalola as Service Manager Information Desk
British-Nigerian Lara Babalola (born 1995), of I May Destroy You (2020) fame, plays the consulate’s unflappable service manager. Her calm under pressure and sharp instincts make her a silent MVP in the search.
Babalola, a poet and founder of the Black Women Write collective, infuses her role with quiet authority. “Sometimes the loudest heroes whisper,” she says.
10: Kris Saddler as Justin Martello
Kris Saddler (born 1992), a Canadian actor from The Umbrella Academy (2020), brings dark humor to Martello, a rogue journalist chasing the story. Saddler’s improv background adds unpredictability to the conspiracy’s twists.
A stand-up comedian, Saddler hosts The Edge, a podcast about media ethics—a theme mirrored in Martello’s arc.
11: Samia Hofmann as Sergeant Havlicek
German actress Samia Hofmann (born 1988), of Dark (2017–2020) fame, plays Havlicek, a tactical leader with a secret vendetta. Her role required MMA training and studying female soldiers’ experiences.
Hofmann, a mother of twins, advocates for on-set childcare. “Havlicek fights for justice, but her heart’s always at home,” she explains.
12: Ivan Forlani as Technician
Italian actor Ivan Forlani (born 1990), known for Suburra (2017–2020), portrays a consulate tech expert with a hacker past. Forlani’s background in coding (he studied IT) lends authenticity to the role.
A mountain climber, Forlani compares the plot’s tension to “scaling a peak blindfolded.”
13: Samuel Tehrani as Taliban Leader
Afghan-American actor Samuel Tehrani (born 1985), of The Kite Runner (2007) stage production, brings nuance to the Taliban Leader, avoiding caricature. Tehrani consulted with Afghan activists to humanize the role.
A refugee himself, Tehrani’s work with resettlement NGOs informs his portrayal of power and desperation.
