Alfred Molina
— William Barrington Coupe
Francesca Annis
— Joyce Hatto
Rory Kinnear
— Young Barrington Coupe
Maimie McCoy
— Young Joyce Hatto
Phoebe Nicholls
— Mrs. Hatto
Sarah Woodward
— Birdy
Ned Dennehy
— Philip
Nicholas Woodeson
— Erich
Nicholas Rowe
— James
Tony Turner
— Mr. Hatto
Eve Matheson
— Pilks
Nell Williams
— Young Birdy
Zenobia Voegele-Downing
— Young Pilks
Patrick Joseph Byrnes
— Larry
Jane Brennan
— Miss Guisely
Michael Grennell
— Rehearsal Conductor
Ronnie McCann
— Coffee Bar Man
Stephen Cromwell
— Young Erich
Lucy Cray-Miller
— Cotot's Assistant
Susan Loughnane
— Publishing Girl
Chris McHallem
— Detective
Mark Fitzgerald
— Constable
Cora Fenton
— Eleanor's Mother
Gary Murphy
— Festival Hall FHM
Bernadette McKenna
— Royston Neighbour
Fiona Bell
— Woman Journalist
Alexander Bernstein
— Cortot Pianist
Lance Coburn
— Festival Hall Pianist
Rachel Quinn
— Piano Playing Double
Joyce Hatto
— Self(archive footage) (uncredited)