It may have proven critically divisive, but Euphoria season 3 is already a hit with audiences.
The opening episodes of the HBO drama have been a ratings smash for the network as the long-awaited episodes continue to capture audience interest, despite some clear controversial choices.
Rue Bennett (Zendaya) has found herself in more scrapes than ever before as she is thrust into a world of crime.
Meanwhile, Rue’s ex, Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer), is now an artist and a ‘sugar baby’, while Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) is exploring a career on OnlyFans as she prepares to wed the toxic Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi).
Elsewhere, Cassie’s sister Lexi (Maude Apatow) is working in TV, while Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) is trying to make it in PR – but is facing some roadblocks and memories from the past.
So, who else is back and who’s new? And who isn’t returning?
Here is your guide to the cast and characters of Euphoria season 3.
Euphoria cast: Full list of characters and actors
The full main cast for Euphoria season 3 is below.
- Zendaya as Ruby “Rue” Bennett
- Hunter Schaefer as Jules Vaughn
- Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs
- Jacob Elordi as Nathaniel “Nate” Jacobs
- Sydney Sweeney as Cassandra “Cassie” Howard
- Alexa Demie as Madeleine “Maddy” Perez
- Maude Apatow as Alexis “Lexi” Howard
- Martha Kelly as Laurie
- Chloe Cherry as Faye Valentine
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Alamo Brown
- Toby Wallace as Wayne
- Colman Domingo as Ali Muhammed
Read more about the major players and who plays them below.
Zendaya plays Ruby “Rue” Bennett
What is happening to Rue in season 3? Our lead character and the series narrator has relapsed into drug use and is now involved in the world of crime following her need to pay off a debt to drug lord Laurie.
What else has Zendaya starred in? Beginning her acting success as a child star on Disney Channel show Shake It Up before a role in the series KC Undercover. Zendaya has also starred in the MCU Spider-Man films as MJ, musical The Greatest Showman, sci-fi epic Dune and its sequels, her self-co-produced film Malcolm & Marie, Challengers and The Drama. Zendaya won two Emmys for Lead Actress for her work on the first and second seasons of Euphoria.
Hunter Schafer plays Jules Vaughn
What is happening to Jules in season 3? Rue’s ex is living in New York in a penthouse apartment, working as an artist, but has a complicated love life with a rich older man…
What else has Hunter Schafer starred in? Schafer can be heard voicing acting in the English dub of the Japanese animated film Belle, starring in the horror film Cuckoo, as Tigris in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and in the upcoming Blade Runner TV series.
Eric Dane plays Cal Jacobs
What is happening to Cal in season 3? Cal has been succeeded by his son, Nate, as head of the family – but will be confronted by his past this season.
What else has Eric Dane starred in? Dane was best known for his role as Dr Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, Jason Dean in Charmed, and Captain Tom Chandler in The Last Ship. Dane also has appeared in the films Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day and Burlesque. Dane sadly passed away before the release of season 3.
Jacob Elordi plays Nathaniel “Nate” Jacobs
What is happening to Nate in season 3? Toxic Nate has taken over his father’s business but is struggling financially as he and Cassie try to lead a ‘perfect’ life.
What else has Jacob Elordi starred in? Outside of Euphoria, Elordi is best known for his role as Noah Flynn in The Kissing Booth trilogy on Netflix, Saltburn, Wuthering Heights, and his Oscar-nominated turn in Frankenstein.
Sydney Sweeney plays Cassandra “Cassie” Howard
What is happening to Cassie in season 3? The emotionally vulnerable Cassie is engaged to be married to Nate Jacobs, but is unhappy and pursuing a career on OnlyFans.
What else has Sydney Sweeney starred in? Sweeney has appeared in acclaimed television series such as The Handmaid’s Tale, Everything Sucks!, Sharp Objects and The White Lotus. Sweeney has also appeared in films such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Under the Silver Lake, The Voyeurs, Anyone But You, and The Housemaid.
Alexa Demie plays Madeleine “Maddy” Perez
What is happening to Maddy in season 3? Maddy has moved to Los Angeles and works in PR but is struggling to make much money. Maddy soon finds herself crossing paths once again with former best friend Cassie…
What else has Alexa Demie starred in? Demie has appeared in small roles in the series Ray Donovan, Love and The OA. Demie has also had roles in films such as Mid90s, Waves and Mainstream.
Maude Apatow plays Alexis “Lexi” Howard
What is happening to Lexi in season 3? Lexi is now working at Warner Bros under a famous producer, Patricia Lane (Sharon Stone), but remains in touch with Rue, Maddy and her sister Cassie.
What else has Maude Apatow starred in? Apatow has starred in the films of her director father Judd Apatow and opposite mother Leslie Mann in Knocked Up, Funny People and This Is 40. Apatow has also appeared in the series Girls and Hollywood, plus films such as Other People, The House of Tomorrow, Euphoria creator Sam Levinson’s film Assassination Nation, and The King of Staten Island.
Martha Kelly as Laurie
What is happening to Laurie in season 3? A former school teacher, Laurie is an quietly-spoken drug lord who Rue has a huge debt with and who has a feud with Alamo Brown.
What else has Martha Kelly starred in? The stand-up comedian is best known for her TV role in Baskets and film roles in Marriage Story and Corporate Animals.
Chloe Cherry plays Faye Valentine
What is happening to Faye in season 3? Faye is still attached to Laurie’s gang and acts as a drug mule, but is now in love with Laurie’s enforcer, Wayne.
What else has Chloe Cherry starred in? A former pornographic actress and model, Faye is Cherry’s first major acting role and she has now signed with British modelling agency Anti-Agency London.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Alamo Brown
Who is Alamo Brown? A drug lord and strip club owner who is in a feud with Laurie, but also ends up becoming Rue’s employer.
What else has Adewale Akinnoye-Agbaje starred in? The British actor is best known for his film roles in The Mummy Returns, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, The Bourne Identity and Thor: The Dark World. In television he also played the memorable roles of Simon Adebisi in Oz and Mr Eko in Lost.
Toby Wallace as Wayne
Who is Wayne? Wayne is a relative and criminal enforcer of Laurie’s and the lover of Faye Valentine.
What else has Toby Wallace starred in? Wallace is best known for his role in the film Babyteeth and has also starred in the series Pistol and will soon star in the Assassin’s Creed TV series.
Who else is back?
Colman Domingo plays Ali Muhammed
What is happening to Ali in season 3? Ali continues to be a support system for Rue as her sponsor in her Narcotics Anonymous meetings, but once again finds Rue growing even harder to help.
What else has Colman Domingo starred in? Aside from his role as Victor Strand in Fear the Walking Dead, Domingo has an acclaimed film career with roles in films such as Lincoln, Selma, If Beale Street Could Talk, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Zola. Domingo was Oscar-nominated for his turns in Sing Sing and Rustin, while he also won an Emmy for his work as Ali in Euphoria.
Nika King plays Leslie Bennett
What is happening to Leslie in season 3? Leslie is now estranged from Rue after deciding to cut off Rue to protect younger daughter Gia.
What else has Nika King starred in? King has had television roles in the series Greenleaf, Best Friends Whenever and 2 Broke Girls.
Alanna Ubach plays Suze Howard
What is happening to Suze in season 3? Suze is supporting her “masterpiece” eldest daughter Cassie as she marries Nate.
What else has Alanna Ubach starred in? Ubach is best known for her film roles in Coco, Legally Blonde, Meet the Fockers and various voicework roles.
Dominic Fike plays Elliot
What’s happening with Elliot? Elliot is set to appear in season 3, but in what capacity is yet to be revealed. Elliot was previously friends with Rue, but proved to be a love rival as Jules cheated with him.
What else has Dominic Fike starred in? Singer-songwriter Fike made his acting debut in Euphoria, having been previously known for his music career.
Who isn’t back in Euphoria season 3?
Angus Cloud plays Fezco “Fez” O’Neill
What has happened to Fezco? Fezco is now in prison following the shoot-out at the end of season 2.
What else has Angus Cloud starred in? Euphoria was Cloud’s breakout role, but he also appeared in the film North Hollywood. Tragically, Cloud died at the age of 25 on 31st July 2023.
Algee Smith plays Christopher McKay
What happened to McKay? He split from Cassie and his friendship with Nate came to an end.
What else has Algee Smith started in? Smith is also known for his roles in the series The New Edition Story as Ralph Tresvant and his turn in Kathryn Bigelow’s film Detroit. Smith also starred as Jake Winters in Judas and the Black Messiah and appears in the film Mother/Android.
Barbie Ferreira plays Katherine “Kat” Hernandez
What happened to Kat? Kat hasn’t been mentioned in season 3.
What else has Barbie Ferreira starred in? Ferreira has also appeared in the HBO series Divorce and the HBO Max film Unpregnant.
Javon “Wanna” Walton plays Ashtray O’Neill
What happened to Ashtray? He was gunned down during a shoot-out with police in the season 2 finale.
What else has Javon “Wanna” Walton starred in? Walton has appeared in the Amazon series Utopia, plus voiced Pugsley Addams in The Addams Family 2 animated film.
Austin Abrams plays Ethan Daley
What happened to Ethan? He split from Kat but played a major role in Lexi’s play, ‘Our Life’.
What else has Austin Abrams starred in? Abrams appeared as Ron Anderson in The Walking Dead and Dash & Lily. Abrams has also starred in the films The Kings of Summer, Paper Towns, Brad’s Status, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Chemical Hearts.
Storm Reid plays Gia Bennett
What happened to Gia? Rue’s younger sister Gia is now estranged from her and doesn’t return calls or messages.
What else has Storm Reid starred in? Reid is known for her film roles in 12 Years a Slave, Sleight, A Wrinkle in Time, Don’t Let Me Go, The Invisible Man and the Netflix miniseries When They See Us.
Euphoria season 3 continues on Mondays on Sky Atlantic and NOW and HBO Max. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV Guide.