Summary
InKinds of Kindness, her latest collaboration withPoor Thingsdirector Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone leads a star-studded ensemble cast including such revered actors as Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons, and Hunter Schafer.Kinds of Kindnessis an anthology movie comprised of three short films. But unlike most anthology movies,the actors inKinds of Kindnessall play different roles in each of the film’s segments. All the main cast members, including Stone, play three different characters in the movie.
Dubbed a triptych fable,Kinds of Kindnesskicks off with the segment “The Death of R.M.F.,” about a man’s attempts to break free of his powerful boss. The second segment, “R.M.F. is Flying,” revolves around a man who’s paranoid that his recently returned wife, who had been reported missing, is an impostor. The third and final segment, “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” sees a cultist seeking out someone with the power to resurrect the dead.Lanthimos has recruited a typically impressive castto bring these bizarre stories to life.
Emma Stone As Rita / Liz / Emily
Emma Stone was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1988. She first broke out with supporting roles in comedies, like Jules inSuperbadand Wichita inZombieland. She got her first starring role as Olive Penderghast in the teen romcomEasy A.
Stone has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress; she won the first for playing Mia Dolan inLa La Landand the second for playing Bella Baxter inPoor Things. She also played Skeeter Phelan inThe Help, Hannah Weaver inCrazy, Stupid, Love, Sam Thomson inBirdman, and Billie Jean King inBattle of the Sexes. Stone has also appeared in big-budget blockbusters, playing Gwen Stacy inThe Amazing Spider-Manmovies, Eep inThe Croodsfranchise, and the title character inCruella.
InKinds of Kindness’ first segment, “The Death of R.M.F.,” Stone plays Rita. In the second segment, “R.M.F. is Flying,” she plays Liz. In the third and final segment, “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” she plays Emily.Stone previously worked with Lanthimoswhen she played Abigail Masham inThe Favouriteand Bella Baxter inPoor Things.
Jesse Plemons As Robert / Daniel / Andrew
Jesse Plemons was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1988. Plemons got his breakthrough with the role of Landry Clarke inFriday Night Lights. He gained further recognition with the role of Todd Alquist in the fifth and final season ofBreaking Bad.
Plemons has played other iconic TV roles, like Ed Blumquist inFargoseason 2 and Robert Daly inBlack Mirrorseason 4, episode 1, “USS Callister.” On the big screen, Plemons has played Joe Murphy inBridge of Spies, Gary Kingsbury inGame Night, and Roy Mitchell inJudas and the Black Messiah. He collaborated with Martin Scorsese to play Chuckie O’Brien inThe Irishmanand Thomas Bruce White, Sr. inKillers of the Flower Moon.
In the first segment ofKinds of Kindness, Plemons plays Robert. In the second segment, he plays Daniel. In the third, he plays Andrew.
Willem Dafoe As Raymond / George / Omi
Willem Dafoe was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1955. He first broke out with the roles of Raven Shaddock inStreets of Fireand Rick Masters inTo Live and Die in L.A.Hebecame a bona fide star with his Oscar-nominated turn as Sgt. Elias inPlatoon.
Dafoe has played roles ranging from a conflicted Jesus Christ inThe Last Temptation of Christto the supervillain Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy. Dafoe later reprised his role as the Green Goblin inSpider-Man: No Way Home. Dafoe also received Oscar nods for playing Max Schreck inShadow of the Vampire, Bobby Hicks inThe Florida Project, and Vincent van Gogh in the biopicAt Eternity’s Gate.
Dafoe plays Raymond in the first segment ofKinds of Kindness. He plays George in the second segment and Omi in the third one. Dafoe previously worked with Lanthimos when he played Dr. Godwin Baxter inthePoor Thingscast.
Margaret Qualley As Vivian / Martha / Ruth / Rebecca
Margaret Qualley was born in Kalispell, Montana, in 1994. She’s the daughter ofGroundhog Daystar Andie MacDowell. Qualley first broke big with the role of Jill Garvey in HBO’s dystopian drama seriesThe Leftovers.
Qualley gained further recognition with the roles of Amelia Kuttner inThe Nice Guys, Mia Sutton in the movie adaptation ofDeath Note, and Manson follower Pussycat inOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. She starred as Jamie Dobbs in Ethan Coen’s crime comedyDrive-Away Dolls. Qualley was praised for her starring TV roles as Ann Reinking inFosse/Verdonand Alex Russell inMaid.
Qualley plays Vivian in the first segment ofKinds of Kindnessand Martha in the second. In the third and final segment, she has dual roles as twins Ruth and Rebecca. Qualley previously worked with Lanthimos when she playedFelicity inPoor Things.
Hong Chau As Sarah / Sharon / Aka
Hong Chau was born in Thailand in 1979. She first broke out with the role of Ngoc Lan Tran opposite Matt Damon inDownsizing. The film received mixed reviews, butChau’s performance was widely praised.
Chau received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her turn as Liz, Charlie’s nurse and enabler, inThe Whale. She also played Elsa inThe Menuand Polly inAsteroid City. On television, Chau has played Cook Pu inHow I Met Your Mother, Linh inTreme, and Lady Trieu in HBO’sWatchmen.
In the first segment ofKinds of Kindness, Chau plays Sarah. In the second segment, she plays Sharon. In the third and final segment, she plays Aka.
Kinds Of Kindness Supporting Cast & Characters
Joe Alwyn as collectibles appraiser man / Jerry / Joseph:Joe Alwyn plays a collectibles appraiser man in the segment “The Death of R.M.F.,” Jerry in the segment “R.M.F. is Flying,” and Joseph in the segment “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich.” Alwyn made his feature film debut with the title role inBilly Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. He also played George inCatherine Called Birdyand Henry Wallace inBoy Erased, and previously worked with Lanthimos when he played Samuel Masham inThe Favourite.
Mamoudou Athie as Will / Neil / the morgue nurse:Mamoudou Athie plays Will in “The Death of R.M.F.,” Neil in “R.M.F. is Flying,” and the morgue nurse in “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich.” Athie is best known for playing Dan Turner in the Netflix horror seriesArchive 81and for voicing Wade Ripple in Pixar’sElemental.
Hunter Schafer as Anna:Hunter Schafer appears as Anna in the segment “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich.” Schafer is best known for her main role as Jules Vaughn in HBO’sEuphoria. She also played Gretchen inCuckooand Tigris Snow inThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Schafer’s role inKinds of Kindnessis described as a brief cameo.
Yorgos Stefanakos as R.M.F.:The central role of R.M.F. is played by Yorgos Stefanakos. Stefanakos is an old friend of Lanthimos’; his only previous acting role was Georges inPoor Things.
Merah Benoit as Emily’s daughter:Merah Benoit plays Emily’s daughter in the segment “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich.” BeforeKinds of Kindness, Benoit played Tessa inThe Passengerand the young Thomas girl inEmancipation.
Kinds of Kindness
Cast
Kinds of Kindness is a 2024 comedy-drama film by writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos. Split across segments, Kinds of Kindness tells the stories of a man trying to reclaim his destiny, a police officer whose wife returns after being lost at sea only to seem like a different person, and a woman tasked with finding a future spiritual leader.
