Penelopeis Netflix’s newest coming-of-age series and represents the first leading role for its young actress. Created by award-winning producer Mel Eslyn andThe Morning Show’s star Mark Duplass,the show stars a small but talented cast. The narrative follows Penelope, a contemporary teen who feels out of place within her community of peers and decides to escape into the wilderness. Cutting off her family and friends, the teenager enjoys her own and nature’s company before meeting fellow travelers who show her what true belonging is.
Although Penelope feels a pull to nature, it is in her found connections that she finds peace and purpose. TheNetflix 2024 TV showhighlights that nature can teach humans a way back to each other, even in a modern world. Penelope’s character represents a severed link that promises to be healed in the trees and through interactions with peculiar characters, like an elder nomad, a city musician, and others. The team behindPenelopewent through 400 girls to find their protagonist, but when they saw the tape of the talented actress, they just “knew” (viaCollider).
Megan Stott as Penelope
Date of Birth: June 17, 2025
Megan Stott was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, andhad her breakout role in the Hulu original seriesLittle Fires Everywhere, an adaptation of Celeste Ng’s acclaimed novel. Stott starred alongside Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington and gained public appeal for her heartfelt portrayal of the misunderstood teen Izzie Richardson. Following her 2020 success, Stott made an appearance as Layla in Netflix’sYes Dayand had a principal role in an episode of Disney Plus’Just Beyond,an anthology series based on R. L. Stine’s stories. She is set to star inAftermathwith Dylan Sprouse.
Aftermath(2024)
Madeleine
Penelopemarks Stott’s first protagonist role in a TV series.Penelope is a modern teenager who suddenly feels “called” to the wilderness. Packing a bag and leaving her mom an ambiguous voice note, she ventures into a life among the trees and running water. Along the journey and away from the pressures of day-to-day society, she engages in a soul-purging quest that promises to give her purpose, agency, and maybe even a new definition of community.
Krisha Fairchild as Helena
Date of Birth: August 02, 2025
Krisha Fairchild was born in Texas andbroke out in her niece’s 2014 short filmKrisha, which was developed into a full feature that garnered several awards. Through a span of almost 20 years, she got cast for mainly incidental roles until she decided to go into voice acting, appearing in video games and animated TV series, whose titles includePolice Quest: SWAT 2,andStarsiege. Since her break withKrisha, the actress has been given larger roles, such as Louise Lispector inChannel Zero’s season 3Butcher’s Block. She won four awards for her performance inFreeland.
Freeland(2020)
Devi
Helena promises to be a key character in the TV series, as she is set to function as a positive parent figure and offer wisdom to the lost Penelope, who may not be ready for what the old traveler has to say
As part ofPenelope’s main cast, Fairchild plays Helena,a married nomad who crosses paths with the young adventurous soulplayed by Megan Stott. Helena promises to be a key character in the TV series, as she is set to function as a positive parent figure and offer wisdom to the lost Penelope, who may not be ready for what the old traveler has to say about depending on our relationships to survive.
Austin Abrams as Sam
Date of Birth: August 03, 2025
Austin Abrams was born in Sarasota, Florida, andbroke big in the year 2015 as Ron Anderson in seasons 5 and 6 of the CW hit showThe Walking Dead. Since then,Abrams has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, offering a range of memorable characters — from playing the bad guy in Guillermo del Toro’sScary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Netflix’sDo Revenge,NBC’sThis Is Us, to playing the romantic interest in Netflix’s popular Christmas seriesDash and Lily,Chemical Heartsand HBO’sEuphoria. Jon Watt’sWolfssees Austin Abrams act with George Clooney and Brad Pritt.
Wolfs(2024)
Kid
Austin Abrams' name stands out onPenelope’s cast list, hinting at the importance of his character in the Netflix series. Abrams playsSam, an independent musician who meets Penelope while she passes through the city. Sam and Penelope share a calling to something larger than themselves and also find solace in figuring out life as it goes.
Rhenzy Feliz as Peter
Date of Birth: July 26, 2025
Rhenzy Feliz joined Duplas and Eslyn’s production in a supporting role. The Dominican American actor was born in New York City, New York, andhis breakout role was inMarvel’s Runawaysas Alex Wilder. He has played minor characters in projects with popular casts, likeTeen Wolf,The Same Storm,andThe Tender Bar. In Disney’sEncanto, he gives voice to Camilo. He is getting a lot of attention for his character Victor Aguilar in DC Studios' newly released miniseriesThe Penguin.Rhenzy Feliz’s dream role is Miles Moralesin the MCU.
The Penguin(2024)
Victor Aguilar
InPenelope, Rhenzy Feliz appears asPeter, friend and romantic interest of the runaway teen. Peter and his group of friends spend some time with Penelope in the forest. A meaningful connection sparks between the two youths, but Peter does not second Penelope’s desire to live withdrawn from her family and society.
Penelope Supporting Cast & Characters
Penelope’s Parents Are Set To Have Powerful Scenes With Their Daughter
Cynthia Geary as Penelope’s Mom: Geary is set to have powerful scenes with her on-screen daughter, Megan Stott. The actress received several nominations for her portrayal of Shelly Tambo inNorthern Exposure.
Barry O’Neil as Penelope’s Dad: O’Neill acts alongside Cynthia Geary in three episodes ofPenelope. After a 7-year break, O’Neil wrote and starred in the 2021 short filmSing Along If You Know the Words.
