The cast of Peacock's Based on a True Story gives stellar performances, particularly the two leads playing characters involved in a true-crime podcast. The comedy thriller tells the story of a couple who decide to directly profit from a serial killer in their area by starting a podcast about him. To make the show unique, the podcasters choose to interview the murderer with the agreement that he does not kill anyone else while doing the podcast. The series forces viewers to examine where the line is between entertainment and exploitation.
Despite its heavy central question, Based on a True Story maintains a lighthearted tone throughout the show. The actors help achieve this balance between serious thriller and dark comedy approaches to the story. One of the main actors, Kaley Cuoco, performs well in her role due to her own passion for true-crime content (via Glamour). Along with Cuoco, the cast of Based on a True Story includes famous Hollywood stars that viewers will recognize from other movies and shows.
Kaley Cuoco As Ava Bartlett
As one of the leads of the Based on a True Story cast, Kaley Cuoco plays Ava, a true-crime-obsessed woman who decides to profit off the Westside Rippers' murders by featuring him on the podcast. Cuoco is best known for playing Penny on The Big Bang Theory from 2007 to 2019. Her work in the sitcom likely helped her comedic timing in Based on a True Story. Additionally, she's performed roles in many Max Originals, including Cassie Bowden in The Flight Attendant and the voice of the title character in the animated series Harley Quinn.
Chris Messina As Nathan Bartlett
The other co-lead of the Based on a True Story cast, Chris Messina portrays Ava's husband, Nathan Barlett, who struggles to make ends meet until he decides to join her in making the podcast. Messina played the series regular Danny Castellano on The Mindy Project. His other TV projects include Richard Willis in Sharp Objects and Nick Haas in The Sinner. In film productions, Messina played Malinov in Argo, Detective Bowden in Devil, Harry in Ruby Sparks, and Victor Zsasz in the DCEU movie Birds of Prey.
Tom Bateman As Matt Pierce
Tom Bateman plays Matt Pierce, a plumber turned friend of the Bartletts, in the Based on a True Story cast. Bateman famously acted as Robert Jekyll and Edward Hyde in the 2015 TV series Jekyll and Hyde. His part there matches up well with his role in Based on a True Story. Like all other characters in the series, his morals are questionable and change rapidly. Bateman also performed as James in Snatched, Trevor Calcote in Cold Pursuit, and Bouc in the Hercule Poirot movie series.
Priscilla Quintana As Ruby Gate
In the Based on a True Story cast, Priscilla Quintana plays Ruby, the best friend of the Bartletts who is opportunistic and secretive. Quintana is a relatively new actor whose breakout role was Mina in the 2019 movie Polaroid. Since then, she portrayed Jax in Pandora and Isabella Tavez in Good Trouble.
Liana Liberato As Tory Thompson
Liana Liberato portrays Tory Thompson, Ava's sister and the voice of reason in Based on a True Story. Liberato played the lead role of McKenna Brady in the Hulu Original TV show Light as a Feather. In movies, she famously played Kim in If I Stay and Quinn Bailey as part of the cast of Scream VI.
Based On A True Story Supporting Cast & Characters
Miles Mussenden as Detective Quincy Burrell - Miles Mussenden is best known for playing Otis Johnson in Cloak & Dagger.
Li Jun Li as Michelle - Li Jun Li previously played Lady Fay Zhu in the movie Babylon.
Brandon Keener as Paul - Before being cast in Based on a True Story, Brandon Keener played Warren Grass in the movie The Purge: Anarchy.
Belmont Cameli as Mason - Belmont Cameli previously played Jamie Spano in the 2020 Peacock revival of Saved By the Bell.
Yvonne Senat Jones as Detective Jessie Peterson - In the Based On A True Story cast, Yvonne Senat Jones fills the role of a detective named Jessie Peterson. Jones is most well known for her role as Tally in Ruthless.
Sebastian Quinn as Undisclosed Character - Sebastian Quinn appears in the TV series Based on a True Story as an undisclosed character. He portrayed the famous criminal Ernesto Miranda in the biopic Miranda's Victim.
June Diane Raphael as Undisclosed Character - June Diane Raphael is best known for playing Briana Hanson on Grace and Frankie.
Kellen Patino as Undisclosed Character - New to acting, Kellen Patino has only played Tom in Christmas on Repeat and Damian in Erin & Aaron.
Britney Ortiz as Undisclosed Character - Britney Ortiz is best known for playing JJ on Netflix's Atypical.
Pierson Fode as Undisclosed Character - Pierson Fode appears in the cast of Based on a True Story as an unknown character. From 2015 to 2018, Fode played Thomas Forrester in the soap opera The Bold and The Beautiful.
Natalia Dyer as Undisclosed Character - Natalia Dyer rose to fame in her role as Nancy Wheeler in Stranger Things.
Annabelle Dexter-Jones as Undisclosed Character - Annabelle Dexter-Jones previously played Harper in the 2019 thriller Ravage.
Aisha Alfa as Undisclosed Character - Before being cast in Based on a True Story, Aisha Alfa played Ms. Grell in Degrassi: Next Class.