The Hulu limited series We Were the Lucky Ones has captivated audiences worldwide, bringing the incredible true story of the Kurc family to the screen. Premiering on March 28, 2024, the series is a powerful adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s best-selling novel, chronicling the harrowing separation and miraculous survival of a Polish Jewish family during the Holocaust. This article, updated in late 2025, provides a comprehensive look at the stellar ensemble cast, their crucial roles, and the compelling biographies of the stars who lent their talent to this monumental historical drama. The show’s success hinges on the deeply moving performances of its actors, many of whom are already established stars like Joey King and Logan Lerman, alongside a talented international cast.
The eight-episode miniseries, developed by Erica Lipez and directed by Thomas Kail, has been lauded for its authenticity and emotional weight. It meticulously traces the Kurc family's journey from their vibrant life in Radom, Poland, to their desperate fight for survival across continents as World War II rages. Understanding the actors who embody these real-life figures is key to appreciating the depth of this unforgettable adaptation.
The Kurc Family: Full Cast List and Character Profiles
The heart of We Were the Lucky Ones lies with the Kurc family, a close-knit group of five siblings and their parents whose lives are irrevocably shattered by the Nazi invasion. The casting was critical, requiring actors who could convey decades of history, trauma, and unwavering hope. Here is the definitive list of the main cast members who portray the family.
The Five Kurc Siblings
- Joey King as Halina Kurc: The youngest and most resilient of the siblings, Halina is a medical student whose resourcefulness and sheer determination become central to the family's survival. King delivers a career-defining performance as the family's anchor.
- Logan Lerman as Addy Kurc: A talented musician and engineer, Addy is separated from his family early in the war, leading to his own isolated journey through Europe and North Africa. Lerman portrays the intellectual and artistic brother.
- Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Genek Kurc: The eldest sibling, Genek is a lawyer and a devoted husband to Herta. His journey is marked by harsh imprisonment and a relentless effort to protect his immediate family.
- Hadas Yaron as Mila Kurc: A married mother to her young daughter, Felicia, Mila's primary focus is keeping her child safe, a journey that forces her to make unimaginable sacrifices.
- Amit Rahav as Jakob Kurc: An electrical engineer, Jakob is the quiet, sensitive brother. His story is intertwined with his wife, Bella, as they navigate the horrors of the ghettos and forced labor.
The Kurc Parents and Key Family Members
- Lior Ashkenazi as Sol Kurc: The patriarch of the Kurc family. Sol is a successful tailor in Radom and the emotional center who desperately tries to keep his family together.
- Robin Weigert as Nechuma Kurc: The matriarch, whose faith and strength are the bedrock of the family’s hope, even as they are scattered across the globe.
- Moran Rosenblatt as Herta: Genek's wife, whose steadfast support and pragmatic nature are vital to their survival.
- Eva Feiler as Bella: Jakob's wife, a gentle spirit whose resilience is tested by the extreme conditions of the war.
- Sam Woolf as Adam: Halina’s love interest and eventual husband, a fellow survivor who joins the Kurc family's orbit.
Star Profiles: Joey King and Logan Lerman’s Careers
The casting of two former child stars, Joey King and Logan Lerman, as siblings separated by the events of World War II was a major talking point for the series. Their parallel paths in Hollywood—growing up on screen—adds a profound layer of depth to their on-screen chemistry as Halina and Addy. Their extensive filmographies provide a rich background of experience that they bring to these demanding roles.
Joey King (Halina Kurc) Biography and Filmography
- Birth Name: Joey Lynn King
- Born: July 30, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Notable Roles: King began her career appearing in commercials before gaining recognition as Ramona Quimby in the 2010 film Ramona and Beezus. Her breakthrough came with her Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated performance as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in the Hulu true crime series The Act (2019). She is also widely known for her lead role as Elle Evans in The Kissing Booth film trilogy.
- Career Highlights: Her diverse filmography includes roles in Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Fargo (Season 1, 2014), and the action-thriller Bullet Train (2022). Her portrayal of Halina Kurc in We Were the Lucky Ones is considered a significant pivot to serious historical drama.
Logan Lerman (Addy Kurc) Biography and Filmography
- Birth Name: Logan Wade Lerman
- Born: January 19, 1992, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
- Notable Roles: Lerman's career started in the mid-1990s with commercials. He gained early fame for his title role as Percy Jackson in the fantasy-adventure film series, starting with Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). He also starred in the critically acclaimed television series Jack & Bobby (2004–2005).
- Career Highlights: Lerman is highly respected for his dramatic work, particularly his lead role as Charlie in the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), for which he received critical praise. Other major roles include Fury (2014) alongside Brad Pitt, and the Amazon Prime Video series Hunters (2020–2023). His performance as Addy Kurc showcases his ability to convey deep internal struggle and longing.
The Production Team and The Book's Enduring Legacy
The strength of the We Were the Lucky Ones miniseries is not solely in its cast, but also in the dedicated creative team who ensured a faithful and respectful adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s work. The book itself, published in 2017, became a literary phenomenon, drawing on Hunter’s own family history—she is the great-granddaughter of the real Addy Kurc.
The involvement of the author and the commitment to historical accuracy were paramount. Showrunner Erica Lipez and director Thomas Kail (known for his work on Hamilton) were instrumental in translating the sprawling, multi-continent narrative of the Kurc family’s Holocaust survival story into a cohesive, emotional television experience. The production utilized on-location shooting in Europe to capture the diverse settings, from the streets of Radom to the refugee routes through Africa and South America.
The series serves as a vital piece of historical fiction, adding to the canon of World War II dramas. It stands out by focusing on the theme of separation and the sheer luck—or miracle—required for a family to be reunited after such catastrophic global events. The narrative structure, which frequently jumps between the five siblings and their parents, relies heavily on the audience's investment in the entire ensemble, a testament to the casting director's success.
How the Series Achieves Topical Authority and Emotional Impact
The choice of a diverse and highly capable cast allowed the series to explore multiple facets of the Holocaust experience. Each Kurc sibling’s storyline—Halina’s resistance work, Addy’s refugee experience, Genek's imprisonment, Mila's struggle as a mother, and Jakob's life in the ghetto—functions as a separate narrative thread, all woven together by the central theme of the family's unbreakable bond.
The actors, including Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Hadas Yaron, and Amit Rahav, who may be less familiar to American audiences than King and Lerman, bring a profound sense of realism and international authenticity to their roles. Hadas Yaron, an Israeli actress, delivers a particularly poignant performance as Mila, embodying the universal fear and protective instinct of a mother during wartime.
By focusing on the Kurc family's individual and collective struggles, the Hulu series successfully avoids becoming a generalized war story. It is a deeply personal account of a single family’s fight to survive and find each other again, a narrative that resonates powerfully with modern audiences. The cast, from the leads down to supporting roles like Michael Aloni and Sam Woolf, ensures that the historical weight of the series is matched by genuine, human emotion, making We Were the Lucky Ones a must-watch limited series.
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