The A-List Mystery: A Complete Guide To The Murder On The Orient Express Movie Cast (2017) And Poirot's Trilogy

The 2017 adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh as the iconic Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, revitalized one of Agatha Christie's most beloved mysteries for a new generation, setting the stage for a successful film trilogy. As of December 2025, this all-star ensemble cast remains a major talking point, featuring a dazzling array of Oscar winners and major franchise stars who brought the classic whodunit to life with cinematic flair. The film’s success hinged on the chemistry and star power of its diverse, international roster of suspects.

This article provides a deep dive into the full cast of the 2017 film, detailing who played which famous passenger, along with a look at their impressive careers and how this movie launched the modern cinematic universe of the Hercule Poirot film series, which continued with Death on the Nile (2022) and A Haunting in Venice (2023).

The Star-Studded Suspects: Full Cast List and Key Biographies

Kenneth Branagh assembled a truly remarkable ensemble, with each actor portraying one of the thirteen passengers trapped on the stalled train, all of whom become suspects in the murder of the nefarious Edward Ratchett. The following list details the main cast of Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and provides a brief biography of the most prominent stars.

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• Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot: The world-renowned Belgian detective, known for his meticulous nature and impressive mustache.
• Johnny Depp as Edward Ratchett: An American businessman and the murder victim, later revealed to be the gangster Cassetti.
• Michelle Pfeiffer as Caroline Hubbard: A dramatic American widow, later revealed to be Linda Arden, the mother of the deceased Daisy Armstrong.
• Penélope Cruz as Pilar Estravados: A Spanish missionary, whose character replaces the Swedish nurse Greta Ohlsson from the original novel.
• Daisy Ridley as Mary Debenham: A young governess with a suspicious air.
• Judi Dench as Princess Natalia Dragomiroff: A Russian princess and a member of European royalty.
• Josh Gad as Hector MacQueen: Ratchett's nervous and secretly-involved secretary.
• Willem Dafoe as Gerhard Hardman: An Austrian professor who is actually a former NYPD officer.
• Leslie Odom Jr. as Dr. Arbuthnot: A doctor and former military sniper.
• Tom Bateman as Bouc: Poirot's friend and a director of the Orient Express train line.
• Derek Jacobi as Edward Henry Masterman: Ratchett's valet.
• Olivia Colman as Hildegarde Schmidt: Princess Dragomiroff's maid.
• Sergei Polunin as Count Andrenyi: A Hungarian diplomat.
• Lucy Boynton as Countess Andrenyi: The Count's wife and a former actress.
• Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Biniamino Marquez: An American car salesman, replacing the Italian Antonio Foscarelli.

Detailed Profile of the Core Ensemble

The star power of the 2017 film was undeniable, featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood and British theatre:

Kenneth Branagh (Hercule Poirot)

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on December 10, 1960, Sir Kenneth Branagh is a celebrated actor, director, and filmmaker. He is renowned for his extensive work adapting and starring in Shakespearean plays, including films like Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing. Beyond his Poirot role, Branagh has directed blockbusters such as Marvel’s Thor and Disney’s Cinderella, and won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Belfast (2021). His portrayal of Poirot is characterized by a dramatic, imposing figure and an impressively large mustache, which has become a signature of the new film series.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Caroline Hubbard / Linda Arden)

Michelle Pfeiffer (born April 29, 1958) is an American actress known for her versatility and iconic roles in films like Scarface, The Fabulous Baker Boys (for which she won a Golden Globe), and Batman Returns, where she famously played Catwoman. Her performance as the ostensibly fragile, yet secretly formidable, Mrs. Hubbard was a critical highlight of the 2017 film, showcasing her ability to balance comedy, drama, and intense emotion. She has been nominated for three Academy Awards.

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Johnny Depp (Edward Ratchett / Cassetti)

Born on June 9, 1963, Johnny Depp is an American actor, producer, and musician celebrated for his eccentric and unconventional film choices. His career highlights include his collaborations with director Tim Burton on films like Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd, as well as his globally recognized role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. In Murder on the Orient Express, he plays the pivotal role of the murder victim, Edward Ratchett, whose death triggers the entire mystery.

Dame Judi Dench (Princess Natalia Dragomiroff)

Dame Judi Dench (born December 9, 1934) is one of Britain’s most revered actresses, with a career spanning over six decades in theatre, television, and film. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1988. Dench is famous for her Oscar-winning role in Shakespeare in Love and her long-running portrayal of M in the James Bond film series. Her performance as the aristocratic Russian Princess Dragomiroff added a layer of gravitas and old-world mystery to the ensemble.

Penélope Cruz (Pilar Estravados)

Born on April 28, 1974, Penélope Cruz Sánchez is a Spanish actress who achieved international recognition for her work in Spanish and English-language films. She became the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award, earning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). In the 2017 film, she plays Pilar Estravados, a character name borrowed from another Agatha Christie novel, replacing the original character's nationality and profession.

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Daisy Ridley (Mary Debenham)

Daisy Ridley (born April 10, 1992) is an English actress who shot to global fame for her breakthrough role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, beginning with The Force Awakens (2015). Her casting in Murder on the Orient Express came at the height of her Star Wars popularity, demonstrating her range beyond science fiction. She portrays the governess Mary Debenham, one of the first passengers Poirot interviews.

The Modern Hercule Poirot Trilogy: Building Topical Authority

The success of the 2017 film established a new cinematic universe for Agatha Christie's works, with Kenneth Branagh serving as the anchor for the entire series. The two subsequent films, while featuring new casts, maintained the high production value and ensemble structure, solidifying the topical authority of the franchise.

Death on the Nile (2022) Cast Highlights

The second film in the series, Death on the Nile (2022), saw Poirot travel to Egypt, where a romance cruise turns deadly. While Tom Bateman reprised his role as Poirot's companion, Bouc, the rest of the cast was entirely new, continuing the tradition of an A-list ensemble.

• Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle
• Armie Hammer as Simon Doyle
• Annette Bening as Euphemia Bouc
• Russell Brand as Dr. Bessner
• Ali Fazal as Andrew Katchadourian
• Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders as Mrs. Bowers and Marie Van Schuyler

A Haunting in Venice (2023) Cast Highlights

The third and most recent installment, A Haunting in Venice (2023), based on the novel Hallowe'en Party, took a darker, more gothic turn. This film also featured a fresh ensemble cast, with only Branagh and Bateman returning from the previous films.

• Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, a mystery novelist
• Jamie Dornan as Leopold Ferrier
• Michelle Yeoh as Joyce Reynolds
• Kyle Allen as Maxime Gerard
• Camille Cottin as Olga Seminoff

The Enduring Legacy: 2017 vs. the 1974 Classic

Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express (2017) is not the first major film adaptation of the novel. The highly acclaimed 1974 film, directed by Sidney Lumet, also boasted a legendary ensemble cast, providing a fascinating point of comparison for fans of Agatha Christie.

The 1974 cast featured Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot, with an ensemble that included Hollywood legends like Lauren Bacall (as Mrs. Hubbard), Ingrid Bergman (who won an Oscar for her role as Greta Ohlsson), Sean Connery (as Colonel Arbuthnot), and Vanessa Redgrave (as Mary Debenham).

While the 1974 version is often praised for its faithful adherence to the source material and its theatrical performances, the 2017 film offered a more action-oriented and visually stunning cinematic experience, with Branagh’s Poirot being a more physically imposing figure. The decision to cast major stars like Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer helped introduce the complex mystery to a contemporary, global audience, ensuring the story’s enduring appeal. The modern film also made slight character changes, such as Penélope Cruz's Pilar Estravados, to update the narrative for a modern era.