I May Destroy You Cast and Character Guide

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A guide for the HBO/BBC series “I May Destroy You,” that notes cast members, information about their character, and other details about the show.

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Please Note: This content contains pertinent spoilers, descriptions are updated as new information is presented, images changed as better ones are captured, and this is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, guest star, or reoccurring role.

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Arabella Essiuedu (Michaela Coel & Danielle Vitalis)

First Noted In – I May Destroy You: Season 1 Episode 1 “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”

Brief Description

The semi-famous writer of “Chronicles of a Fed Up Millennial” who has been struggling with her follow up book. Maybe because she isn’t just pulling old tweets and making them into cohesive thoughts, her love life being a bit complicated, or just utter lack of inspiration. But with her agent breathing down her neck, she has to come up with something if she wants to keep making trips to Italy.

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Additional Information About Arabella

Notable Episodes

• S1E4: Starts seeing Zain Tareen (Karan Gill)
  • S1E5: Won the Berkerly Award in 2017
• S1E5: We learn the owner of her publisher, Susy Henny, is a Black woman.
• S1E9: Speaks on an abortion she had.
• S1E10: We meet her family which includes her father Kojo (Yinka Awoni), mother Grace (Michelle Greenidge), and brother Nicholas (Tobi King Bakare). As well as her “Aunt” Lenora (Dada Ashi).
  • Nicholas is around 26
  • Arabella moved out around 17
  • Arabella tells mom she was raped

Quotes

Control what you can, no more, no less.
— Arabella (S1E3)

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Biagio (Marouane Zotti)

First Noted In – I May Destroy You: Season 1 Episode 1 “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”

Brief Description

Arabella’s Italian f— buddy who she’d love to become her actual boyfriend, but he isn’t willing to commit to that.

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Additional Information About Biagio

• S1E3: Makes money dealing drugs.
  • Met Arabella three months prior to the start of the series

Notable Episodes

Quotes

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Alissa (Ann Akin)

First Noted In – I May Destroy You: Season 1 Episode 1 “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”

Brief Description

In pursuit of spicing things up in their relationship, Kat allows Simon to join a dating app, and he discovers Alissa. She is someone who has always had an issue being in her own relationship, so joining one in progress doesn’t bother her. In fact, she likes the idea.

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Additional Information About Alissa

• S1e1: Notes she has depression and anxiety.
  • It’s also noted she likes drama in her relationships.

Notable Episodes

Quotes

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Simon (Aml Ameen)

First Noted In – I May Destroy You: Season 1 Episode 1 “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”

Brief Description

Alongside being one half of the 8-year couple known as Simon and Kat, Simon is also one of Arabella’s closest friends.

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Additional Information About Simon

Notable Episodes

Quotes

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Kat (Lara Rossi)

First Noted In – I May Destroy You: Season 1 Episode 1 “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”

Brief Description

Simon’s other half, for the last 8 years, who is noted to be a good cook and is a teacher or professor.

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Additional Information About Kat

Notable Episodes

Quotes

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Kwame (Paapa Essiedu)

First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 2

Brief Description

One of Arabella’s friends who often is there to keep her company.

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Additional Information About Kwame

• S1E1: Is gay
• S1E7: His first time was with an Egyptian and Greek man, and has a bit of a thing for Egyptians. Also, his first time had very little words exchanged. He just entered a car, after being waved over, and things happened.

Notable Episodes

• S1E4: A major trauma happens to him.

Quotes

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Terry Pratchard (Weruche Opia)

First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 2

Brief Description

Arabella’s best girlfriend who is an aspiring actress.

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Additional Information About Terry

• S1E2: Follower count is 7236

Notable Episodes

Quotes

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Theodora (Harriet Webb & Gaby French)

First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 6

Brief Description

A schoolmate of Arabella and Terry whose life growing up, especially her teen years, were sordid due to her mother coercing her to say her father assaulted her at 7 and her accusing a boy of rape in her teen years.

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Additional Information About Theodora

Notable Episodes

• S1E6: We meet Ryan (Josiah Mutupa) who, after taking pictures of her without her consent, she falsely accuses him of raping her.

Quotes

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Pastor Samson (Victor Ade)

First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 7

Brief Introduction

While not an actual pastor, Samson is well known for preaching, hence his nickname.

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Additional Information About Pastor Samson

Notable Episodes

Quotes

If you’re going to fight exploitation of any kind, you yourself better known when you’re being exploited.
— Pastor Samson

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Nilufer (Pearl Chanda)

First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 8

Brief Introduction

After his assault, Kwame decides to experiment with the idea of being intimate with women and Nilufer is the woman he chooses.

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Additional Information About Nilufer

• S1E8: Seems to have a bit of a fetish for Black men and perhaps danger.

Notable Episodes

Quotes

General Information

Creator(s)	Michaela Coel
First Aired (HBO Max and BBC)	6/7/2020

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How To Watch

Groups & Organizations

• Future Voices (1.1): The company that Arabella works with

Notable Locations

• Ostia, Italy (1.1): Where Biagio lives
• Hackney, London (1.1): The area Arabella lives and works
• Ego Death Bar (1.1): The place Arabella is assaulted.

Terms To Know

• ():

Other Noteworthy Information

• S1E8: It has been around 9 months since the start of the series (it is specifically October 22nd and the assault was in January)

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