Run The World Character Guide

Title Card - Run The World Season 1 Episode 1

A character guide for STARZ’s “Run The World.” Included is information about characters and noteworthy information about the series they’re in.


A character guide for STARZ’s “Run The World.” Included is information about characters and noteworthy information about the series they’re in.


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.

General Information

Network(s) Starz
Created or Developed By Leigh Davenport
First Aired 5/16/2021

Groups & Organizations

  • Hot Tea Digest (1.1): Where Ella works and the company Barb is Editor in Chief
  • Trinamic Trio of Trust (1.4): The name that represents Sondi, Renee and Whitney’s friend group in the 6th grade

Notable Locations & Items

  • Yatenga (1.4): One of the eateries the ladies frequent.

Other Noteworthy Information

  • Length of Season 1 (1.8): It is noted Whitney had her affair 6 weeks ago, so the entire season is 2 to 3 months.

Season 1

Air Dates 5/21/2021 – 7/11/2021
Episode Count 8

Plot

We’re introduced to four friends, Renee, Whitney, Sondi, and Ella, who deal with various issues. For Renee, her marriage is coming to an end, and she is trying to start her next chapter with a smooth transition. When it comes to Whitney, her plans to wed college sweetheart Ola are starting to get out of control, and combine that with a hectic job and a chance encounter? Well, it makes the struggle quite real. As for Sondi? She is a Ph.D. student sleeping with her advisor and so ingrained in his life that his daughter knows her and even has a secret language with her!

Leaving Ella. She appears to be the youngest of the four and also the least stable. Formerly, she had what could have been a notable writing career, but after being dropped by her publisher, now she writes for an entertainment magazine to some chagrin.

However, together, the ladies are making it in New York City and finding every way they can to keep hope alive.

Notable Episodes

Episode 1: Anderson returns from South Africa

Episode 3: It’s Ella’s 32nd birthday

Ella McFair (Andrea Bordeaux)

Ella (Andrea Bordeaux) looking exasperated
Ella (Andrea Bordeaux) looking exasperated

31 when we meet her, 32 by episode 3 of the first season, Ella was an up-and-coming writer almost two years ago until she was dropped by her publisher. Since then, her boyfriend left for South Africa, and while she has found a way to keep living in New York, thanks to being Sondi’s roommate, life certainly hasn’t been easy.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
  • Parents’ Marriage (1.1): Ella’s parents have been together for 40 years
Teen Ella (Shania Mundy) and Teen Renee at a school dance
Teen Ella (Shania Mundy) and Teen Renee at a school dance
  • Teen Years (1.6): We meet Ella as a teen
  • Book (1.6): “What The El” was her first book
    • Memoir (1.6): She wrote her memoir at 19 and at the time had 100,000 followers
  • Former Job Offer (1.6): Before her current job with Barb, she was offered the position of Editorial Director

Quotes & Gifs

GRITS: Girls raised in the south.
— Ella

It’s not an excuse. It’s what happened.
— Ella (1.6)

Fear is good. Fear is fuel.
— Ella (1.7)

Barb (Erika Alexander)

Barb (Erika Alexander) in her office with plaques and covers featuring her
Barb (Erika Alexander) in her office with plaques and covers featuring her

Barb is Ella’s boss who has a storied history in lifestyle magazines. At 35, she was the first Black Editor In Chief of a mainstream lifestyle publication, and at 45, she shows no signs of slowing down.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Be as committed to grateful as you are self-pity.
— Barb (1.1)

Sondi Hill (Corbin Reid)

Sondi (Corbin Reid) giving Ella a pep talk
Sondi (Corbin Reid) giving Ella a pep talk

A Ph.D. advisee with a focus in African-American studies, Sondi is “woke,” but thankfully, her default isn’t the version of the term which often can make a situation more serious than it needs to be. However, this isn’t to say that she doesn’t read more into a situation than her friends, or partner Matthew, may do.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
  • Accolades (1.3): Is a Fulbright Scholar
  • Age (1.3): In 2002, Sondi was 14
  • Origins (1.4): She is from Memphis

Quotes & Gifs

“Sis” is the most passive-aggressive, non-sisterly shit ever.
— Sondi

Matthew (Stephen Bishop)

Matthew (Stephen Bishop) asking about the language Sondi and Amari came up with
Matthew (Stephen Bishop) asking about the language Sondi and Amari came up with

Sondi’s thesis adviser, a professor, and the father of Amari, Matthew juggles multiple hats, and it seems Sondi is the main one he lets fall if something happens.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
  • Time Together (1.5): Has been with Sondi 2 years.
  • Legacy (1.5): The Brownstone he owns has been in the family 3 generations and his family was the first Black one on the block
  • Started Dating (1.6): Started dating Sondi three years ago

Quotes & Gifs

Amari (Ellie Reine)

Amari (Ellie Reine) talking to Sondi
Amari (Ellie Reine) talking to Sondi

Amari is Matthew’s six-year-old daughter who has known Sondi for two years and has crafted a language with her.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Whitney (Amber Stevens West)

Whitney (Amber Stevens West) with the sideeye
Whitney (Amber Stevens West) with the side-eye

A banker, soon to be married and struggling with her future husband’s expectations for a wife.

Additional Information

Teen Whitney (Aubrey Cleland) giddy at a school dance
Teen Whitney (Aubrey Cleland) giddy at a school dance
  • Teen Version (1.6): We meet as a teen

Quotes & Gifs

Renee (Bresha Webb)

Renee (Bresha Webb) picking up breakfast at a bodega
Renee (Bresha Webb) picking up breakfast at a bodega

The wild one of her group, Renee, is soon to be divorced, highly educated, and honestly just trying to live her best life before she has to admit she is aging.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
  • Length Of Friendship (1.1): Renee has known Ella for around 25 years
  • Astrology (1.4): Is Taurus and born in the year of the Dragon
Teen Renee (Tamya Taylor) checking Whitney
Teen Renee (Tamya Taylor) checking Whitney
  • Teen Version (1.6): We meet her teen version, Tamya Taylor
  • Fly Girl (1.6): Since 4th grade, Renee has been dressing herself and looking fly or at least standing out
  • Eclipse (1.7): Ella has worked at Eclipse for 7 years on Abby’s team

Quotes & Gifs

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
— Renee (Quoting Maya Angelou) – 1.7

Anderson (Nick Sagar)

Anderson (Nick Sagar) talking to Ella
Anderson (Nick Sagar) talking to Ella

Anderson is Ella’s ex who left two years ago to South Africa to pursue a major job opportunity which has led to him being given the nickname: Satan.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
  • Resume (1.8): Morehouse undergrad, Yale Law non-profit lawyer who has no kids, no convictions, but has student loan debt.

Quotes & Gifs

Ola (Tosin Morohunfola)

Ola (Tosin Morohunfola) talking to Whitney
Ola (Tosin Morohunfola) talking to Whitney

Ola is Whitney’s college sweetheart who is a banker from a big Nigerian family.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Am I your best friend or am I your safety net?
— Ola (1.8)

Jason (Jay Walker)

Jason (Jay Walker) making excuses
Jason (Jay Walker) making excuses

Renee’s soon-to-be ex-husband used to be a private equity manager but has since quit that job to become the manager of an unnamed band.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 2
  • MBA (1.2): Between him and Renee, they both graduated from Stanford and Wharton
  • Relationship Length (1.2): He was with Renee for at least 5 years

Quotes & Gifs

Chris (David J. Cork)

Chris (David J. Cork) realizing Whitney has a man
Chris (David J. Cork) realizing Whitney has a man

While a nice guy, Chris is also considered the community d*** since every one of the friend group has been with him.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Abby (Emily Tarver)

Abby (Emily Tarver) and Renee at a photoshoot
Abby (Emily Tarver) and Renee at a photoshoot

Thrice divorced, but at least she has a career, Abby is Renee’s co-worker.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Monife (Tamera Tomakili)

Monife (Tamera Tomakili) with Whitney finding nice fabrics
Monife (Tamera Tomakili) with Whitney finding nice fabrics

Ola’s sister, Monife, like him, is a doctor.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Moussa (Souléymane Sy Savané)

Moussa (Souleymane Sy Savane) flirting with Barb
Moussa (Souleymane Sy Savane) flirting with Barb

The owner of Yatenga who Barb takes a liking to.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Gwynn (Tonya Pinkins)

Gwynn (Tonya Pinkins) having dinner with Whitney
Gwynn (Tonya Pinkins) having dinner with Whitney

Gwynn is Whitney’s mother who has been with her father for over 30 years.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

I go as far as you let me.
— Gwynn

Donda Baptiste (De’Adre Aziza)

Donda Baptiste (De'Adre Aziza) joking with Sondi
Donda Baptiste (De’Adre Aziza) joking with Sondi

One of Matthew’s co-workers who is a professor.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Hope (Sasha Hutchings)

Hope (Sasha Hutchings) and Renee having a tiff
Hope (Sasha Hutchings) and Renee having a tiff

Whitney’s friend, and her maid of honor, who lives out west, specifically in the Sacramento area.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Do not let a scarcity of vision interfere with your walk.
— Hope (1.8)

Nancy (Rosie O’Donnell)

Dr. Nancy (Rosie O'Donnell) being blunt in a session
Dr. Nancy (Rosie O’Donnell) being blunt in a session

Ella, Sondi, Renee, and Whitney’s therapist.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

You know, there’s a difference between being your best and being the best.
— Nancy (1.6)

Life is ultimately about self.
— Nancy (1.6)

The better question is: Who’s giving it life? Who’s making any of it matter?
— Nancy (1.6)

Iman (Yasha Jackson)

Iman (Yasha Jackson) after Ella's betrayal
Iman (Yasha Jackson) after Ella’s betrayal

A representative in the entertainment industry who was an associate of Ella’s

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Emmett (Sawandi Wilson)

Emmett (Sawandi Wilson) talking about a role he had
Emmett (Sawandi Wilson)

An actor that Iman formerly represented.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Mia (Christina Sajous)

Mia (Christina Sajous) being introduced by Renee
Mia (Christina Sajous) being introduced by Renee

A VP at L’Oreal who went to Spelman with Renee

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs

Radha (Becca Khalil)

Radha (Becca Khalil) excited for Whitney
Radha (Becca Khalil) excited for Whitney

Whitney’s assistant.

Additional Information

Quotes & Gifs


Listed Under Categories: , ,


Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.