A character guide for STARZ’s “Run The World.” Included is information about characters and noteworthy information about the series they’re in.
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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)
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 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 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
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
Quotes & Gifs
Be as committed to grateful as you are self-pity.
— Barb (1.1)
Sondi Hill (Corbin Reid)
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)
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 is Matthew’s six-year-old daughter who has known Sondi for two years and has crafted a language with her.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
Quotes & Gifs
Whitney (Amber Stevens West)
A banker, soon to be married and struggling with her future husband’s expectations for a wife.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
- Teen Version (1.6): We meet as a teen
Quotes & Gifs
Renee (Bresha Webb)
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 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 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 is Whitney’s college sweetheart who is a banker from a big Nigerian family.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 2
Quotes & Gifs
Am I your best friend or am I your safety net?
— Ola (1.8)
Jason (Jay Walker)
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)
While a nice guy, Chris is also considered the community d*** since every one of the friend group has been with him.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 3
Quotes & Gifs
Abby (Emily Tarver)
Thrice divorced, but at least she has a career, Abby is Renee’s co-worker.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 3
Quotes & Gifs
Monife (Tamera Tomakili)
Ola’s sister, Monife, like him, is a doctor.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 4
Quotes & Gifs
Moussa (Souléymane Sy Savané)
The owner of Yatenga who Barb takes a liking to.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 4
Quotes & Gifs
Gwynn (Tonya Pinkins)
Gwynn is Whitney’s mother who has been with her father for over 30 years.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 5
Quotes & Gifs
I go as far as you let me.
— Gwynn
Donda Baptiste (De’Adre Aziza)
One of Matthew’s co-workers who is a professor.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 5
Quotes & Gifs
Hope (Sasha Hutchings)
Whitney’s friend, and her maid of honor, who lives out west, specifically in the Sacramento area.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 5
Quotes & Gifs
Do not let a scarcity of vision interfere with your walk.
— Hope (1.8)
Nancy (Rosie O’Donnell)
Ella, Sondi, Renee, and Whitney’s therapist.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 6
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)
A representative in the entertainment industry who was an associate of Ella’s
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1, Episode 7
Quotes & Gifs
Emmett (Sawandi Wilson)
An actor that Iman formerly represented.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1, Episode 7
Quotes & Gifs
Mia (Christina Sajous)
A VP at L’Oreal who went to Spelman with Renee
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1, Episode 7
Quotes & Gifs
Radha (Becca Khalil)
Whitney’s assistant.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 1, Episode 7
Quotes & Gifs
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