Highlights

  • Black Mirror has a unique pull in the television industry, attracting cameo actors from all corners, including Marvel and Game of Thrones stars.
  • The show features a mix of familiar faces and lesser-known actors, but it takes truly skilled actors to make the twisted storylines seem realistic.
  • Recognizable actors like Miley Cyrus and John Hamm have appeared on Black Mirror, surprising fans with their performances in heavy and intense episodes.

Black Mirror is truly one of the best shows of this generation. It focuses on subjects revolving around futuristic technologies, scientific changes, and what can happen between members of society if the technology becomes too powerful.

Most episodes of Black Mirror feature actors and actresses that viewers might be seeing for the very first time, but in other episodes, there are some familiar faces. Though the show has had many messed-up moments, it takes a truly skilled actor to make it all work—and seem realistic. Whether they were already superstars by the time they appeared on the series, or if fame found them after, a look back at Black Mirror shows just how much star power is behind the show.

UPDATE: 2023/07/03 19:21 EST BY LANE VASQUEZ

Black Mirror Tapped Marvel, Game Of Thrones Talent To Round Out Its Cast List

Black Mirror seems to have a unique pull in the television industry, grabbing cameo actors from all corners of the industry. From Black Panther and Spider-Man to Game of Thrones and even Top Gun: Maverick and Breaking Bad, the series has had a long list of unique guest stars. The recently released Season 6 is definitely following suit.

15 Angourie Rice Starred In 'Rachel, Jack, And Ashley Too' - Season 5

Angourie Rice in a dress.jpeg
Instar

Angourie Rice is a lovely actress who starred in a Black Mirror episode called "Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too," one of the most controversial episodes of the series—and the one that was labeled the "worst" by fans.

It might be easy to recognize this young starlet from other roles that she has taken on including The Nice Guys, Ladies in Black, and Every Day. Let’s not forget to mention the fact that she also had roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming as well as Spider-Man: Far From Home.

14 Malachi Kirby Starred In 'Men Against Fire' - Season 5

Malachi Kirby in Black Mirror
Netflix

Malachi Kirby was the star of a Black Mirror episode titled "Men Against Fire." The episode focused on what life would be like if military soldiers were able to be brainwashed in order to fight more heartlessly.

Viewers of this episode might have recognized Malachi Kirby from his time on Roots back in 2016. Roots tells the important story of slavery and is very emotional to watch. Along with that, he also starred in Curfew, Devils, Dough, Offender, and The Last Showing.

13 Hannah John-Kamen Starred In 'Playtest' - Season 3

Hannah John-Kamen in Black Mirror
Netflix

Hannah John-Kamen starred in the Black Mirror episode "Playtest." She is recognized for her time on TV shows like Killjoys and HBO’s Game of Thrones, as well as her time starring in movies like Ready Player One and Ant-Man & the Wasp.

The English actress is now well-recognized as Ava Starr/Ghost in Ant-Man and the Wasp and seems to have a history in the Marvel universe. Interestingly, Black Mirror has tapped several Marvel stars and multiple Game of Thrones personalities, such as Jerome Flynn.

12 Jerome Flynn Starred In 'Shut Up And Dance' - Season 3

Jerome Flynn in Black Mirror 'Shut Up and Dance'
Netflix

Jerome Flynn starred in "Shut Up and Dance," a super intense Black Mirror episode about blackmail, infidelity, and so much more. Jerome Flynn is an actor who has starred in plenty of other movies and TV shows over the years and that is why most people who viewed his Black Mirror episode were able to easily recognize him.

Most would recognize him from HBO’s Game of Thrones. He played the role of Bronn, a talented swordsman who knew how to fight, even in the most challenging situations. Fortunately for Flynn, his ex Lena Headey didn't wind up on the same set (the two were reportedly feuding during GoT).

11 Bryce Dallas Howard Starred In 'Nosedive' - Season 3

Bryce Dallas Howard smiling
via Instar

Bryce Dallas Howard is an easily recognized face from Black Mirror. She starred in an episode called "Nosedive" which focused on what life would be like if people were rated and judged based on their personality, public persona, and behaviors. Other than her time starring on Black Mirror, she also took on leading roles in the most recent Jurassic World movies.

10 Letitia Wright Starred In 'Black Museum' - Season 4

Letitia Wright in Shuri in a still from Black Panther
Disney

Leticia Wright starred in an episode of Black Mirror called "Black Museum." Given her history with Marvel, from Black Panther to literally becoming the Black Panther in Wakanda Forever, Letitia is obviously more well-known for her time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe than her 2017 appearance in Black Mirror. Yet at the time, she hadn't become yet become Shuri to the world.

Related: Letitia Wright Hints That Black Panther 3 Is Already In The Works

9 Jon Hamm Starred In 'White Christmas' - Season 2

Jon Hamm stars in Top Gun: Maverick
via YouTube

A lot of people recognize John Hamm from his time starring in one of the most popular TV shows ever, Mad Men. The show ran from 2007 to 2015 with him in the leading role. Mad Men is far from John Hamm‘s only major role though.

He has starred in plenty of other movies and TV shows, including Top Gun: Maverick, since.

Related: This Movie Almost Looked Completely Different With Mad Men's Jon Hamm As The Lead Instead Of Ben Affleck

8 Daniel Kaluuya Starred In 'Fifteen Million Merits' - Season 1

Daniel Kaluuya paralyzed with fear and tears running down his face in Get Out.
via: YouTube

Recognize Daniel Kaluuya? Most people do from his time starring in the intense thriller Get Out. The movie was all about race relations, interracial dating, and so much more. He also starred in Black Panther in 2018 and then Queen & Slim in 2019.

We are so excited to see more of Daniel Kaluuya as his career continues to soar. The episode of Black Mirror that he starred in is called "15 Million Merits," and it's not as if he stopped there. Kaluuya recently worked on the film Nope plus voiced a character in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

7 Anthony Mackie Starred In 'Striking Vipers' - Season 5

Anthony Mackie as Captain America
Marvel

Anthony Mackie is for sure one of the biggest, most famous, and most well-known actors to appear on an episode of Black Mirror. He appeared in an episode called "Striking Vipers." The world recognizes Anthony Mackie from his time starring in Marvel movies as The Falcon.

He plays a strong hero that ends up taking over for Captain America when the time is right. The character he plays in Marvel films has been pivotal to the storylines.

Other than his time in the MCU, and in that particular Black Mirror episode, we have also seen Anthony Mackie in movies like 8 Mile, Pain & Gain, and The Hurt Locker.

Related: How Does Chris Evans Feel About Anthony Mackie As Captain America?

6 Michael Cera Appeared In 'Joan Is Awful' - Season 6

Michael Cera and Annie Murphy
The Things

Michael Cera might have been an unlikely guess as a guest star on Black Mirror, but his turned out to be a noteworthy appearance. Michael talked about how there was little time to rehearse, but that it all turned out "fantastic" despite the rush.

As for working with Annie Murphy during his few days on set, Cera only had positive things to say.

5 Annie Murphy Appeared In 'Joan Is Awful' - Season 6

Annie Murphy on couch in pigtails from Black Mirror's "Joan Is Awful" on Netflix
Via: Black Mirror/Netflix

Today, Annie Murphy is most famous for her role in Schitt's Creek, but the series ended in 2020, and Murphy has remained very busy. Her recent resume includes Kevin Can F**k Himself and a gig as a voice actor in Ruby Gillman, Teeenage Kraken.

Murphy also has ongoing roles in Murderville and Praise Petey.

4 Miley Cyrus Starred In 'Rachel, Jack, And Ashley Too' - Season 5

Miley Cyrus in a still from her Flowers music video
 via YouTube, Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus is one of the most famous actresses to appear on an episode of Black Mirror. She starred in the episode titled "Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too," about a pop star who is forced to do things she does not want to do by a family member that wants to control her for profit.

Miley Cyrus most notably starred in Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel, and of course is a super-star in the music world. Her appearance in "Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too" stunned fans, not because she was a star, but because the subject matter was heavy. But apparently, Miley did the role justice.

3 Salma Hayek Pinault Was In 'Joan Is Awful' - Season 6

Salma Hayek Black Mirror Joan Is Awful
Netflix

Salma Hayek Pinault needs no introduction, which is what made her appearance in "Joan Is Awful" a thrill for Black Mirror fans. Salma has done everything from portraying Frida Kahlo to voicing Antonio Banderas' feline love interest in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

With Black Mirror, Salma noted she was able to play herself, but with a new angle; Salma famously called her character "disgusting" and "grotesque."

2 Aaron Paul Appeared In 'Beyond The Sea' - Season 6

Aaron Paul in Black Mirror
Netflix

Aaron Paul was another hard-hitting cameo actor on Black Mirror, working alongside other big names in "Beyond the Sea." It wasn't Paul's first appearance, either; he also voiced a character in season four (he was a gamer).

1 Josh Hartnett Was In 'Beyond The Sea' - Season 6

Josh Hartnett in Black Mirror
Netflix

He might not be a teen heartthrob anymore, but Josh Hartnett joining the cast of Black Mirror for "Beyond the Sea" wasn't a bad thing. He and Aaron Paul played futuristic astronauts and it was freaky.

It's nothing new for Josh, though; he's taken on some hard-hitting roles in recent years. Only time will tell whether he returns to Black Mirror for another cameo!