Scarpetta Cast & Character Guide: Who Else Stars In Nicole Kidman's Crime Thriller

3 weeks ago 9

Published Mar 11, 2026, 7:12 AM EDT

Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies, television, culture, and politics online and in print since 2017. He worked as a Senior Editor in Adbusters Media Foundation from 2018-2019 and wrote for WhatCulture in early 2020. He has been a Senior Features Writer for ScreenRant since 2020.

Prime Video’s Scarpetta is a starry introduction to the world of author Patricia Cornwell’s long-running novel series. Starting in 1990 with Postmortem, Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta series is one of the most successful psychological thriller book series of all time.

Actor Name

Character Portrayed

Nicole Kidman	Dr. Kay Scarpetta
Jamie Lee Curtis	Dorothy Scarpetta
Ariana DeBose	Lucy Farinelli-Watson
Bobby Cannavale	Pete Marino
Simon Baker	Benton Wesley

Nicole Kidman as Dr. Kay Scarpetta

June 20 1967

Nicole Kidman looks stunned at something in Scarpetta

Active Since: 1983

Nicole Kidman was born in Honolulu to Australian parents, and her first movie role came in 1983’s Australian Christmas movie Bush Christmas. Kidman came to the attention of Hollywood with her role in 1989’s acclaimed thriller Dead Calm, which was swiftly followed by a supporting role in 1990’s underrated Tom Cruise vehicle Days of Thunder.

From there, Kidman went on to become one of the most notable stars of her generation. Among her most famous and acclaimed movies are To Die For, Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge, Practical Magic, The Hours, The Others, Dogville, Paddington, Lion, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Destroyer, and Babygirl. She also appeared in Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Title

Release Year

To Die For	1995
Eyes Wide Shut	1999
The Killing of a Sacred Deer	2017
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom	2023
Babygirl	2024

Kidman plays the titular forensic pathologist, a brilliant mind who is troubled by both corruption in her own department and a case that haunts her from decades earlier. Rosy McEwen plays the young version of Dr. Kay Scarpetta in the show’s flashbacks.

Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Scarpetta

November 22 1958

Jamie Lee Curtis, Nicole Kidman, and Simon Baker in Scarpetta

Active Since: 1977

Born in California to famous parents Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis’s star-making role came in 1978’s iconic slasher Halloween. Curtis soon established herself as a scream queen with The Fog, Roadgames, and Terror Train, before branching out to comedy with ‘80s classics like Trading Places and A Fish Called Wanda.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Title

Release Year

Halloween	1978
Trading Places	1983
A Fish Called Wanda.	1988
Freaky Friday	2003
Knives Out	2019

Curtis’s outspoken Dorothy is Kay’s sister. An optimistic contrast to her cynical sister, Dorothy is a successful author of children’s books who has been through many failed marriages. Amanda Righetti plays the young version of Dorothy Scarpetta.

Ariana DeBose as Lucy Farinelli-Watson

January 25 1991

Ariana DeBose giving Oscars acceptance speech

Active Since: 2009

Born in North Carolina in 1991, Ariana DeBose first became famous as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance. After impressing in various Broadway shows throughout the early 2010s, her breakout role came in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Hamilton. As a screen actor, DeBose is best known for 2021’s West Side Story, 2024’s House of Spoils, and the same year’s Kraven the Hunter.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Title

Release Year

Hamilton	2020
West Side Story	2021
House of Spoils	2024
Kraven the Hunter	2024

Lucy is Dorothy’s daughter, although she is much closer to her aunt, Kay. Savannah Lumar plays the young Lucy Farinelli-Watson, a computer genius who grows up to be a troubled programmer.

Bobby Cannavale as Pete Marino

May 3 1970

Ariana DeBose's Lucy hugging Bobby Cannavale's Pete while he cooks in Scarpetta

Active Since: 1996

Born in New Jersey, Bobby Cannavale rose to prominence with roles in The Bone Collector and Washington Heights. 2003’s The Station Agent increased his profile and led to roles in cult classics throughout the 2000s, such as Romance and Cigarettes, Snakes on a Plane, and The Other Guys.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Title

Release Year

The Bone Collector	1999
The Station Agent	2003
Snakes on a Plane	2006
The Other Guys	2009

Cannavale’s Scarpetta character is Pete Marino, an ostensibly retired detective who is quick to join Kidman’s forensic pathologist when she offers to enlist him as a deputy on her latest case. The actor’s real-life son, Jake Cannavale, plays the show’s younger version of Pete.

Simon Baker as Benton Wesley

July 30 1969

Simon Baker's Benton looking intense in his FBI gear standing in a tent in Scarpetta

Active Since: 1992

Born in Tasmania, Baker’s first acting role was in a commercial. Although he went on to have a walk-on role in Tales from the Crypt and a part in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, his big break didn’t come until 1997’s LA Confidential. Since then, Bake has appeared in The Ring Two, The Devil Wears Prada, and Margin Call.

However, Baker is likely best known for his role as Patrick Jane in the CBS Police procedural The Mentalist. In that long-running show, Baker played a supposed “Psychic” who acted as a consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation, using his highly honed observational skills to track down killers and criminals throughout the 152 episodes of the successful series.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Title

Release Year

LA Confidential	1997
The Ring Two	2005
The Devil Wears Prada	2006
The Mentalist	2008
Margin Call	2011

The Mentalist star plays Scarpetta’s husband, Benton Wesley, an FBI profiler with a dark past. Hunter Parrish plays the young version of Kay's love interest in Scarpetta's extensive flashbacks throughout season 1's twisty story.