Sally Hawkins as Rita O'Grady

Bob Hoskins as Albert Passingham

Miranda Richardson as Barbara Castle

Geraldine James as Connie

Rosamund Pike as Lisa Hopkins

Andrea Riseborough as Brenda

Daniel Mays as Eddie O'Grady

Jaime Winstone as Sandra

Kenneth Cranham as Monty Taylor

Rupert Graves as Peter Hopkins

John Sessions as Harold Wilson

Roger Lloyd Pack as George

Richard Schiff as Robert Tooley

Lorraine Stanley as Monica

Nicola Duffett as Eileen

Matthew Aubrey as Brian

Phil Cornwell as Dave

Karen Seacombe as Marge

Thomas Arnold as Martin

Sian Scott as Sharon O'Grady

Robbie Kay as Graham O'Grady

Andrew Lincoln as Mr. Clarke

Joseph Mawle as Gordon

Gina Bramhill as Hopkins' Secretary

Marcus Hutton as Grant

Joseph Kloska as Undersecretary 1

Miles Jupp as Undersecretary 2

Frank Baker as Frank

Philip Perry as Arthur Horovitz

Peter-Hugo Daly as Bartholomew

Simon Armstrong as Rogers

Matilda Cole as Emily

Romy Taylor as Rosie

Angus Barnett as Passing Van Driver

Birgitta Bernhard as Choir Mistress

Laurie Cannon as Reporter 1

William Ivory as Reporter 2

Nico Tatarowicz as Reporter 3

Denis Gilmore as Man on Bike

Danny Huston as American Boss (voice)

Mitchell Mullen as Kronnfeld

Matt King as Trevor Innes

Noah Taylor as Lisa Hopkins' Son

Victoria Watkins as Union Secretary

Craig Randall as Vicar