Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s chemistry makes Anyone But You worth your attention — the 2023 rom-com actually pulls off something rarer: it gives viewers a stacked ensemble that turns a familiar premise into genuinely fun theater.

Lead Actress: Sydney Sweeney as Bea ·
Lead Actor: Glen Powell as Ben ·
Director: Will Gluck ·
Release Year: 2023 ·
Supporting Cast Includes: Alexandra Shipp, GaTa

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell anchor the film as Bea and Ben (Wikipedia)
  • Will Gluck directed and co-wrote with Ilana Wolpert (Wikipedia)
  • The movie is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact production budget not publicly confirmed
  • Whether follow-up projects with the same leads are actively in development
  • Full credits for all minor background roles remain sparse
3Timeline signal
  • Lead casting announced January 2023 (Wikipedia)
  • Supporting cast joined February–March 2023 (Wikipedia)
  • Theatrical release December 22, 2023 (ScreenRant)
4What’s next
  • The ensemble’s on-screen dynamic has sparked fan speculation about future collaborations (Wikipedia)
  • Sweeney reportedly took a supporting role in Madame Web to facilitate this film’s production (Wikipedia)
Role Actor
Bea Messina Sydney Sweeney
Ben Glen Powell
Claudia Alexandra Shipp
Pete GaTa
Jonathan Darren Barnet
Margaret Charlee Fraser
Halle Spence Hadley Robinson
Leo Dermot Mulroney
Carol Michelle Hurd
Roger Bryan Brown

Who is the Australian girl in Anyone But You?

The film sets its wedding in Sydney, Australia, which means several cast members either hail from Australia or play characters rooted in that setting.

Role and background

Alexandra Shipp plays Claudia, the bride who is Pete’s sister. Though Shipp is American, the character is positioned as part of an Australian family gathering. The casting deliberately taps into the Sydney setting to give the wedding locale authenticity.

The upshot

Alexandra Shipp’s role as Claudia connects her directly to the central wedding party, making her one of the most visible supporting players beyond the two leads.

The implication: casting choices tied to the Sydney setting create authentic family dynamics rather than simply assigning American actors to Australian roles.

Real-life connections

Hadley Robinson plays Halle Spence, Bea’s sister who is engaged to Claudia. Both Shipp and Robinson are American actresses playing Australian-diaspora characters in the film, while Australian actors like Bryan Brown and Charlee Fraser add local texture to the ensemble.

Main Cast of Anyone But You

The heart of Anyone But You rests squarely on two actors whose careers were on different trajectories before this film brought them together.

Sydney Sweeney as Bea

Sydney Sweeney stars as Beatrice “Bea” Messina, the sharp-tongued heroine who sparks an enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Ben. Bea is the character who drives the film’s central premise: faking a relationship at her sister’s wedding to make her ex jealous. Sweeney not only stars but also served as executive producer on the film, according to Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes).

Born September 12, 1997, Sweeney had already built an impressive television resume with roles in HBO’s Euphoria and The White Lotus before stepping into the rom-com lead role. Her casting brought mainstream credibility to the project at a time when her profile was rising rapidly.

Glen Powell as Ben

Glen Powell plays Ben, the male lead who agrees to Bea’s fake-dating scheme at the wedding. Powell, born in 1988, brings more than a decade of film experience, including notable roles in The Hidden Figures and Top Gun: Maverick. His comedic timing and easygoing charm complement Sweeney’s more sardonic energy.

Why this matters

The 9-year age gap between Sweeney and Powell reportedly became a talking point during promotion, yet both actors leaned into their on-screen dynamic rather than avoiding it — a choice that resonated with audiences looking for chemistry over aesthetics.

Supporting roles

Darren Barnet plays Jonathan, Bea’s ex-fiancé who is invited to the wedding by her parents. Charlee Fraser portrays Margaret, Ben’s ex-lover whose attention he seeks throughout the film. GaTa appears as Pete, Ben’s best friend and Claudia’s brother, serving as a comedic sidekick and wedding organizer. Dermot Mulroney plays Leo, a supporting role in the wedding party that capitalizes on his long history in romantic comedies. Rachel Griffiths appears as Innie, another supporting character who rounds out the family dynamics.

The following table captures the same cast with role descriptions.

Character Actor Role in Story
Bea Messina Sydney Sweeney Female lead, initiates fake relationship
Ben Glen Powell Male lead, agrees to fake relationship
Claudia Alexandra Shipp Bride, Pete’s sister
Halle Spence Hadley Robinson Bea’s sister, engaged to Claudia
Pete GaTa Ben’s best friend, Claudia’s brother
Jonathan Darren Barnet Bea’s ex-fiancé
Margaret Charlee Fraser Ben’s ex-lover
Leo Dermot Mulroney Wedding party member
Carol Michelle Hurd Bea’s mother
Roger Bryan Brown Supporting family member

Upsides

  • Strong lead chemistry between Sweeney and Powell carries the film
  • Ensemble cast brings variety — from TV stars to rom-com veterans
  • Authentic Australian setting with local actors like Bryan Brown
  • GaTa adds fresh comedic energy as Pete
  • Sweeney’s executive producer credit signals creative investment

Downsides

  • Supporting cast roles can feel underdeveloped
  • Some minor characters have minimal screen time
  • Character motivations for ex-partners (Jonathan, Margaret) remain thin
  • Metascore of 52 suggests mixed critical reception despite audience appeal

Is Anyone But You worth watching?

For viewers deciding whether to stream or skip, the cast provides a useful shorthand for what to expect.

Cast performances

Sweeney and Powell deliver the film’s most memorable moments. Their banter feels natural, and the blooper reel — shared across social media — suggested genuine off-camera chemistry that translated to the screen. Dermot Mulroney, a veteran of rom-coms like My Best Friend’s Wedding, brings gravitas to even a small role, with promotional material billing him as a “rom-com icon” (YouTube Trailer).

Audience reception

Audiences responded positively to the ensemble. The film’s Metascore sits at 52 on TV Guide (TV Guide), indicating mixed critical opinion, but audience scores tell a different story. The combination of Sweeney’s rising star power and Powell’s established comedic chops gave the film a built-in audience that transcended reviews.

“Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are so funny in their Anyone But You interviews — the chemistry wasn’t just acting.”

— YouTube viewer comment on bloopers reel (YouTube)

“ROM COM ICON DERMOT MULRONEY”

— YouTube Trailer voiceover (YouTube)

Where was Anyone But You filmed?

The wedding at the center of Anyone But You is set in Sydney, Australia — and the production actually filmed there.

Key locations

According to ScreenRant, the film takes full advantage of Sydney’s visual palette, setting the wedding in locations that feel distinctly Australian (ScreenRant). The choice to film in Sydney rather than simulate Australia elsewhere anchors the ensemble’s family dynamics in a real setting, which gives the wedding scenes an authenticity that audiences noticed.

Cast on set

Australian actors Bryan Brown and Charlee Fraser brought local credibility to the production. Brown plays Roger, a supporting family role, while Fraser portrays Margaret. Their presence on set — and the decision to cast actual Australians in key family positions — reportedly helped other actors calibrate their performances for the Australian family setting.

Fun Facts and Trivia about the Cast

Beyond the credits, several production details reveal how the cast came together and what happened behind the scenes.

Production insights

  • Casting announcements began in February 2023 with Sweeney and Powell as leads (Wikipedia)
  • Additional cast including Alexandra Shipp, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown, Darren Barnet, and Hadley Robinson joined in February 2023 (Wikipedia)
  • Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, and GaTa were announced in March 2023 (Wikipedia)
  • The film received an R rating for language and some sexual references, per TV Guide (TV Guide)

Cast relationships

The film’s connection to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is deliberate — Will Gluck and co-writer Ilana Wolpert adapted the play’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic for a modern setting. The plot involves Bea and Ben’s first date going sour, leading them to fake a relationship at the wedding, according to Collider (Collider).

The paradox

Sweeney reportedly took a supporting role in Madame Web — a film that underperformed — to help facilitate Anyone But You moving forward, with reports emerging in December 2023 (Wikipedia). The trade-off worked: Anyone But You gave Sweeney a starring vehicle that her Madame Web role couldn’t.

The pattern across the cast reveals a deliberate mix: television stars like Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus) paired with film veterans like Mulroney and Powell. This balance gave the production name recognition for marketing while grounding it in performers who understood the rom-com genre’s rhythms.

Related reading: Man on the Inside Cast – Ted Danson Leads Netflix Comedy · The Outsiders (Film) – Plot, Cast, Book vs Movie

Additional sources

tvtropes.org

The film’s ensemble shines with Sydney Sweeney as Bea and Glen Powell as Ben, bolstered by supporting cast details revealing GaTa as Pete and Alexandra Shipp’s Claudia.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Anyone But You rated R?

The film received an R rating from the MPAA for language and some sexual references. Parents should note the rating before allowing younger viewers to watch.

Is Anyone But You a hit or flop?

The film performed well with audiences despite mixed critical reviews (Metascore of 52). The Sweeney-Powell chemistry generated strong word-of-mouth, particularly on social media where bloopers and interview clips went viral.

What is a fun fact about Anyone But You?

The film is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Director Will Gluck and co-writer Ilana Wolpert adapted the play’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic for a modern Australian wedding setting.

Who plays the dad in Anyone But You?

Bryan Brown plays Roger, a supporting family role in the wedding party. He is one of several Australian actors who add authenticity to the film’s Sydney setting.

Where to watch Anyone But You?

Anyone But You was released theatrically on December 22, 2023. Check streaming platforms for current availability, as distribution agreements change over time.

What are parent reviews for Anyone But You?

Due to the R rating, parent reviews tend to focus on the film’s language and mature themes rather than the romantic storyline, which is appropriate for older teens and adults.

Who is Leo in Anyone But You cast?

Dermot Mulroney plays Leo, a supporting character in the wedding party. Mulroney is a rom-com veteran, having starred in films like My Best Friend’s Wedding, which informed his approach to the role.

Who plays Bea in Anyone But You?

Sydney Sweeney plays Beatrice “Bea” Messina. Born September 12, 1997, Sweeney also served as executive producer on the film, making her a creative stakeholder beyond just her performance.

For viewers who enjoy romantic comedies with sharp writing and strong ensemble casts, Anyone But You delivers. Sweeney and Powell make a compelling pair, and the supporting cast — particularly GaTa and the Australian actors anchoring the wedding family — add dimensions that elevate the film beyond its familiar premise.