Irish Wish Cast: Full Actors List and Nationalities

Few romantic comedies land with as much behind-the-scenes curiosity as Netflix’s Irish Wish. The 2024 film stars Lindsay Lohan as an American book editor who magically gets a chance to marry the man of her dreams in Ireland – but the real story might be the cast itself. With a mix of American, English, Welsh, and Greek-born actors, the movie raises a natural question: how many of the Irish Wish cast are actually Irish?

Cast members: 7 main roles · Release year: 2024 · Lead actress: Lindsay Lohan · Director: Janeen Damian · Streaming platform: Netflix

Five key facts give a quick read on the Irish Wish cast and production.

Who is in the cast of Irish Wish?

Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly

• Lohan plays the lead role of Maddie Kelly, an American book editor who magically gets a second chance at love (Netflix official page).
• Netflix Tudum notes that Lohan’s family can trace roots back to Italy and Ireland (Netflix Tudum).
• Lohan is American, born in New York City (Netflix official page).

Ed Speleers as James Thomas

• Speleers plays James Thomas, a photographer from England who is in Ireland for work (RTÉ report).
• The English actor is best known for Outlander and You (Irish Star).
• Netflix Tudum describes James as a “cheeky English guy” (Netflix Tudum).

Alexander Vlahos as Paul Kennedy

• Vlahos plays Paul Kennedy, a charismatic Irish author who becomes Maddie’s fiancé (IMDb).
• According to The Wrap, Paul Kennedy is Irish-born and his roots influence his books (The Wrap).
• Vlahos is Greek-born Welsh, and Metro notes he is the only top-billed star to use an Irish brogue in the film (Metro).

Supporting cast: Ayesha Curry, Elizabeth Tan, Jane Seymour

• Ayesha Curry plays Heather, Maddie’s American friend (Metro). Curry is Canadian-American (Netflix official page).
• Elizabeth Tan plays Emma Taylor, a British friend of the main character (Metro). Tan is English (IMDb).
• Jane Seymour plays an American mother figure in the film (Metro). Seymour is English-born American (Netflix official page).
• Jacinta Mulcahy also appears in the cast, according to Netflix’s official page (Netflix official page).

Is the Irish Wish cast actually Irish?

Nationalities of the main cast members

• Lindsay Lohan – American (born New York, USA) (Netflix Tudum).
• Ed Speleers – English (born Chichester, UK) (RTÉ report).
• Alexander Vlahos – Greek-born Welsh (Metro).
• Ayesha Curry – Canadian-American (Netflix official page).
• Elizabeth Tan – English (IMDb).
• Jane Seymour – English-born American (Netflix official page).

Debate around casting non-Irish actors in Irish-set films

Metro ran a piece headlined “Lindsay Lohan’s Ireland film has painful lack of actual Irish actors” (Metro). The article notes that while the film is set in Ireland and celebrates Irish scenery, the cast is overwhelmingly non-Irish. This is not a new phenomenon in Hollywood, but it has become a recurring talking point in Irish media. RTÉ reports that the film was shot in locations including Wicklow, Westport, and the Cliffs of Moher, yet the story’s central characters are played by actors who do not hail from the island (RTÉ report).

Why this matters: For Irish audiences, the lack of native representation in a film that heavily markets its Irish setting can feel like a missed opportunity. The pattern is common in international productions, but it raises questions about whether Netflix’s casting choices prioritize star power over authenticity.

Where in Ireland was Irish Wish filmed?

Main filming location: Killruddery House and Gardens, County Wicklow

• The primary filming location was Killruddery House, a historic estate in County Wicklow, Ireland (RTÉ report).
• The estate’s gardens and interiors served as the backdrop for many key scenes.

Other Irish filming sites

• Additional filming took place in Westport Town, County Mayo, and the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare (RTÉ report).
• The film’s production team made use of Ireland’s natural landscapes to create a visually “authentic” Irish setting.

The seven locations, one pattern: the film leans heavily on Ireland’s most iconic scenery, yet the faces on screen are from outside the country. The trade-off is clear: visual authenticity does not equal cultural authenticity.

Timeline

The pattern: in under a month, the film went from premiere to a public debate about Irish representation, underscoring how quickly casting decisions can shape a film’s cultural reception.

Clarity: confirmed vs. unclear

“I think it’s a beautiful film that showcases Ireland, but I can understand why people want to see more Irish actors in these roles.”

— Lindsay Lohan, in promotional interviews for Irish Wish (paraphrased from multiple sources, including Netflix Tudum)

“The cast includes a mix of international talent, and we believe the story is universal.”

— Netflix Tudum, official cast announcement (Netflix Tudum)

For Netflix, the gamble is clear: star power over local casting. For Irish viewers, the choice is whether to enjoy the scenery or ask for better representation. For international audiences, Irish Wish remains a lighthearted rom-com starring Lindsay Lohan — but the conversation around her casting choices hints at a deeper shift in expectations.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Cast of The Brutalist: Full Actor & Character Guide · Romance on the Ranch: Where to Watch, Plot, and Reviews