Megan Leavey Cast & Character Guide

Summary

• “Megan Leavey” boasts a strong female-driven narrative with Kate Mara shining in the eponymous role.
• The cast includes talented women behind the scenes, such as screenwriters Pamela Gray and Annie Mumolo.
• The film received decent critical reception, scoring 86% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82% audience approval.

The cast of the drama Megan Leavey is tasked with the difficult feat of adapting a true story and making sure their characters are faithful to the real people. The 2017 war epic tells the story of the titular Megan Leavey, a young Marine corporal who works alongside her combat dog to save numerous lives during deployment in Iraq. Megan Leavey received decent critical reception upon its release, scoring an 86% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82% audience approval rating.

Though the cast is primarily populated by men, as that is realistic to the real-life scenario, Megan Leavey is ultimately a female-driven story. Kate Mara shines in the lead role, accompanied by an adorable K-9 German Shepherd dog. The creative team behind Megan Leavey also included a number of talented women, including screenwriters Pamela Gray and Annie Mumolo, as well as director Gabriela Cowperthwaite.

Kate Mara As Meagan Leavey

Actor: Kate Mara was born in Bedford, NY on February 27, 1983, and got her acting start in 1997, when she appeared in a single episode of the hit procedural series Law & Order. Kate Mara is half of the famed Mara sister duo, which also includes her famous sister Rooney Mara. Mara’s other notable roles include playing Sue Storm in Fantastic Four and Sarah Fenn in Shooter. Her next work includes parts in upcoming films called The Dutchman, The Astronaut, and The Little Bedroom.

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Megan Leavey
is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Character: Mara leads the cast in the eponymous role of Megan Leavey. Leavey served in the Iraq war from 2003–2007, later earning a Purple Heart for her brave work with her dog Rex. The majority of Megan Leavey is set in 2005, when Leavey was only 22 years old. After serving with Rex, Leavey went on to be an explosive detection canine handler. She now works as a veterinary technician in New Jersey.

Edie Falco As Jackie

Actor: Edie Falco was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 5, 1963, and began acting in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Now 60 years old, Falco has been a beloved actress for decades. Her most notable role is as Carmela Soprano in the Italian mob TV series The Sopranos. She won three Emmys for this role, in 1999, 2001, and 2003. Falco is also well-known for her work playing the titular character in the hospital drama Nurse Jackie, for which she also received an Emmy in 2010.

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Character: Edie Falco steps in to take on the role of Megan’s overprotective mother, Jackie. Jackie lives in upstate New York with Jim, and is the ex-wife of Bob Leavey. It is Jackie’s overbearing and difficult nature that is part of what propels Megan, who is a lost teenager at the start of the movie, to leave her home town in order to enlist in the military.

Bradley Whitford As Bob Leavey

Actor: Bradley Whitford was born in Madison, WI on October 10, 1959. After receiving a BA in English and Theater from Wesleyan University, Whitford went on to study at the esteemed performing arts school, Juilliard. He had a prolific career in TV and film, most notably playing Josh Lyman in the series The West Wing. Whitford won an Emmy for his work in The West Wing, and also went on to win Emmys for his guest roles in Transparent and The Handmaid’s Tale. Whitford is also known for playing one of the antagonists in Jordan Peele’s breakout hit Get Out.

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Character: Whitford’s Bob Leavey is an elusive figure in the beginning of Megan Leavey. The protagonist’s biological father, Bob, has been estranged from Megan for a number of years. It is not until later on in the film when Bob plays a larger role. After a fiery argument between Megan and Jackie, Megan moves in with Bob, who helps encourage the protagonist to track down her dog, Rex.

Ramón Rodríguez As Cpl. Matt Morales

Actor: Ramón Rodríguez was born on December 20, 1979 in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. He got his start in acting in 2005 when he played the role of Kevin Vasquez in two episodes of the series Rescue Me. From there, he played a series of roles on television, including in The Wire and Day Break. He got his biggest Hollywood break playing Leo Spitz in the 2009 action movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Now, Rodríguez is best known for his starring role in the series Will Trent.

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Character: Rodríguez plays Corporal Matt Morales, who, like the protagonist, is a dog handler in Megan Leavey. Matt is the primary love interest of Megan in the film, as the two begin a romantic relationship as dog handlers together. Megan later breaks up with Matt after learning that he will re-enlist in the military, while Megan is experiencing PTSD from her time in the war.

Common As Gunny Sergeant Martin

Actor: Born in Chicago, IL on March 13, 1972, Common is an American rapper and actor. He has won three Grammys, an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe. He released his first music album, Can I Borrow A Dollar in 1992. On the acting side of things, Common is known for his roles in John Wick: Chapter 2, Wanted, and Suicide Squad.

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Character: Common’s character, Gunny Martin, plays a key role for Megan in the film. Gunny Martin is the head of the K-9 unit who allows Megan to become a dog trainer. When Rex is injured later in the film, it is Sergeant Martin who supports Megan’s decision to adopt the dog for the remainder of her time in the marines, as he has seen how much the two have grown together. Martin’s endorsement is not successful, as Rex ends up being trained by another person because he can still detect bombs.

Tom Felton As Sergeant Andrew Dean

Actor: Tom Felton was born in Surrey, England on September 22, 1987. Felton had his big break playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, beginning with 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. After Harry Potter, Felton has had roles in films such as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Burial, and Save the Cinema.

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Character: Felton plays another military character in Megan Leavey, stepping into the role of Sergeant Andrew Dean. Sergeant Dean helps train Megan to become a dog trainer. This proves a critical role, as Megan ends up saving a number of people while working with Rex.

Megan Leavey As Female Drill Instructor #3

Actor: Megan Leavey was born on October 28, 1983 in Valley Cottage, New York. She enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2003, when she was only 19 years old. After serving in the military, Megan eventually adopted Rex, who lived with her until dying of old age in 2012.

Character: Though Mara played Leavey in the film, the filmmakers figured out a way to work in a cameo from Leavey herself in Megan Leavey. Leavey is credited as Female Drill Instructor #3, who appears in the background of a larger training scene. Even though it is a small role, Leavey’s inclusion in the film was a nice way to incorporate the heroic veteran into the cinematic retelling of her own life.