Who Stars in Black Mirror Season 7 Episode 2 ‘Bête Noire’? Full Cast & Character Guide

The second episode of Black Mirror Season 7, titled Bête Noire, is a psychological thriller that delves into revenge, guilt, and manipulation themes.

Directed by Toby Haynes, this episode follows Maria, a successful food researcher played by Siena Kelly, whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of her former classmate Verity, portrayed by Rosy McEwen. As Verity embeds herself in Maria’s life, the lines between reality and paranoia blur, culminating in a shocking climax that challenges the fabric of truth and power.

With its blend of dark humor and sci-fi elements, Bête Noire explores themes of gaslighting, accountability, and the fragility of reality in a world where perceptions can be manipulated at will.

Below is a comprehensive guide to the cast and their characters in this chilling installment.

Who Stars in Bête Noire? Meet the Main Cast of the Thriller Series

Siena Kelly as Maria

Maria is the protagonist—or perhaps antagonist—of Bête Noire. She is a high-flying development executive at a chocolate company. Her latest creation, a miso jam-filled chocolate bar, sets the stage for the story.

Maria’s life turns dark when Verity, a woman from her past, reappears during a focus group tasting session. Siena Kelly delivers a layered performance that captures Maria’s descent into paranoia and obsession.

Rosy McEwen as Verity

Verity is Maria’s former school acquaintance who unexpectedly shows up at her workplace. Her presence unsettles Maria, as Verity begins to sabotage her professionally and emotionally. Rosy McEwen portrays Verity with an eerie charm, making her both enigmatic and terrifying.

Ben Bailey Smith (“Doc Brown”) as Gabe

Gabe is one of Maria’s colleagues at the chocolate company. He supports the office dynamic but becomes entangled in Maria’s unraveling psyche. Ben Bailey Smith adds depth to Gabe’s character, balancing humor with subtle tension.

Amber Grappy as Yudy

Yudy is another member of Maria’s team who contributes to the office drama. Amber Grappy’s performance adds nuance to the workplace dynamics, showcasing how minor conflicts can escalate under pressure.

Ravi Aujla as Mr. Ditta

Mr. Ditta is Maria’s boss and manager of the team. Ravi Aujla plays this role with authority, yet his interactions with Maria hint at the underlying tension that fuels the episode’s conflict.

Elena Sanz as Camille

Camille is one of Maria’s coworkers involved in the unfolding drama. Elena Sanz portrays Camille with subtlety, adding complexity to the office relationships.

Hanna Griffiths as Luisa

Luisa rounds out Maria’s team at the chocolate company. Hanna Griffiths’ portrayal highlights how workplace dynamics can shift when personal vendettas come into play.

Who Are the Supporting Characters in Bête Noire?

While Bête Noire primarily focuses on Maria and Verity, several supporting characters play pivotal roles in shaping the narrative:

The Chef: Responsible for creating recipes alongside Maria, this character adds levity to the office scenes while subtly contributing to the tension.

The Almond Milk Thief: A minor subplot involving stolen almond milk is a metaphor for mistrust and suspicion within the workplace.

Focus Group Participants: These individuals provide insight into how Verity manipulates situations to unsettle Maria further.

Behind-the-Scenes Talent

Director: Toby Haynes

Toby Haynes is no stranger to Black Mirror, having directed standout episodes like USS Callister and Demon ’79. His expertise in crafting tense narratives shines through in Bête Noire, making it one of Season 7’s most memorable episodes.

Writer: Charlie Brooker

Charlie Brooker returns to his roots with this near-tech story that explores revenge, accountability, and psychological manipulation themes. His sharp writing ensures every character feels integral to the plot.

What Is “Bête Noire” About?

Imagine a life that seems perfect on the surface but is about to unravel most unexpectedly. In Black Mirror Season 7’s episode Bête Noire, Maria, a successful food researcher, finds her world turned upside down when her former classmate Verity suddenly appears at a focus group for her new miso-flavored chocolate bar.

What starts as an awkward reunion quickly escalates into a psychological cat-and-mouse game. As Verity begins to sabotage Maria’s professional and personal life, old wounds resurface, forcing Maria to confront her past and question her sanity.

This gripping tale of revenge and manipulation explores themes of guilt, accountability, and the blurred lines between reality and paranoia. With its dark humor and sci-fi twist, Bête Noire keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering what’s real and what’s just a product of Maria’s increasingly fragile mind.

As tensions build, the episode hurtles towards a shocking climax that challenges everything Maria thought she knew about her life and her place in the world. Will she find a way to reclaim control, or will Verity’s sinister plans tear everything apart? Dive into this psychological thriller to find out.

Why “Bête Noire” Is a Must-Watch for Black Mirror Fans?

If you’re hooked on Black Mirror’s blend of psychological thrills and thought-provoking themes, Bête Noire is an episode you won’t want to miss. Siena Kelly and Rosy McEwen deliver electrifying performances to keep you on the edge as their characters navigate a complex web of revenge and manipulation.

Toby Haynes’ masterful direction crafts a tense atmosphere that simmers with suspense, making every scene feel like a ticking time bomb. But what truly sets Bête Noire apart is its exploration of accountability and the consequences of past actions.

This episode challenges viewers to confront their guilt and consider how easily reality can be distorted.

With its gripping storyline and standout performances, Bête Noire is not just another Black Mirror episode—it reflects our vulnerabilities in a world where truth can be twisted at will. Dive into this psychological thriller to experience the dark side of human nature and the power of technology to reshape reality.

Conclusion

Black Mirror Season 7 Episode 2, Bête Noire, is a masterclass in psychological storytelling. With its talented cast and gripping narrative, it captures everything fans love about Charlie Brooker’s anthology series while offering fresh perspectives on human behavior. Whether you’re drawn to its intense performances or its exploration of guilt and revenge, this episode is not one to miss.

About Black Mirror

Black Mirror is a British anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker. Individual episodes explore a diversity of genres, but most are set in near-future dystopias with sci-fi technology—a type of speculative fiction. The series is based on The Twilight Zone and uses technology to comment on contemporary social issues.

The first two seasons of the series aired on the British network Channel 4 in 2011 and 2013. The programme then moved to Netflix in 2016 and its sixth season is scheduled to be released in June 2023.

The series has received critical acclaim and is considered by many reviewers to be one of the best television series of the 2010s. The programme won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie three times consecutively for “San Junipero”, “USS Callister” and Bandersnatch. However, some critics consider the morality of the series obvious or cite declining quality over time. Black Mirror, along with American Horror Story, has been credited with repopularising the anthology television format, and a number of episodes have been seen by reviewers as prescient.