House of Guinness Cast Guide: Are Siblings, Family Members Based on True Story?

About the Character

The eldest brother of the Guinness family, Arthur is Eton-educated and has spent most of his 20s in London. As a result, he speaks with an English-spiked, upper-class accent. He is a lover of the finer things in life — something of an aesthete with aristocratic pretentions. He is inspired by the real-life Arthur Guinness, son of Sir Benjamin Guinness. 

Arthur quickly “jumped off the page” for Boyle. “I immediately had a real sense of who he was. I could see him very clearly in front of me,” the actor says. “And I thought, ‘Oh, I want to step into this guy’s shoes.’ ”

Socially, Arthur is much more confident than his youngest brother, Edward. He loves his bustling life in London and is horrified by the terms of his father’s will, which shackle him to the brewery and a life in Dublin. This feeling may explain his reaction to his father’s death. 

“We find Arthur not feeling all that emotional on the day of his father’s funeral,” Boyle says. “His siblings are crying and really emotional. But he’s masking his anxiety, his anger, and his emotions. It’s what he always does. He’s a complicated guy.”

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About the Character

Although Edward is the youngest Guinness sibling, he is in many ways the most ambitious of the lot. He spent his teen years learning the ropes of the family business and now feels a great connection to it. Unlike his older brother Arthur, Edward is at home in the world of the Guinness brewery. He is inspired by Edward Guinness, the third son of Sir Benjamin. 

Partridge loves his character’s “logical” brain. “Edward, he is very principled,” he says. “I like that he really knows what he thinks. He’s assertive and he can be strong when he needs to be.”

Edward has big ideas for the brewery and is convinced he should be the one to take the factory forward. However, as the youngest sibling, he has always been the underappreciated baby brother. He is sure of himself as a businessman and his ambitions for the factory. But he is not as naturally confident or able to navigate upper-class circles like his older brother Arthur. 

In House of Guinness, we explore Edward’s attempts to step up and take control of his siblings and the various crises thrown at the family.

About the Character

Despite her last name, Anne was born a Guinness. Now a wedded woman, Anne is physically frail but morally the strongest sibling. The eldest of the brood — and the only woman — Anne was married off to a minor aristocrat 11 years her senior. She is inspired by Anne Guinness, the only daughter of Sir Benjamin. 

Fairn did three rounds of auditions to nab the role of Anne. Her third was with House of Guinness director Tom Shankland. They spent an hour working on the character. “[That’s] very rare. Usually, you’re in and out in 15 minutes,” Fairn says. “But I just wanted to work on it with him, go deeper and deeper [on the character].” 

After all, there are many layers to Anne. She is unhappy in her marriage and frustrated by her lack of purpose among the Guinnesses, and the wider world. She is determined to embark on a crusade. Eventually, Anne finds her mission and a way to use the Guinness wealth to make a social difference. Still, she is much more than a do-gooder: Anne has a passionate, wilder side. 

“She’s the only girl [in the family], which is tricky because in the 1800s, women had very little power,” Fairn says. “She begins to grow despite her circumstances. There is so much she is battling against, and she’s trying her best to be strong and powerful despite all of this.” 

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About the Character

Ben is the neglected middle brother. His father and siblings wrote Ben off early due to his lack of interest in the family business. Now, he has a gambling addiction and substance abuse problem. Despite his status as the black sheep of the family, Ben has a sweet, romantic soul and seems to attract women who think they can save him. Ben is inspired by Benjamin Guinness, Sir Arthur’s second son. 

O’Shea was excited about House of Guinness before even reading a script. “Growing up in Dublin and being aware of the family and the history, along with being a fan of Steven Knight, Tom Shankland, Mounia Akl, I just really wanted to be part of it.”

The series explores Ben’s struggles with addictions, his romantic entanglements, and his search for a purpose. “When we first meet Ben, he’s battling a lot of demons,” O’Shea says. “He has never really been given a chance to be someone within the family. He feels like a ghost in his own home — ignored, overlooked.” 

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About the Character

Meet the foreman of the Guinness factory. Charismatic, womanising, and sometimes brutal, Sean Rafferty will use any means necessary to protect the Guinness family and their reputations. Rafferty is supremely confident in his powers of persuasion, perception, and sexual charisma. He’s a lapsed Catholic who knows he sometimes does the devil’s work.   

“Sean Rafferty is a character I’ve never played before. He’s a complete delight,” Norton says. “He runs the show. He’s the fixer, the caretaker, the man who keeps everything on the road — the heart and soul of the brewery. Sean keeps order, but if he needs to dip into disorder to make things run, he will.” 

Before the death of Sir Benjamin, Rafferty was the mentor of young Edward. Now, tension builds between Rafferty and the Guinness siblings as the new generation assumes control of the brewery. “The children are stepping up. So Rafferty finds himself in a bit of a power vacuum,” Norton explains. “On paper, he works for them. But there’s intimacy and history there, and that creates a mess.”

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About the Character

Ellen is one half of the fiery Cochrane sibling duo. Ellen is younger, but smarter than her brother Patrick (Seamus O’Hara). A passionate Irish Republican, Ellen has good reason to hate the English and Protestant cause. But she is much more strategic than her brother. 

McCormack was instantly charmed by “cool girl” Ellen. “As soon as I read Ellen’s scenes, I had such a visceral reaction to her. I really felt like it was my job to bring her to life,” she says. “She’s strong, fierce, passionate — and, as a woman in 1800s Ireland, she didn’t have much of anything, especially in terms of political power or respect. But she does a lot with what she has, and her influence makes a big impact.” 

Ellen is fearless and — even when threatened — can mock and play games with the men who try to control her in this patriarchal society. While serious and ahead of her time, Ellen’s vulnerability comes through in small, rare emotional moments. 

“House of Guinness takes place just 20 years after the famine. There was a generational silence and trauma,” McCormack says. “She would’ve seen a lot growing up, and I think that’s why she’s so passionate about Irish independence … She lives her life through those principles.” 

About the Character

Olivia is a witty, charming, and outspoken young woman from an impoverished aristocratic family. Olivia may not have money, but she has a title. “It’s Olivia’s world, and we all just live in it! Let’s get that one straight,” Galligan says. 

She is sophisticated and a snob. Olivia is sure her future husband’s money will give her the lifestyle she feels entitled to. Olivia is inspired by the real-life aristocrat of the time with the same name. 

“Lady Olivia … she’s a dream role. She’s so multifaceted and goes on such a journey throughout the story,” Galligan says. “She’s vivacious, ambitious, hedonistic, very forward in her thinking — and in her conduct. She’s obviously a woman in a man’s world, but she tries to use the constraints of her station to her advantage. She bends the rules to make the most out of a bad lot.” 

About the Character

Byron is an ambitious, charming, and mercurial individual, who finds himself working with Edward. His outsider status makes him bold, a risk-taker, and determined to make his mark. Byron is loyal only to himself — and prepared to play all sides.

Born to a wealthy mother and Catholic rebel father, Byron is “someone with a foot in both camps. He uses that to make himself valuable,” says Gleeson. “When the audition came in, I read the scene, and Byron just felt like a really lively character. You could tell he was a really well-rounded guy.” 

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About the Character

Aunt Agnes is a sharp-witted and curious matriarch. A marriage fixer and a shrewd behind-the-scenes operator, she is inspired by the Guinness siblings’ real aunt of the same name. 

“Arthur Guinness [and his family] existed, of course — but I imagine you’re required to enhance and dramatise the story,” Kirwan says. “So while it’s grounded in truth, your imagination has to lift it somewhere else. That’s the beauty of it.” 

In the wake of Sir Benjamin’s death, Agnes must help her family continue on. “As a Victorian woman, her raison d’être is to protect the family’s reputation. Which, given the children she’s essentially inherited, is a very difficult job,” Kirwan says. 

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About the Character

Adelaide is a smart and assertive young woman who speaks her mind with intimidating precision. A Guinness cousin, she has little patience for the shallow mating rituals of her class and even less interest in most of the unengaging men in her world. Adelaide is inspired by the real-life aristocrat of the era with the same name. 

Adelaide’s progressive sensibilities are undeniable — and can even be seen in her costuming. As costumer designer Edward K. Gibbon says, “Although Olivia is also quite modern, she plays by the rules a bit more and accepts the terrible lot of being a woman with no power. Adelaide refuses to do that — she’s determined to be the one with power.” 

About the Character

The other Cochrane sibling, Patrick, is quick to anger. He is passionately committed to the Irish Republican cause, and has the charisma to fire up crowds and lead them into fights.

“Patrick is the leader of the Fenians — a revolutionary nationalist group operating in Ireland, as well as America and Britain. They were essentially a global group whose main aim was to attain Irish freedom from Britain,” O’Hara says. “Patrick is interested in disrupting the status quo. He wants to bring down the Guinness family and the ascendancy.” 

Despite his hot headed habits, Patrick is devoted to his sister. With Ellen, we see his lighter and more vulnerable side. McCormack calls O’Hara “the big brother I never had.” “We really made sure we were on the same page about where our characters came from and how their family shaped them,” she continues. 

And, fun fact: Patrick “only drinks stolen Guinness,” says O’Hara. “The Fenians loved Guinness. But, like with a lot of nationalism — especially Irish nationalism — people could be pragmatic,” This character details reveals that, for Patrick, “the rules can’t always be black and white. There are grey areas where you can express yourself.” 

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About the Character

Potter is a fiercely loyal, sophisticated, and committed servant to the Guinness family. He is disciplined, traditional, and has little patience for the younger generation (although the Guinness children hold a soft spot in his heart).

Despite his position as a servant, Potter’s long service and presence have seen him form his own relationships with the Guinness siblings. He has a particular friendship with Arthur, perhaps because Arthur’s English upper-class attitudes and tastes align with Potter’s views of the world. 

“Potter is very old school,” McElhatton says. “He served their father, raised the children. He’s everywhere and knows where the bodies are buried.”

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About the Character

Christine is the daughter of an aristocratic Irish family. She has her sights set on one Guinness brother — but will she actually get him?  

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About the Character

Lady Henrietta also has interest in a Guinness brother. Will her sweet demeanor prove successful in the cut throat game of love?  

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About the Character

Henry is a devout and dedicated preacher with a missionary’s zeal. He is determined to claim as much of Sir Benjamin’s inheritance as he can for his charitable works. When he doesn’t get what he wants, Henry threatens retribution. 

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About the Character

Bonnie is a smart and cold-blooded racketeer who runs the distribution of Guinness barrels from the docks of Dublin. He also has interests in the city’s underground world — sex work, gambling, and drugs. Bonnie is quietly ruthless and a collector of secrets, and he will happily sell them to whoever pays the right price …

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About the Character

Sultan is a mysterious woman from the Irish countryside. A meeting with her will change the life — and outlook — of one Guinness sibling forever. 

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