The Lovely Bones is a poignant supernatural thriller that stars Saoirse Ronan as a murdered teenager who witnesses the tragic fallout of her death. Her character Susie Salmon watches her family suffer through their profound grief while the man responsible for the vile act remains on the loose, causing Susie to ponder revenge, healing, and the true nature of forgiveness.
With an A-list ensemble cast featuring Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, and Stanley Tucci, the Peter Jackson film is based on the Alice Sebold novel of the same name and earned widespread praise for its compelling performances and breathtaking visual effects. Tucci’s chilling portrayal of the frightening serial killer George Harvey earned him an Oscar nod, and Ronan was lauded for her devastatingly engaging role. Let’s take a look at what the cast of The Lovely Bones is up to today.
Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon
After starring as the tragically murdered teenager Susie in The Lovely Bones, Saoirse Ronan has gone on to craft quite an illustrious acting resume in the 14 years since the film’s release. The talented actress has tried her hand at various genres and roles (with great success) including an assassin in the action thriller Hanna and a struggling Irish immigrant in the romantic period drama Brooklyn.
Ronan earned a Golden Globe Award for her commanding performance in the coming-of-age dramedy Lady Bird, and she also garnered acclaim as the titular ruler in Mary, Queen of Scots, and as Jo March in Little Women. Ronan has many upcoming projects currently in the works like the sci-fi thriller Foe and World War II historical drama Blitz, and most recently appeared alongside Sam Rockwell in the 2022 comedy mystery See How They Run.
Mark Wahlberg as Jack Salmon
Mark Wahlberg has been a constant presence in Hollywood since making his film debut in 1994’s Renaissance Man (reinventing himself after his short-lived music career), and the actor and businessman hasn’t slowed down a bit. He received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the sports biopic The Fighter and embraced his funny bone in comedies like The Other Guys, Ted, and Daddy’s Home. Wahlberg is also not afraid to get physical for a movie, showcasing his physical prowess in action flicks like Transformers: The Last Knight, Spenser Confidential, and alongside Tom Holland in Uncharted.
Wahlberg has executive produced a slew of hit HBO shows including Entourage and Boardwalk Empire, and also is the co-owner of the Wahlburgers restaurant chain with his brothers Paul and Donnie. He is slated to appear in Our Man from Jersey with Halle Berry and in the action comedy The Family Plan, which he is also producing for Apple TV+.
Rachel Weisz as Abigail Salmon
After having captivated audiences with her lively role as the adventure-seeking librarian Evelyn in The Mummy and its sequel, Rachel Weisz continued to dominate the silver screen and demonstrated she can truly do it all. Whether she’s playing an iconic witch in Oz the Great and Powerful, a lethal spy in Black Widow, or a famous English courtier in The Favourite, Weisz has showcased time and time again that she’s a force to be reckoned with in any role.
She won an Academy Award for her performance in the thriller The Constant Gardener and is an extremely decorated and sought-after dramatic actress, having brilliantly starred in sweeping dramas like The Lobster, Disobedience, and The Mercy. Weisz is currently earning rave reviews for her role as twisted twins in the psychological thriller miniseries Dead Ringers.
Susan Sarandon as Grandma Lynn
Seasoned film and TV superstar Susan Sarandon was already a major Hollywood staple by the time she portrayed the hard-drinking, gun-shooting grieving Grandma Lynn in the drama. Famed for her role in the iconic ’70s comedy horror musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sarandon later appeared in hits like Thelma & Louise, The Witches of Eastwick, and Little Women. After starring in The Lovely Bones, Sarandon has regularly been featured in countless movies such as Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Tammy, Viper Club, and A Bad Moms Christmas.
Sarandon was lauded for her performance as Bette Davis in Feud: Bette and Joan (earning a Golden Globe nod) and had roles in shows like Ricky and Morty, Ray Donovan, and most recently in the musical drama Monarch. She will next share the screen with Kerry Washington and Sam Waterston in the upcoming war drama Six Triple Eight.
Stanley Tucci as George Harvey
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Acting chameleon Stanley Tucci was downright chilling as killer George Harvey in The Lovely Bones, receiving an Oscar nomination for his spine-tingling performance. He has since expressed how difficult the role was to take on due to its dark subject matter, but like everything else he’s been in the esteemed actor excelled masterfully. Tucci is celebrated for his eclectic repertoire, with noteworthy appearances in smash hits such as The Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia, Beauty and the Beast, and Spotlight.
He portrayed Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games franchise and has had roles in TV shows like BoJack Horseman, Central Park, and the revered documentary food series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy. The character actor’s latest project is the spy series Citadel, and he’s slated to co-star in the large ensemble sci-fi adventure film The Electric State.
Michael Imperioli as Detective Len Fenerman
Michael Imperioli was still enjoying the massive success and legacy of The Sopranos when he took on the part of the determined detective Len Fenerman who searches for Susie’s killer in the gripping film. He continued to dominate the television world with roles in shows like Californication, Hawaii Five-O, Lucifer, and Blue Bloods. He earned a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in 2023 for The White Lotus, in which he portrayed a sex-addicted Hollywood bigwig. Imperioli’s most recent film credits include the action thriller Primal and the 2020 Oscar-nominated drama One Night in Miami…, appearing as boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.
Rose McIver as Lindsey Salmon
Rose McIver was cast as Susie’s heartbroken younger sister Lindsey, having been chosen by director Peter Jackson due to her being relatively unknown at the time. She has since established a name for herself in the industry, starring as the doctor-turned-brain-craving zombie Olivia “Liv” Moore in the supernatural crime series iZombie and in the critically-acclaimed paranormal sitcom Ghosts. McIver’s other noteworthy roles include the TV shows Masters of Sex and Once Upon a Time and in the 2022 sci-fi dramedy Next Exit.
Reece Ritchie as Ray Singh
English actor Reece Ritchie has appeared in an array of television and film projects after portraying Susie’s love interest Ray, nabbing roles in movies like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Lies We Tell, and as Charles Dickens in The Haunted Hotel. Ritchie has focused more on small-screen endeavors in recent years, starring in shows including The Outpost, Endeavour, and Flack; he currently portrays Lt. Spencer Lane in the sci-fi TV series The Ark on SYFY/Peacock.
Carolyn Dando as Ruth Connors
Carolyn Dando was working as a waitress when she was cast as Ruth Connors, having only previously had one acting credit to her name. The New Zealand actress has sporadically appeared in TV and film roles since The Lovely Bones, with her credits most notably including the shows Girl vs. Boy, Power Rangers Dino Charge, and The Shannara Chronicles. Her performance as the artistic and clairvoyant Ruth, a classmate of Susie, is regarded as her most popular portrayal to date.
AJ Michalka as Clarissa
Actress and musician AJ Michalka was most recognized for being one half of the pop-rock duo Aly & AJ when she was cast as Susie’s best friend Clarissa in The Lovely Bones. Since then, Michalka found further acting success with her performance as Lainey Lewis in the side-splitting sitcom The Goldbergs and its spin-off Schooled, as well as in films like Secretariat, Super 8, and Support the Girls. She and her older sister Aly have released five full-length albums as a group, and are currently touring for their newest album With Love From.
Nikki SooHoo as Denise “Holly” Le Ang
Denise “Holly” Le Ang was a fellow victim of serial killer George Harvey, and she becomes Susie’s closest friend in heaven. The role was portrayed by Nikki SooHoo, an actress who has primarily starred in television roles since the film’s release. SooHoo has appeared in Heathers, Star Wars Resistance, and Avatar: The Last Airbender: Agni Kai, with her most recent acting credit being the 2020 made-for-TV-movie Final Frequency.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
