Apple Cider Vinegar Cast & Real-Life Character Guide – Screen Rant

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Apple Cider Vinegar!

Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar includes an impressive cast of actors, led by Kaitlyn Dever, who create complex characters inspired by the true story of Belle Gibson’s scam. The true crime miniseries adapts the novel The Woman Who Fooled the World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, the two investigative journalists who outed the real Belle Gibson’s cancer con. Rather than focusing solely on the perpetrator’s rise and downfall, Apple Cider Vinegar contrasts Belle Gibson’s story with that of an influencer named Milla Blake, who actually had cancer, and Lucy, a cancer patient who fell for Belle’s story.

By the end of Apple Cider Vinegar, the stories of everyone connected to Belle are more important than that of the scammer herself, which makes a powerful statement about victims in true crime stories. Many of these characters are based on real people involved in the story. Luckily, the Netflix miniseries enlists a fantastic cast of primarily established Australian actors who can handle carrying the story.

Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson

Date of Birth: December 21, 1996

Actor: Kaitlyn Dever was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and she got her big break in 2013 when she played Jayden in Short Term 12. The actor is incredibly versatile, showing off her ability to play both comedic and dramatic roles. In 2022, Dever was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for playing Betsy Mallum in Dopesick. Kaitlyn Dever’s miniseries trend continues with Apple Cider Vinegar, with all three true crime shows getting praise from critics.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: In Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar, Kaitlyn Dever plays the fictionalized version of scammer Belle Gibson, who lied about having brain cancer and stole money meant to be donated to charity. Although she’s the focus of the show, the real Belle Gibson wasn’t involved in Apple Cider Vinegar, and she wasn’t paid for the recreation of her story – a decision that feels respectful of her victims.

Alycia Debnam-Carey as Milla Blake

Date of Birth: July 20, 1993

Actor: Alycia Debnam-Carey was born in Sydney, Australia, and she got her big break acting as Lexa in The 100 from 2014 to 2020. Since then, she’s grown to fame for playing Alicia Clark in Fear of the Walking Dead, earning her 2017 and 2018 nominations for Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television Series at the Saturn Awards.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: In Apple Cider Vinegar, Alycia Debnam-Carey plays Milla Blake, a cancer patient who grows to fame for rejecting conventional medicine. Milla Blake’s real-life inspiration is the late wellness blogger Jessica Ainscough, who died of epithelioid sarcoma in 2015. Like Milla, Jessica chose to handle her cancer with nutrition and pseudoscientific treatments. She ran a blog about her journey and held events for people with cancer, promoting alternative treatment methods. However, Apple Cider Vinegar does take creative liberties, creating a rivalry between Milla and Belle that didn’t exist in real life.

Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Lucy

Date of Birth: September 4, 1994

Actor: Tilda Cobham-Hervey was born in Adelaide, Australia, and she got her big break in 2019, playing feminist icon Helen Reddy in the film I Am Woman. Though she has a small portfolio prior to Apple Cider Vinegar, she’s proven her acting abilities.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Throughout Apple Cider Vinegar, Tilda Cobham Hervey plays Lucy, a fan of Belle, who is living with breast cancer. Unfortunately, due to the influence of the scammer, she rejects medicine in favor of pseudoscience. Unlike other characters in the Netflix, miniseries, Lucy is not based on a real-life person. Instead, she is representative of the millions of cancer patients who fell victim to Gibson. The character offers a voice to the victims instead of just the perpetrator.

Aisha Dee as Chanelle

Date of Birth: September 13, 1993

Actor: Aisha Dee was born in Gold Coast, Australia, and she got her big break with her first role, Desi Biggins in The Saddle Club. Her best-known role for American audiences will be Kat Edison in The Bold Type. Interestingly, Dee also acted in the cancer-centric drama Chasing Life, where she played the best friend of someone going through cancer.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: In Apple Cider Vinegar, Aisha Dee acts as Chanelle, the best friend and manager of Milla, who also takes on Belle Gibson as a client. She ends up blowing the whistle on Belle’s scam, sharing the information with the investigative journalists. Dee’s character is loosely based on a woman named Chanelle McAuliffe, who tipped off reporter Beau Donnelly about the cancer lie. According to The Sunday Times, McAuliffe wasn’t consulted about Apple Cider Vinegar, and they got many details wrong.

Apple Cider Vinegar Supporting Cast & Characters

Mark Coles Smith as Justin: In Apple Cider Vinegar, Mark Coles Smith plays Justin, Lucy’s husband and an investigative journalist who ends up exposing Belle’s scams. The Australian actor has been acting since 2003. His biggest roles prior to Apple Cider Vinegar are Tilly in Last Cab to Darwin, Gary Frazier in Hard Rock Medical, and Wayne Dhurrkay in The Clearing.

Ashley Zukerman as Clive: Throughout Apple Cider Vinegar, Ashley Zukerman plays Clive, the partner of Belle and her son’s nonbiological father. He represents Belle Gibson’s real-life enigmatic former partner, Clive. Zukerman is an American actor who has been working in the profession since 2004. His biggest roles are Michael Sandrelli in Rush, Charlie Isaacs in Manhattan, and Nick Good in the Fear Street movies.

Phoenix Raei as Hek: Phoenix Raei plays Hek, Belle Gibson’s crisis manager, in Apple Cider Vinegar. The character is loosely based on Alex Twomey, the real-life Gibson’s PR advisor. Raei is a Persian-born Australian actor who has been performing onscreen since 2014. His best-known Dan in The Rooster, Roshan Amiri in Clickbait, and Dale in the cast of The Night Agent season 1.

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What Apple Cider Vinegar’s Title Really Means

Apple Cider Vinegar explores the somewhat true story of Belle Gibson, but the show actually has a deeper meaning that is hinted at in the title.

Susie Porter as Tamara: In Apple Cider Vinegar, Susie Porter plays Milla’s mother, who supports her choice to reject medical treatment in favor of alternative options. The Australian actor started acting onscreen in 1996. Her best-known roles are Patricia Wright in East West 101, Kay in Cargo, and The Monkey’s Mask in Jill Fitzpatrick.

Richard Davies as Sean: Richard Davies played Sean, an investigative journalist who exposes Belle Gibson, in Apple Cider Vinegar. Davies started acting in 1997 and his best-known roles are Max Regnery in The Saddle Club, Inky in 2:22, and Jimmy Proudman in Offspring.

Chai Hansen as Arlo: Throughout Apple Cider Vinegar, Chai Hansen plays Arlo, the boyfriend-turned-fiance of Milla. The Thai-born Australian actor started acting onscreen in 2012. Hansen’s best-known roles are Ilian in The 100, Monkey in The New Legends of Monkey, and Jude in Night Sky.

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5 Best Shows Like Apple Cider Vinegar

After watching Netflix’s limited television series Apple Cider Vinegar, starring Kaitlyn Dever, viewers should check out five similar shows.

Matt Nable as Joe: In Apple Cider Vinegar, Matt Nable plays Joe, Milla’s father who’s unsupportive of her decision not to get medical treatment. The Australian ruby player-turned-actor started performing onscreen in 2007. His best-known roles are Boss Johns in Riddick, Ra’s al Ghul in Arrow, and Detective Sergeant Gary Jubelin in Underbelly.

Catherine McClements as Julie: Catherine McClements plays Julie, the editor who agrees to publish Belle Gibson’s book, in Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar. The character appears to be inspired by the former director of the Lantern imprint, Julie Gibbs. Penguin Publishing’s Lantern took on Belle Gibsons’s cookbook. Gibbs left after news of the scam broke in 2015. McClements is an Australian actor who started acting onscreen in 1986. Her best-known roles are Detective Senior Constable Rachel “Goldie” Goldstein in Water Rats, Christin Williams in Tangle, and Kate Muir in Weekend with Kate.

TV Show

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Apple Cider Vinegar

8/10

Release Date

2025 – 2024

Network

Netflix

Directors

Jeffrey Walker

Writers

Samantha Strauss