Glorious

A present-day relative who travels to London to uncover his great-aunt Anne Keyes's fate. He is curious, patient, and determined to learn the truth, even when families prefer silencing uncomfortable histories. His pursuit of memory anchors the narrative and connects the past to the present.

The eldest of the Keyes siblings and an actress who carries the weight of her family's secrets. Her experiences in 1939 Norfolk reveal a woman navigating political peril and exploitation, while audio records show the manipulation of truth. Her life and choices drive the central mystery of the story.

An MP and patriarch whose beliefs about appeasement push the family toward dangerous compromises. He uses influence to shape political outcomes and keeps key documents as leverage. His actions reveal the moral cost of power.

The mother of the Keyes siblings who ultimately facilitates the release of Anne and complicates the family’s web of loyalties. She embodies maternal pragmatism amid political pressure. Her decisions pivot the fate of several characters.

A quiet government employee who orchestrates the pressure and surveillance that silence suspects. He intercepts and manipulates recordings, linking the present to the past's conspiracy. He remains the film's chilling symbol of coercive power.

An outspoken MP whose loud criticisms reflect pre-war tensions. His arguments and fear become entangled with Balcombe's schemes, ultimately leading to his death by suicide. His voice embodies the moral and political risks of the era.

A reserved ally and fellow actor turned confidant who becomes involved in the recordings and the plot to influence public opinion. His complexities reveal the human cost of political games. He knows more than he initially reveals.

Michael's cousin and participant in the present-day memory who helps carry the thread of the family story. His presence is essential to linking past and present and highlighting how family loyalty can complicate truth.

The younger cousin whose presence in the present-day frame marks the culmination of the mystery and the revelation that Anne's fate involved his care. He embodies innocence amid political intrigue.

Anne's fellow actor and friend who appears early in London’s theatre scenes; his later death underscores the perils of living under political pressure. His character dramatizes how art and life intersect with politics.