Grey Gardens

Edith Bouvier Beale's daughter, a restless dreamer who travels to New York to seek acting work and romance. She yearns for a life beyond Grey Gardens but is pulled back by familial duty and limited means. Her wit and style stand out amid the stagnation, yet she remains bound to her mother and the mansion. Her arc culminates in a decision to pursue her art while navigating personal constraints.

Edith Bouvier Beale, Big Edie, a proud matriarch who once moved in high society circles. She resists leaving Grey Gardens, clinging to status and control, even as the house decays around her. Her charisma and stubborn pride mask vulnerability and a fear of letting go. She ultimately shows a moment of reconciliation with her daughter before the story closes.

Jackie visits Grey Gardens and is shocked by its condition, but she also lends support to the cleanup effort. Her presence underscores the fall from grace of a once-elite family and adds a real-world connection to history. Her interactions reveal a mix of compassion and distance toward the Beales' eccentric world.

Husband to Big Edie and father to Little Edie, Phelan Beale represents a patriarchal figure who ultimately divorces, fueling financial strain on the family. His departure marks a turning point that accelerates the Beales' withdrawal from public life. His role frames the collapse of the family’s finances and stability.

A married man who becomes involved with Little Edie, representing a fickle romance that highlights the personal costs of ambition and desire. The relationship underscores the tension between longing and social propriety. It also reinforces Little Edie's sense of constrained possibility.

One of the documentary filmmakers (with his brother) who decides to film Big and Little Edie, turning their lives into Grey Gardens. He frames their world with curiosity and respect, while the camera gradually reveals the limits and dignity of their situation. His perspective shapes how the audience understands the Beales’ story.

Co-director and producer of the Grey Gardens project, he collaborates closely with Albert to document the Beales. His work captures intimate moments and the evolving relationship between mother and daughter. Through his lens, the Beales' life becomes a historic cinematic artifact.

Jackie Kennedy's sister, who steps in to help fund cleanup and restoration after visiting Grey Gardens. Her involvement marks a significant intervention from New York's social circle. She embodies a link between the Beales' past prominence and the effort to salvage their legacy.