Julia Misbehaves

A mature showgirl with a sharp wit and a talent for improvisation. She balances self-preservation with affection for her daughter, driving much of the plot through bold choices and complex emotions. Her past and present motives blur lines between romance and responsibility.

Julia's daughter, a young woman with her own romantic yearnings. She falls for painter Ritchie Lorgan, and her feelings propel the elopement that pushes the family toward change. Susan embodies youthful longing and a desire for love that defies convention.

Julia's husband, once wary of Julia’s past, rekindles his love as the story unfolds. He confronts the possibility of betrayal, negotiates with Willowbrook, and ultimately seeks a path that reconciles past hurts with hope for the future.

A dignified, affable colonel who becomes a financial and social facilitator for Julia. His influence and willingness to help drive the plot, including a crucial disruption scene, reveal a man navigating loyalty, discretion, and the price of generosity.

A muscular acrobat and Julia’s romantic interest who rises with her to Parisian success, only to be unsettled by the truth of her methods. His arrival tests Julia’s choices and ultimately leads to a tense but resolving confrontation.

A lovestruck painter who becomes the object of Susan’s affection. His artistic sensibility and romantic devotion contribute to the tension and eventual pairings that push Susan toward a hopeful, if complicated, future.

William's disapproving mother-in-law, a figure of propriety who resents Julia's presence yet indirectly shapes the family’s decisions through expectations and social pressure.