Photographing Fairies

A talented yet emotionally guarded photographer who starts as a debunker of supernatural claims but is gradually drawn into the possibility of real unseen beings. He runs a London studio focused on photomontage and precise technique. His growing fixation on capturing or validating fairies leads him toward dangerous, losing-ground behavior.

Castle's fiancée, a supportive, eventual wife whose death in the Alpine snowstorm catalyzes the later obsessions and transformations in Castle. Her absence reverberates through the story as a constant haunting for Castle. Her memory intersects with the ongoing search for the truth behind the fairy sightings.

A devoted mother who records her daughters' odd behaviors and begins experimenting with a rare flower she believes reveals fairies. Her pursuit culminates at Birkenwell and ends in her death, leaving behind notes that spur Castle's own tests. Her obsession with documenting the supernatural acts as a catalyst for the central mystery.

A Christian minister and father who cautiously tolerates Castle's presence but is protective of his daughters. He clashes with Castle over the pursuit of the fairy phenomenon and the strain it places on his family. His confrontation with Castle escalates into violence, with fatal consequences.

Castle's army photographer assistant who accompanies him into the trenches and later aids in the post-war studio work. He provides a grounded perspective on war, death, and the toll of Castle's obsessions. His presence anchors the more brutal wartime sequences.

The famed author appears at a Theosophical Society lecture and comes across as credulous about the Cottingley Fairies. His stance embodies the tension between belief and skepticism that threads through the film. Doyle acts as a narrative foil to Castle's scientific stance.

Castle's associate whose presence underscores the collaborative and observational aspects of the photographic enterprise. Des participates in the studio and the development process around the fairies project. He represents the practical, non-ideological side of the investigation.

Beatrice's daughter who, along with her sister Clara, appears to see the elusive phenomena. Their experiences and reactions are central to the investigation into whether the fairies are real. The sisters' involvement heightens the familial stakes of the mystery.

Beatrice's other daughter who shares in the mysterious encounters and becomes part of the unfolding photographic experiment. Clara's presence emphasizes the impact of belief on the younger generation. Her role threads into the later revelations about the flower's effects.

A minor character who appears in the London period; her scenes contribute to the social backdrop of Castle's post-war career. Her role helps illustrate the world surrounding the studio and the era. She remains a peripheral figure in the central investigation.