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    1. Culture
    2. TV shows

    The Cast of 'Nobody Wants This:' Who Plays Who in the Netflix Rom-Com Series

    The Netflix rom-com about an agnostic podcaster and a hot rabbi is full of familiar faces.

    Quinci LeGardye#039;s avatar
    By Quinci LeGardye
    Last updated 24 October 2025 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Kristen Bell as Joanne and Adam Brody as Noah, standing in front of congregants at a synagogue, in episode 102 of Nobody Wants This.
    (Image credit: Stefania Rosini/Netflix)
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    Netflix's hit series Nobody Wants This is an excellent rom-com, and like all great rom-coms, it has the perfect cast for its love story. Created by Erin Foster, the must-watch series follows Joanne (Kristen Bell), an opinionated sex podcaster, and Noah (Adam Brody), a very hot rabbi. Although the pair wants to be together (don't worry, Hot Priest fans, rabbis can date), they deal with several societal challenges, including the well-meaning judgment of their families.

    To bring the story to life, the Netflix romance series gathered many familiar faces, including legendary Jewish actors and L.A.-based comedy stars (including several The Good Place alums). Now back for its second season, the Netflix original has pulled in some of its stars's real-life partners to appear in the on-screen love story. Below, read on to learn more about the lovable cast of Nobody Wants This season 2.

    Kristen Bell as Joanne

    Kristen Bell as Joanne, sitting at a dinner table and holding a fork, in episode 101 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Hopper Stone/Netflix)

    Joanne hosts a popular sex and dating podcast, which is in talks to be acquired by Spotify in season 1. She's opinionated, agnostic, and a tad cynical, though she isn't as bad a person as she fears she is. Her dating life mostly serves as fodder for her pod until she meets someone unexpected.

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    Kristen Bell, 45, began her Hollywood career with the breakout titular role in the hit teen show Veronica Mars, and she went on to play several other iconic characters, including the voice of Gossip Girl, the titular ex in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Anna in Frozen. Her other notable projects include Starz's Party Down, Showtime's House of Lies, NBC's The Good Place, and Apple TV+'s Central Park.

    Adam Brody as Noah Roklov

    Adam Brody as Noah in episode 110 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Saeed Adyan/Netflix)

    Noah Roklov is an unconventional, modern-day rabbi who dreams of becoming head rabbi and finding his soulmate. Nobody Wants This's epic love story kicks off when he meets shiksa Joanne, shortly after breaking things off with his long-term, perfect Jewish girlfriend Rebecca.

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    Adam Brody, 45, needs no introduction for millennial women, as he's best known for playing teen heartthrob Seth Cohen in the hit 2000s series The O.C. Since then, he has also starred in 2005's Mr. and Mrs. Smith, 2009's Jennifer's Body, 2015's Sleeping With Other People, Crackle's StartUp, 2019's Ready or Not, 2020's Promising Young Woman, ABC's Single Parents, FX's Fleishman Is in Trouble, and 2023's American Fiction. (He's also married to Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester.)

    Justine Lupe as Morgan

    Justine Lupe as Morgan, wearing a scarf tied around her head while standing in a secondhand store, in episode 104 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Hopper Stone/Netflix)

    Morgan often butts heads with her sister and podcast co-host Joanne over their different views on where the business should go and their opinionated natures. Still, the sisters are always there for each other.

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    Two years ago, Justine Lupe, 36, ended her run as the call girl and aspiring playwright turned wife of Connor Roy in the HBO hit Succession. The Juilliard grad has also appeared in shows and films, including 2012's Frances Ha, ABC's Cristela, FX's Snowfall, Peacock's Mr. Mercedes, 2022's Luckiest Girl Alive, Prime Video's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Apple TV+'s The Big Door Prize. (Her husband, artist Tyson Mason, has a cameo in Nobody Wants This season 2.)

    Timothy Simons as Sasha Roklov

    Timothy Simons as Sasha, standing in a kitchen and holding a bowl of cereal, in episode 104 of Nobody Wants This

    (Image credit: Hopper Stone/Netflix)

    Noah's brother, Sasha, works for their father's company and has a family with his wife, Esther, and their pre-teen daughter Miriam. He can be self-effacing, dubbing himself and Morgan the "loser siblings."

    Timothy Simons, 47, is best known for his breakout role in the HBO comedy Veep, where he played The Pointless Giant, the mildest of many nicknames for Jonah Ryan. Since then, the actor and comedian has starred in movies and shows, including 2014's Inherent Vice, 2016's Christine, 2020's Happiest Season, Max's Station Eleven, 2022's Don't Worry Darling, 2023's Joy Ride, as well as the Hulu shows Candy and The Handmaid's Tale. Next up, he's set to play Tantalus in season 2 of Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

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    Jackie Tohn as Esther Roklov

    A group of women (Beth Dover as Talia, Jackie Tohn as Esther, Kristen Bell as Joanne, Elise Greene as Leah, Rachel Rosenbloom as Rachel) look surprised while holding orange cups and sitting in the stands in a gym, in episode 107 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Adam Rose/Netflix)

    Esther, Sasha's wife/Noah's sister-in-law, is a non-nonsense family woman with a dry sense of humor. At first, she doesn't like Joanne because Noah's ex-girlfriend, Rebecca, is her best friend. As her husband and Morgan become good friends, she becomes determined to prove she's "fun" in season 2.

    She's played by Jackie Tohn, 45, an American actress and musician who has appeared in shows and films including 2015's Sisters, Netflix's Glow, Prime Video's The Boys and its spinoff Gen V, and 2023's Step Aside. She also competed on season 8 of American Idol in 2009, followed by the songwriting competition show Platinum Hit in 2011. (Her boyfriend, actor and filmmaker Joe Gillette, appears in season 2, episode 5 as Gabe.)

    Tovah Feldshuh as Bina Roklov

    Jackie Tohn as Esther and Tovah Feldshuh as Bina, standing among congregants in a synagogue, in episode 101 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Stefania Rosini/Netfli)

    Tovah Feldshuh, 76, is a stage and screen star who has acted on Broadway for over 50 years and received four Tony nominations. She plays Noah's overprotective mother, Bina, who immigrated to the U.S. from Russia. On the TV side of her career, she's best known for appearing in Law Order, Flesh and Bone, The Walking Dead, Salvation, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

    Paul Ben-Victor as Ilan Roklov

    Paul Ben-Victor as Ilan, Tovah Feldshuh as Bina, sitting among congregants in a synagogue, in episode 101 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Stefania Rosini/Netflix)

    Noah's chill father, Ilan, is played by Paul Ben-Victor, 60, an alum of prestige dramas including The Wire (where he played Spiros in season 2), Entourage, Vinyl, True Detective, and Paul T. Goldman. He has also appeared in films including The Irishman, True Romance, Daredevil, Don Jon, and The Baker.

    Stephanie Faracy as Lynn

    A woman (Kristen Bell as Joanne) lays her head on her mother#039;s (Stephanie Faracy as Lynn) lap, as her sister (Justine Lupe as Morgan) shows them an iPhone message, all three on a living room couch, in episode 103 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Hopper Stone/Netflix)

    Joanne and Morgan's wellness-obsessed mother, Lynn, is played by Stephanie Faracy, 73, a Brooklyn-born actress who made her television debut in a 1976 episode of Laverne and Shirley. She has appeared in movies including The Great Outdoors, Hocus Pocus, Sideways, Temple Grandin, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, as well as shows like His Hers, True Colors, Frasier, Devious Maids, and Uncoupled.

    Michael Hitchcock as Henry

    Two men (Patrick Bristow as Pat and Michael Hitchcock as Henry) sit on a couch as a woman (Kristen Bell as Joanne) stands behind them in a living room, in episode 104 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Hopper Stone/Netflix)

    Joanne's father, Henry, has recently separated from his wife, Lynn, to explore his homosexuality—but don't worry, the family's all still close. He's played by Michael Hitchcock, 67, an alum of the famed improv group The Groundlings, who has appeared in shows including Mad TV, The Suite Life on Deck, Men of a Certain Age, The United States of Tara, Glee, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Black Monday. He also previously costarred with Kristen Bell in the Netflix spoof The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.

    Sherry Cola as Ashley

    Kristen Bell as Joanne, Sherry Cola as Ashley, Justine Lupe as Morgan in episode 105 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Adam Rose/Netflix)

    Ashley is not only Joanne's close friend and podcast producer; she's the mutual friend whose dinner party begins Joanne and Noah's love story. She's played by Sherry Cola, 35, an actress and comedian who rose to fame playing Alice Kwon on the Freeform series Good Trouble. She's since starred in movies and shows including 2022's Turning Red, 2023's Shortcomings and Joy Ride, 2024's A Family Affair, Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai, and 2025's Freaker Friday and Good Fortune.

    Leslie Grossman as Rabbi Shira

    Leslie Grossman as Rabbi Shira in episode 105 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Adam Rose/Netflix)

    Rabbi Shira—Noah's old camp counselor-turned-mentor—is played by Leslie Grossman, 53, an L.A.-born actress and frequent collaborator of Ryan Murphy. The longtime TV actress has appeared in dozens of shows, most notably The WB's Popular and What I Like About You, Hulu's Love, Victor, FX's American Horror Story; and Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Hernandez Story.

    Emily Arlook as Rebecca

    Emily Arlook as Rebecca, standing in a kitchen, in #039;Nobody Wants This.#039;

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    Noah's ex (and Esther's best friend), Rebecca, is played by Emily Arlook, 35, best known for playing Nomi Segal on Freeform's college series Grown-ish. The Jewish-Buddhist actress has also appeared in 2019's Big Time Adolescence, 2023's You People, and several episodes of The Good Place.

    D'Arcy Carden as Ryann

    D#039;Arcy Carden as Ryann, Bernard David Jones as Charles in #039;Nobody Wants This.#039;

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    Joanne's good friend Ryann (seen above, next to Bernard David Jones as Charles) is played by Kristen Bell's former The Good Place co-star D'Arcy Carden, 45. In addition to her fan-favorite role as Janet in NBC's hit comedy, Carden is an actress, comedian, and UCB alum who has also appeared in shows including Broad City, Single Parents, Barry, and A League of Their Own.

    Arian Moayed as Dr. Andy

    (L to R) Justine Lupe as Morgan, Arian Moayed as Andy in episode 203 of Nobody Wants This.

    (Image credit: Erin Simkin/Netflix)

    In season 2, viewers meet Dr. Andy, Morgan's unconventional new boyfriend, a charming psychologist played by Arian Moayed, 45. The Iranian-American stage and screen actor reunites with his Succession co-star Lupe, after his previous Emmy-nominated run as private-equity bro Stewy Hosseini. Moayed's other notable projects include Netflix's Inventing Anna, the Marvel titles Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ms. Marvel, and HBO Max's Love Life, as well as his short-form series The Accidental Wolf.

    Leighton Meester as Abby

    Nobody Wants This. Leighton Meester as Abby in episode 205 of Nobody Wants This. Cr. Erin Simkin/Netflix amp;copy; 2025

    (Image credit: Erin Simkin/Netflix)

    Blair Waldorf actress Leighton Meester, 39, joins season 2 as Abby, Joanne's former middle school nemesis who's now a mommy influencer. Since her breakout role in Gossip Girl, Meester has starred in movies such as The Roommate, Monte Carlo, and EXmas, as well as shows Single Parents, How I Met Your Father, Good Cop/Bad Cop, and The Buccaneers. Next up, she's set to appear in Rachel Sennott's HBO show I Love L.A.

    Seth Rogen as Rabbi Neil; Kate Berlant as Cami

    Nobody Wants This. (L to R) Seth Rogen as Rabbi Neil, Kate Berlant as Cami in episode 207 of Nobody Wants This. Cr. Erin Simkin/Netflix amp;copy; 2025

    (Image credit: Erin Simkin/Netflix)

    Noah faces a minor crisis of faith in season 2 when he meets Neil and Cami, rabbis at the more progressive Temple Ahava.

    Seth Rogen, 43, is a Canadian actor, writer, and filmmaker best known for his popular comedy movies—including Superbad, Pineapple Express, and This Is The End—and his more dramatic roles in films like The Fabelmans. He comes to Nobody Wants This fresh off his Emmy wins for the Apple TV+ satire The Studio. The multi-hyphenate is also a prolific producer for films and shows (ahem, The Boys), and he founded the cannabis lifestyle brand Houseplant in 2019. He has been married to actress Lauren Miller since 2011.

    Kate Berlant, 38, is an actress and comedian who made her TV debut on a 2002 episode of Lizzie McGuire. She has since starred in titles including 2018's Sorry to Bother You, 2019's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 2022's Don't Worry Darling, Prime Video's A League of Their Own, and 2023's Dream Scenario. She has also released the stand-up special Cinnamon in the Wind, as well as the Peacock sketch-comedy special Would It Kill You to Laugh? with John Early. In addition to performing at comedy clubs and art institutions regularly, she also won the American version of Taskmaster in 2018.

    Alex Karpovsky as Rabbi Big Noah

    Alex Karpovsky as rabbi big noah at the front of a temple altar after services in nobody wants this season 2

    (Image credit: Erin Simkin/Netflix)

    Rabbi Big Noah, a new face at Temple Chai who becomes Noah's competition for the head-rabbi job, is played by Girls alum Alex Karpovsky, 50. In addition to playing Ray on the HBO hit, the actor and filmmaker is best known for Lena Dunham's early film Tiny Furniture; the Coen Brothers films Inside Llewyn Davis and Hail, Caesar!; 2017's Folk Hero Funny Guy; Prime Video's Homecoming; and Peacock's Angelyne.

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    Culture Writer

    Quinci LeGardye is a Culture Writer at Marie Claire. She currently lives in her hometown of Los Angeles after periods living in NYC and Albuquerque, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from The University of New Mexico. In 2021, she joined Marie Claire as a contributor, becoming a full-time writer for the brand in 2024. She contributes day-to-day-content covering television, movies, books, and pop culture in general. She has also written features, profiles, recaps, personal essays, and cultural criticism for outlets including Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Vulture, The A.V. Club, Catapult, and others. When she isn't writing or checking Twitter way too often, you can find her watching the latest K-drama, or giving a concert performance in her car.

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