Elisabeth Moss plays the central role of Robin Griffin, a
Sydney detective specializing in sexual assault, in both series. Additional cast members are as follows:
Top of the Lake Main •
David Wenham as Al Parker, an old-school and well-liked detective sergeant, based in
Queenstown, who also manages a café where
young offenders are given a second chance. •
Peter Mullan as Matt Mitcham, a
Scotsman and head of the Mitcham family. He is the informal leader of the town, feared by the townspeople, but with a complex inner life. •
Tom Wright as Johnno Mitcham, Matt's estranged youngest son, and Robin's teenage sweetheart. He recently returned to Laketop after serving eight years in
Bangkwang, a Thai prison, for drug possession. •
Holly Hunter as GJ, an
androgynous Swiss
spiritual leader, arriving at Paradise with a group of troubled women, who hope GJ and Laketop will help them rediscover themselves.
Supporting • Kip Chapman and
Jay Ryan as Luke and Mark Mitcham, Matt's brute sons. • Jacqueline Joe as Tui Angel Mitcham, Matt's 12-year-old daughter who disappears after it is discovered that she is five months pregnant. •
Robyn Nevin as Jude Griffin, Robin's mother, who is suffering from cancer. •
Calvin Tuteao as Turangi, Jude's
Māori boyfriend, who has a violent temper. ; GJ's community: ; Matt's men: ; Tui's friends: ; The Southern Lakes Police Department: ; Residents of Laketop:
Top of the Lake: China Girl Main •
Gwendoline Christie as Miranda Hilmarson, a 35-year-old constable in the
Sydney Police Force, who becomes Robin's partner. •
David Dencik as Alexander "Puss" Braun, a 42-year-old charismatic German, who owns a building in Sydney he rents to a brothel. He is also Mary's boyfriend. Puss's grooming of Mary is a major concern for her adoptive parents and Robin. •
Ewen Leslie as Pyke Edwards, Mary's adoptive father. A thoughtful and caring father, he at times appears a pushover in his relationship with Julia. •
Alice Englert as Mary Edwards, Robin's 17-year-old daughter, whom Robin gave up for adoption right after giving birth to her. Mary is in thrall of her manipulative boyfriend and resentful of her parents' separation. •
Kym Gyngell as Bootie, who owns the Silk 41 brothel in Sydney, in space rented from Puss. •
Ling Cooper Tang as Dang, Bootie's Thai-born wife and
madam of the brothel. •
Geoff Morrell as Ray, the police pathologist. •
Liv Hewson as Michaela, Mary's best friend at school. •
Christiaan Van Vuuren as Stally, a police constable interested in Robin. • Lincoln Vickery, as Brett Iles, a young computer science student in love with a missing brothel worker, Cinnamon. David Wenham returns as Al in one episode. Kip Chapman, Jacqueline Joe, Byron Coll and Cohen Holloway also reprise their
Top of the Lake roles in a flashback sequence, with
Mark Leonard Winter appearing as Johnno. == Production ==