| Mr. |
Aissis | High school science teacher |
| Gabe |
Antar | Grocery store owner |
| Emily |
Baker | Acting partner |
| Halle |
Berry | Actress admired by Viola |
| Mayor |
Bessette | Local town mayor |
| Steven |
Bochco | Television writer |
| Billy |
Brown | Actor who portrayed Nate Lahey |
| David |
Burr | Mentor figure to Viola |
| Joseph |
Campbell | American writer of The Hero with a Thousand Faces |
| Anton |
Chekhov | Renowned playwright |
| George |
Clooney | Actor |
| Miss |
Cora | Davis's distant relative |
| Anita |
Davis | Viola's sister |
| Chuck |
Davis | Dance choreographer |
| Dan |
Davis | Viola's father. Aka: MaDaddy |
| Danielle |
Davis | Viola's youngest sister |
| Deloris |
Davis | Viola's sister who died early |
| Dianne |
Davis | Viola's sister |
| Jimmy |
Davis | Viola's uncle |
| John Henry |
Davis | Viola's brother |
| Mae Alice |
Davis | Viola's mother. Aka: MaMama |
| Viola |
Davis | Protagonist, narrator, and author. Aka: Vahla |
| Iona |
Dobbins | Arts advocate who supported Viola |
| Joseph |
Edward | Acting colleague |
| Edwina |
Findley | Actress and houseguest |
| Laurence |
Fishburne | Actor admired by Viola |
| Cedric |
Harris | Fellow student |
| Israel |
Hicks | Theater director |
| Tommy |
Hollis | Mutual friend |
| Clara |
Johnson | Actress |
| Annalise |
Keating | Viola's TV character |
| Jeff |
Kenyon | Upward Bound counselor |
| Stanley |
Kubrick | Influential filmmaker |
| Alan |
Langdon | Acting coach |
| Michael |
Langham | Theater director |
| Susan |
Lawson | Artistic director at Trinity Rep |
| Judy |
Leibowitz | Voice teacher |
| Henry |
Logan | Viola's maternal grandfather |
| Mozell |
Logan | Viola's maternal grandmother |
| Jennifer |
Lopez | Singer and actress |
| Mr. |
Miacca | Fictional folktale character |
| Zakes |
Mokae | Actor |
| Terri |
Noya | College friend |
| Mrs. |
Owens | Mae Alice's friend |
| Dwight |
Palmisciano | Father of Danielle's children |
| Elaine |
Perry | Mentor figure to Viola |
| Ms. |
Picard | Viola's former teacher |
| Mrs. |
Prosser | School principal |
| Lloyd |
Richards | Theater director |
| Roger |
Robinson | Actor |
| Marian |
Seldes | Acting teacher |
| Will |
Smith | Viola's Suicide Squad co-actor |
| Ron |
Stetson | Acting coach |
| Meryl |
Streep | Actress |
| John |
Styk | Acting teacher |
| Julius |
Tennon | Viola's husband and actor |
| Lorraine |
Toussaint | Actress and friend |
| Cicely |
Tyson | Actress Viola admired |
| Danitra |
Vance | Actress Viola understudied |
| Denzel |
Washington | Actor and director |
| Gene |
Wilder | Actor and comedian |
| Robert |
Williams | Acting teacher |
| Oprah |
Winfrey | Media executive and interviewer |
| Kris |
World | Friend in dance program |
| Moni |
Yakim | Movement teacher |
| Annabella |
| Niece |
| Arnold |
| Viola's supportive uncle |
| Bobby |
| Childhood friend and neighbor |
| Brianna |
| Anita's daughter and Viola's niece |
| Carlos |
| Landlord of the Davis family |
| Cedric |
| Juilliard classmate |
| Chris |
| Viola's childhood adversary |
| Chris |
| College friend |
| Coley |
| Family dog |
| David |
| Viola's first boyfriend |
| Derek |
| Danielle's child |
| Donna |
| College acquaintance |
| Estelle |
| Manager |
| Frank |
| Childhood friend and neighbor |
| Gary |
| Friend |
| Genesis |
| Adoptive daughter |
| Howie |
| Mae Alice's close friend |
| James |
| Childhood friend and neighbor |
| Jane |
| College friend |
| Jodi |
| College friend |
| Kim |
| Millie's daughter |
| Lisa |
| Local girl known for bullying |
| Mark |
| Talent agent |
| Mary |
| College acquaintance |
| Michelle |
| Friend |
| Millie |
| Neighbor |
| Patricia |
| One of Dan's mistresses |
| Pilar |
| Friend |
| Regan |
| Fictional character from The Exorcist |
| Reggie |
| Millie's son |
| Rhonda |
| Tommy's mistress |
| Sarah |
| Restaurant owner |
| Tiana |
| Niece |
| Tommy |
| Father of James, Bobby, and Frank |
