His & Hers lives or dies on its two leads. The entire show depends on us believing both Jack and Emma completely—even when their stories contradict each other. Netflix found the perfect actors for this impossible task.
Jon Bernthal as Jack
The Role: Jack is a husband who claims innocence while everything around him suggests guilt. Bernthal plays him as earnest, wounded, and deeply sympathetic—until he isn't.
Why He's Perfect: Bernthal built his career on characters who straddle the line between hero and monster (The Punisher, The Walking Dead). Jack requires that same moral ambiguity. You're never quite sure if you're watching a victim or a perpetrator.
- Shane Walsh in The Walking Dead
- Frank Castle/The Punisher in the MCU
- We Own This City (HBO)
- King Richard
The Challenge: Bernthal had to play a man who might be lying without ever winking at the audience. Every scene had to work whether Jack is innocent or guilty.
Tessa Thompson as Emma
The Role: Emma is Jack's wife, telling a completely different version of their marriage. Thompson plays her as precise, traumatized, and utterly convincing.
Why She's Perfect: Thompson brings intelligence and controlled emotion to every role. Emma needs to seem both vulnerable and potentially manipulative—Thompson walks that tightrope masterfully.
- Valkyrie in the Thor films and MCU
- Detroit in Sorry to Bother You
- Westworld (HBO)
- Creed series
The Chemistry: Thompson and Bernthal reportedly didn't rehearse together before filming their separate interview scenes. The disconnect between their performances was intentional—and devastating.
Supporting Cast
Detective Walsh - The investigator trying to find truth between two contradictory stories. Brings skepticism and humanity to the procedural elements.
The Lawyers - Both Jack and Emma have legal representation whose advice shapes how they tell their stories. Watch how each lawyer coaches their client.
The Families - Brief but crucial appearances from both sides, each convinced their version of Jack and Emma's marriage is correct.
The supporting cast is deliberately minimal. This is Jack and Emma's show—everyone else exists to reflect their competing narratives.