Cast Members of The Zookeeper's Wife: A Look Behind and Beyond the Screen

The 2017 historical drama film 'The Zookeepers Wife' tells an inspiring true story set during World War II. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, it follows the lives of Antonina Zabinski (played by Jessica Chastain) and her husband Jan (portrayed by Johan Heldenberg), who run a Warsaw zoo while hiding Jewish families from Nazi persecution.

In this article, we'll delve into some key cast members behind this powerful film adaptation. We'll also explore their real-life counterparts and how these roles contributed to the overall impact of 'The Zookeeper's Wife.'

1. Antonina Zabinski (Jessica Chastain)

Antonina is at the heart of both the book by Diane Ackerman, on which the movie is based, and Jessica Chastine's Oscar-nominated performance in this film adaptation.

2. Magda Gross (Efrat Dor)

Magda is a Polish Jewish resistance fighter who becomes close friends with Antonina during their time hiding from Nazis at the Warsaw zoo.

3. Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl)

Lutz, played by Daniel Brühl, was an actual Nazi zoologist and SS- Obersturstandartenführer in World War II. In reality, he had a complex relationship with his fellow countrywoman Antonina's husband Jan Zabinski.

4. Johan Heldenbergh as Jan Zabinski

Jan Zabinsky is the real-life inspiration behind this character played by Johan Heldenberg on-screen and was married to Antonina in real life too.

5. Efrat Dor as Magda Gross

Cast members of the zookeepers wife