Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon plays the main character of Wild - Cheryl, a woman who after a recent divorce, takes a 1,100 mile nature hike of self-discovery and recovery. Witherspoon's performance was praised for its authenticity in portraying Cheryl's deeply troubled nature; A.O Scott of the NY Times wrote that she depicted Cheryl "with grit, wit and unblinking honesty". Witherspoon was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Cheryl for Best Actress.
Laura Dern
Laura Dern plays the supporting role of Bobbi Grey, Cheryl’s mother who died from cancer years before the movie’s start. A prodigious actress who also made appearances in Smooth Talk, Citizen Ruth, The Fault in Our Stars, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, she, along with Witherspoon, was nominated for an Academy Award for her part in Wild.
Thomas Sadoski
Thomas Sadoski plays Paul, Cheryl’s ex-husband who, after her numerous affairs and drug abuse incidents, decided to divorce her. Sadoski is most notable for his role as Don Keefer in the HBO series The Newsroom. Critics praised his performance in Wild, congratulating him on his line delivery.