Survival Of The Thickest cast and character guide: Who plays whom in Netflix's comedy drama show?

Netflix's comedy drama series, Survival of the Thickest, premiered in July 2023 and has since grabbed everyone’s attention with its humorous and heartwarming story of Mavis Beaumont, played by Michelle Buteau. Season 2 of the series was recently released on March 27, 2025, on Netflix.

After she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, Mavis is devastated and leaves him. The series depicts Mavis's struggle in getting back up on her feet and managing her personal and professional life as a stylist. Mavis is helped by her friends as she tries to get over her breakup and concentrate on moving forward. In this journey of Mavis, several characters join her, such as Marley (Tasha Smith) and Khalil (Tone Bell), among others.

Let’s take a look at the complete cast and character guide of Survival of The Thickest.

Cast and character guide of Survival of the Thickest

1) Michelle Buteau as Mavis Beaumont

The stand-up comedian co-created the show with Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, which is based on Michelle Buteau’s memoir of the same name.

Survival of The Thickest follows Buteau’s Mavis Beaumont, who is going through a breakup and trying to get back on her feet while facing many new challenges in her life.

Buteau is a popular name in the industry. Other than being an awarded stand-up comedian, she has also appeared in numerous popular films and TV shows.

From Russian Doll and Tales of the City to Rick and Morty, Buteau has played several notable roles in TV shows. She has also appeared in movies like Always Be My Maybe and Babes.

2) Taylor Selé as Jacque

Taylor Selé | Image via Instagram: taylorsele

Taylor Selé plays Mavis’s longtime boyfriend in Survival of the Thickest. Mavis is left heartbroken as she finds out that Jacque cheated on her and breaks up with him. But the past relationship does not let Mavis move on as Jacque keeps on trying to get Mavis back.

Selé has appeared in several popular TV shows, such as Luke Cage, Orange is the New Black, and Homeland.

3) Tasha Smith as Marley

Tasha Smith | Image via Instagram: tasha4realsmith

Tasha Smith’s Marley is one of Mavis’s best friends and a strong supporter of her. She is a financial executive and has a successful life. Throughout the series, we see Marley supporting and helping Mavis in her tough times and getting back on her feet.

From movies like Why Did I Get Married? and Twinless to TV shows such as Boston Common, First Wives Club, and Empire, the 54-year-old actress has been in numerous shows and films.

4) Marouane Zotti as Luca

Marouane Zotti with Michelle Buteau | Image via Instagram: marouane_zotti

Not everything is gray in Mavis’s life, as Marouane Zotti’s Luca becomes her love interest after her breakup with Jacque, which prompts her to choose Luc over Jacque at the end of Season 1.

Zotti has appeared in TV shows such as I May Destroy You, Bodkin, The Teacher, and The Red Door.

5) Tone Bell as Khalil

Tone Bell in Survival of the Thickest | Image via Instagram: tonebell

Another one of Mavis’s best friends, Khalil, played by Tone Bell, is an art instructor in Survival of the Thickest. He is one of those friends who would stop you from thinking about a painful breakup, just like he does with Mavis. Khalil tries to stay away from long-term relationships until he begins to fall for a young woman named India.

Other than an actor, Bell is also a stand-up comedian. His notable on-screen roles include films like Trigger Warning and The United States vs. Billie Holiday and TV shows such as The Flash and Whitney.

6) Anissa Felix as India

Anissa Felix | Image via Instagram: anissafelix

Anissa Felix plays India in Survival of the Thickest. She is one of the students in Khalil’s painting class, who he falls for, changing his stance on long-term relationships.

The Netflix show is Felix’s most notable role. However, she has also appeared in shows such as The Deuce and Pose. Felix is also a stage actor and appeared in the Broadway play Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

7) Garcelle Beauvais as Natasha Karina

Garcelle Beauvais’s Natasha Karina is a 90s supermodel in Survival of the Thickest. She eventually becomes one of Mavis’s important clients who wants to keep her 90s supermodel image intact.

Beauvais has been part of numerous popular films, such as Spider-Man: Homecoming, White House Down, and Coming 2 America. Furthermore, her TV roles include Miracle Workers, The Jamie Foxx Show, and NYPD Blue.

8) Liza Treyger as Jade

Liza Treyger’s Jade is a nosy but helpful new roommate of Mavis when she shifts into a new apartment in Brooklyn. This new friend of Mavis is too involved in Mavis's life and wants to help her even if Mavis doesn't ask initially.

Survival of the Thickest might be Treyger's notable TV role; however, the actress was also part of Jordan Peele's horror film Nope and Pete Davidson's The King of Staten Island.