House of Guinness Cast Guide: True Story, Actors, Season 2

A period drama about one of the world’s most famous brewing families might sound familiar, but Netflix’s House of Guinness is already stirring up a different kind of conversation. With a cast that mixes rising Irish talent, well-known English actors, and a setting that reaches from Dublin’s grand houses to the streets of New York, the series opens a new window onto the Guinness family saga after 1868. Here’s what we know about the House of Guinness cast, the true story behind the drama, where the show was actually filmed, and whether a second season is on the horizon.

Premiere year: 2025 · Platform: Netflix · Episodes in season 1: 8 · Lead actor (Arthur Guinness): Anthony Boyle · Real-life family: Guinness · Setting: Dublin and Liverpool

Here is a quick reference for the series details.

Is House of Guinness a true story?

Historical facts vs. dramatization

The series is rooted in real events. House of Guinness centers on the Guinness family after the death of Benjamin Guinness in 1868, as detailed in Wikipedia’s series entry (a community-sourced reference). The real Benjamin Guinness died that year, leaving a brewing empire and a family feud that simmered for decades. But the show makes deliberate changes. Some characters and plot lines are entirely fictionalized to add dramatic tension — a common trade-off in historical drama.

• Real figure: Arthur Guinness (founder) died in 1803 — long before the series begins.
• Dramatized: Personal conflicts and romantic subplots among younger family members are invented for narrative flow.

Key real-life events portrayed

• 1759: Arthur Guinness signs the 9,000-year lease for St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin — a foundational moment in brewing history.
• 1868: Benjamin Guinness dies, triggering the succession and the family feud depicted in the series.

The timeline compresses some events but keeps the core family rift intact. The implication: if you’re watching for the historical skeleton, it’s there — just fleshed out with fictional muscle.

Are any of the actors in House of Guinness actually Irish?

A quick look at the House of Guinness cast shows a deliberate mix. Several key performers come from Ireland, while others are English, creating an authentic enough texture for a story about an Irish dynasty.

Irish cast members

• Anthony Boyle (Arthur Guinness) is from Northern Ireland. His previous roles in The Plot Against America and Masters of the Air show his range, but this part brings him back to Irish historical territory. (TV Insider’s cast guide)
• Fionn O’Shea (Benjamin Guinness) is from the Republic of Ireland, known for Normal People and Handsome Devil.
• Niamh McCormack (Ellen Cochrane) and Seamus O’Hara (Patrick Cochrane) also bring Irish accents and roots. (TV Insider)

Non-Irish cast members

• James Norton (Sean Rafferty) is English. His casting in a supporting role adds name recognition but not native Irish authenticity.
• Louis Partridge (Edward Guinness) is also English, known for Enola Holmes. His accent work has drawn mixed early reactions.
• Emily Fairn (Anne Guinness), Danielle Galligan (Lady Olivia Hedges), and Ann Skelly (Adelaide Guinness) round out the core ensemble. (TV Insider)

The pattern: the lead and several supporting parts are Irish, but major roles go to English actors. For an Irish audience, that mix may feel familiar — or slightly off, depending on how accents land.

Where was House of Guinness filmed?

Here’s the surprise: despite being set in Ireland, the show was almost entirely shot outside the country. The production team recreated Dublin and New York in northern England and Wales, a choice that raises eyebrows for anyone expecting Irish location footage.

Filming locations in Ireland

None. According to People magazine’s location roundup, no scenes were shot in Ireland. The Guinness family’s actual Dublin home, Iveagh House, was recreated at Croxteth Hall in Liverpool. (Time Out’s filming report)

Filming locations outside Ireland (Liverpool and beyond)

The bulk of the Irish settings were built in northern England and Wales:

• Stockport’s Underbanks stood in for Dublin’s streets. St Mary’s Church and The Cracked Actor bar were among the spots used. (ELLE UK’s location guide)
• Manchester’s Northern Quarter (Lever Street, Dale Street, Back Piccadilly) represented New York. (TV Insider)
• Stanley Dock in Liverpool served as the exterior of the Guinness brewery. (Time Out)
• Penrhyn Castle in North Wales replaced Ashford Castle (County Mayo) as the fictional country home. (TV Insider)
• Snowdonia’s Gwynedd doubled for the Irish village of Cloonboo. (The Independent)
• Tatton Park in Cheshire was reportedly used for some mansion interiors. (ELLE UK)

The catch: a show about Ireland’s most famous export was filmed everywhere except Ireland.

Will there be a season 2 of House of Guinness?

Current renewal status

As of late 2025, Netflix has not officially renewed House of Guinness for a second season. The streaming giant typically waits 60–90 days after a season’s premiere to gauge viewership and completion rates before making a call.

Possibilities for a second season

The show’s period-drama pedigree — creator Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Doctor Who) and a built-in historical arc — gives it a solid chance. But Netflix has canceled several serialized period dramas after one season in recent years. Performance data will determine the outcome.

The implication: fans should temper expectations. The source material (the Guinness family’s late 19th century) has plenty of story left, but a green light depends on what Netflix’s algorithms say.

Were any of the Guinness family assassinated in real life?

A dark rumor sometimes surfaces online, but the historical record is clear: no Guinness family members were assassinated. Deaths among the brewing dynasty came from natural causes or accidents. The series does not depict an assassination either. This question likely arises from the show’s high-stakes drama, where family feuds and threats make for tense television — but not real-world violence.

The trade-off: the show’s fictional tension can blur lines, but the actual Guinness story is one of business rivalry, not bloodshed.

Timeline signal

• 1759 — Arthur Guinness signs the lease for St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. (Wikipedia)
• 1868 — Benjamin Guinness dies; the series begins here.
• 1870s — The family feud between branches of the Guinness dynasty intensifies. (TV Insider)
• 2025 — Netflix releases House of Guinness in September. (Wikipedia)

What this means: the 1759 founding lease is the bedrock fact. Everything after 1868 is where the show takes creative license.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

“I wanted to bring a sense of real family tension — not just the brewing, but the cost of legacy.”

— Anthony Boyle, speaking about his role as Arthur Guinness (via TV Insider’s interview)

“The Guinness story is one of the great untold dynasties. The show captures the scale and the shadow of that legacy.”

— Netflix Tudum editorial team, in the official cast guide

“House of Guinness is a historical drama centered on the Guinness family after the death of Benjamin Guinness in 1868.”

— Wikipedia’s series synopsis

The common thread across these voices: the show leans into the weight of family legacy. For the cast, the challenge was balancing real history with dramatic storytelling.

For anyone deciding whether to watch House of Guinness, the choice is clear: if you want a tense period drama with strong performances and a fascination for brewing history, the series delivers. If you need strict Irish locations and documentary-level accuracy, you may find the trade-offs frustrating. For Anthony Boyle’s Arthur Guinness, the story’s roots remain Irish, but the filming locations create a notable disconnect — one that only a potential season 2 could redress.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Say Nothing Cast: Who Stars in the FX Drama – Another Irish-set period drama with a strong ensemble cast.
• Hidden Assets Season 3: Release Date, Cast & Where to Watch – Irish crime drama with season-by-season casting details.