Kali Reis on the rise, and other celebrities who starred in True Detective

Throughout its four seasons, many stars have participated in 'True Detective'. In the fourth season, released in the winter of 2024, we witnessed the birth of a new Hollywood star: the professional boxer Kali Reis.

Kali Reis is an outstanding female boxer who, in the fourth season of 'True Detective' - an installment titled 'Night Country' - drew TV fans' attention for her excellent performance as agent Evangeline Navarro.

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Acting as the partner of Jodie Foster's character, the quirky Ennis, Alaska detective Liz Danvers, Kali Reis had nothing to envy of the seasoned, Oscar-winning star. The on-screen synergy of the two actresses was so good that it led critics to express their amazement at Reis' natural acting talent.

Photo: HBO

The acclaimed HBO crime series 'True Detective' began with the iconic duo of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as the police officers, but there have been so many more stars in its four seasons.

Photo: HBO

'True Detective' is an anthology series focusing on specific criminal mysteries - one per season - and taking us to different locations (American states) with each time a new duo of detectives. What they have in common, though, is that they are usually played by actors with big names.

Image: HBO

In addition, the show has introduced a diverse cast with some lesser-known actors to show off their talent. Do you know who made 'True Detective' one of TV's most popular shows? Let's take a look in the following gallery.

Image: HBO

We must emphasize Matthew McConaughey's tremendous metamorphosis for, and throughout, the series. He won a Critics' Choice Award for his role as the mysterious detective Rustin Cohle and was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Image: HBO

Matthew McConaughey has received nominations and awards for numerous other performances. He's known for movies like 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013), for which he won an Oscar, ' Interstellar' (2014), and 'A Time to Kill' (1996).

Before starring in the second season of 'True Detective,' this Irish actor was already known for films like 'Minority Report' (2002) and 'In Bruges' (2008), the latter earning him a Golden Globe. In 2022, Farrell won a long-awaited Oscar for 'The Banshees of Inisherin'. While the first season of 'True Detective' took place in Louisiana, the second was set in California.

For the third season, we went to the state of Arkansas, where two-time Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali played the detective. Not much in the news for extravagances or scandals, this actor quietly climbs Hollywood's Olympus with Oscars for 'Moonlight' (2017) and 'The Green Book' (2019). Recently, he starred in 'Leave the World Behind' (2023) alongside Julia Roberts.

McConaughey's partner in season 1 was Woody Harrelson. They work together perfectly, like brothers, and the two actors have in fact known each other for a long time. After gaining prominence with 'Cheers' (1985-93), Harrelson starred in numerous movies and got three Oscar nominations: for 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2017), 'The Messenger' (2009), and 'The People vs. Larry Flynt' (1996).

This beautiful actress starred alongside Colin Farrell in 'True Detective.' She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in 'Spotlight' in the same year (2015). Of course, many also remember her romance with Ryan Gosling in ‘The Notebook’ (2004).

Golden Globe-nominated for ‘True Detective’, Monaghan is a familiar face on the small and big screen with roles in ‘Gone Baby Gone’ (2007), ‘Mission Impossible’ (2006-2011), and the limited series ‘Echoes’ (2022), among others.

A familiar face from season 2 was this Canadian actor who also appeared in ‘Friday Night Lights’ (2006-2011). He later played the role of David Koresh in 'Waco' (2018) and participated in the limited series ‘Painkiller’ (2023).

Another star surprising us in 'True Detective' is 90s heartthrob Stephen Dorff. You may recognize him from 'Backbeat' (1994), 'Blade' (1998), ‘Public Enemies’ (2009), or, more recently, 'The Righteous Gemstones’ (2023).

Jodie Foster stars as a 'True Detective' in season 4, set in Alaska. A big name in Hollywood, she has won two Oscars, for 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) and 'The Accused' (1988). She is also known for 'Nell' (1994), 'Contact' (1997), 'Anna and the King' (1999), 'The Mauritanian' (2021), and 'Nyad' (2023).

Photo: HBO

Since he's a comedy actor known for movies like ‘Wedding Crashers’ (2005) or 'Fred Claus' (2007), critics had trouble seeing Vince Vaughn as a serious mob boss in season 2 of 'True Detective.' That's too bad because beforehand, he said he really looked forward to playing different kinds of roles like this one.

She had a supporting role in season 1 and has come a long way since then. In 2021, Daddario was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her role in 'The White Lotus.' She also appeared in 'American Horror Story' (2015), and 'Why Women Kill' (2019).

This 'True Detective' star (playing the mobster's wife in season 2) has continued to grow on the small screen. She got SAG and Critics Choice Award nominations for her role as Beth Dutton in ‘Yellowstone’ (2018-).

Joining Jodie Foster in the cold, is this American actor and producer who once got an Oscar nomination for his role in 'Winter's Bone' (2010). You may also recognize him from 'Lost' (2010), 'Lincoln' (2012), or 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2017).

Alongside Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff, he may have had slightly less notoriety in 'True Detective,' but don't underestimate this actor, cause he is known for ‘Damages’ (2007-2012), ‘Narcos’ (2015-2017), ‘Joker’ (2019), and ‘The Blacklist’ (2013-2023).

Potts was one of the detectives in charge of figuring out what on earth the unconventional character of Matthew McConaughey had been up to in season 1. He is also known for ‘Gotham’ (2014-2016), ‘All Souls’ (2019 -), and ‘East New York’ (2021-2022).

Good old David Morse became famous in every living room thanks to 'St. Elsewhere' (1982-1988). He was a true catch as a supporting actor (a long-haired spiritual leader) in the second season of 'True Detective,' having shone in films like 'Twelve Monkeys' (1995), 'The Rock' (1995), 'Contact' (1997), and ' The Green Mile' (1999).

The daughter of superstar Meryl Streep makes her own way in Hollywood by appearing in 'True Detective' as well as 'The Big C' (2010-2012), 'The Good Wife' (2009-2016), and 'The Good Fight' (2017-2022), among many others.

Who doesn't recognize her face, whether it's from the 'Harry Potter' saga, the 90s hit 'Three Men and a Little Lady' (1990), or series like 'Fleabag' (2019) and 'Killing Eve' (2018-2022), both of which got her Primetime Emmy nominations? The Iris actress appears in the 4th season of 'True Detective' alongside Jodie Foster.

He was the detectives' supervisor in season 1, and it often seemed like he was covering something up. Kevin Dunn has played strong supporting roles since the 80s and would win a SAG Award for his role in the series 'Veep' (2013-2019), so who better to cast as Major Ken Quesada in 'True Detective'?

This English actress took on an Arkansas accent to play a school teacher in 'True Detective.' She's also appeared in 'Selma' (2014), 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' (2016-2018), and 'Alien: Covenant' (2017), among others.

This American actor had a long career in Hollywood, starting with 'Escape from Alcatraz' (1979) and continuing with films like 'Short Cuts' (1993), for which he won a Golden Globe, and 'True Detective' (2015) which would be his last production. He died in May 2022.

Born in 1977, this American actor didn't get on the screen until the 2000s. With 'Argo' (2012) and '12 Years a Slave' (2013), he picked two excellent, Oscar-winning movies to star in. Then came the series 'Halt and Catch Fire' (2014-17), 'Fargo (2017), and 'Godless' (2017) which really gave him the recognition among a great audience that he deserved.

The professional boxer and star of 'True Detective' Season 4 participated in the film 'Catch the Fair One' (2021) as both the lead actress and a writer. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for that role in 2022. Now, we can clearly state that she has gone from an unfamiliar face in Hollywood to a real star.

HBO announced that the release of a possible fifth season would depend on the success of the fourth, which premiered on January 14, 2024. A month into the streaming, on February 13, HBO announced that 'Night Country' had already surpassed the total number of viewers of the first season with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. We'd be surprised, therefore, if there wouldn't be a 'True Detective' season 5.

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