How the Cast of Big Little Lies Compares to Their Characters in the Book

Described at one point as "the girliest girl you've ever seen," Madeline is plucky and bubbly, fond of glittery bracelets, and unafraid of making a few enemies when it comes to the pushy PTA moms at the school of her two children. She's best friends with Celeste, and once the shy and awkward Jane moves to town, she ends up being like a cool older sister figure for her. Reese Witherspoon is a pro at playing upbeat, well-meaning characters, and she's been the perfect fit for Madeline.

Jane is a 24-year-old single mother with a dark secret who decides to move to a new town to give her son, Ziggy, the opportunity to attend a better school. She's frequently described as "small and thin" and very plain, with her dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Shailene Woodley, who has the perfect girl-next-door looks for the part, has had no problem in the past taking on roles of complex young women, as in The Fault in Our Stars or White Bird in a Blizzard. We give her performance an A+.

Rich, beautiful, and with the picture-perfect family, Celeste Wright seems to have it all. The only catch? Her private life isn't nearly as great as it seems. Nicole Kidman has brought the perfect level of quiet sophistication to the role, especially now that Celeste's well-maintained facade has started to crumble.

The other half of the gorgeous Wright couple is Perry, a handsome businessman "who always appears so scrupulously confident and relaxed . . . like a charismatic Hollywood star on a talk show." He makes a big show of his love for his wife, Celeste, and their twin sons, Josh and Max. Alexander Skarsgard, someone with no shortage of movie star looks, has been a great fit as Perry, giving off that same kind of dangerous charm as he did in True Blood.

Adam Scott has a knack for playing d*ckish characters in movies like Step Brothers and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, but he's channeled the same kind of sweet and logical characteristics he had while playing the lovable Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation for this. Ed Mackenzie is Madeline's stable, affectionate husband who just wants the best for his wife and kids. Take one passage, when Ed is describing to Jane the moment he fell in love with Madeline when they were just kids during a cricket game:

"So out she'd come, flick, flick of the hair, flounce, flounce of the dress, and she'd take the bat, and next thing, WHAM!" He slammed an imaginary cricket bat. "And those boys would fall to their knees, clutching their heads. That's when I fell in love with her. Truly, madly, deeply. Watching from my bedroom window."

Powerful and career-driven, Renata is also the leader of "The Blonde Bobs," aka the occasionally catty group of mothers who are always at the center of schoolyard politics. Renata ends up getting into a tussle with Jane over issues with their children, and Madeline is one of the only people to stand up for her, solidifying their friendship. There's nothing that actress Laura Dern can't handle, and in our not-so-humble opinions, she has brought Renata to life perfectly.

Revenge star James Tupper plays Nathan Carlson, Madeline's ex-husband. The former couple isn't on good terms thanks to Nathan's choice to marry a gorgeous, young yoga instructor, Bonnie, and their incredibly different parenting styles.

In the novel, Madeline says Bonnie, Nathan's new wife, is "impossible to hate." She's laid back and beautiful, and has the strongest moral compass out of the whole bunch. That happens to sound a lot like Zoë Kravitz, huh?