Nancy is an independent, bold Australian freelance reporter working for Hearst newspapers in Paris. She uses her charm, wit, and signature red lipstick to command respect in spaces dominated by men in the 1930s and 1940s. Driven by a deep sense of justice, she initially reports on the terrifying rise of the Nazi regime before actively involving herself in the war effort as an ambulance driver, smuggler, and eventually an intelligence operative.

Henri is a millionaire industrialist from a family of shipbuilders in Marseille. Initially appearing as a wealthy playboy, he quickly demonstrates deep loyalty and devotion after falling for Nancy. He breaks from the traditional patriarchal molds of his era, fully supporting his wife's independence and wartime activities while managing his business and military draft obligations.

Marceline is Henri’s elegant but highly resentful ex-girlfriend. She works as a secretary for Police Commissioner Paquet in Marseille. Driven by xenophobia and jealousy, she actively attempts to sabotage Henri and Nancy's relationship, believing Henri should be with a Frenchwoman instead of a foreigner.

Codenamed Hubert, John Farmer is an experienced British soldier assigned as Nancy's partner for her Special Operations Executive mission. He initially harbors doubts about working with a female operative, reflecting the sexist attitudes of the military at the time. Over time, he provides critical tactical insights for their operations and learns to respect her capabilities.

Gaspard is a reckless and chauvinistic Maquis commander. He operates with violent misogyny, actively disrespecting Nancy and initially viewing her and Hubert as targets to rob rather than allies. He refuses to organize his troops logically, making his unit chaotic and vulnerable to attack.

Obersturmführer Wolff is a brutal and sadistic Nazi officer whom Nancy first encounters in Vienna. He embodies the terrifying violence of the regime, destroying Frank's camera and Nancy's notebook before resurfacing later in France as a high-ranking Gestapo officer.

Stephanie is Nancy’s glamorous, fiercely independent best friend in Paris. She frequently encourages Nancy to maintain her autonomy and avoid falling too quickly into romantic traps. Living a comfortable life, she is married to an elusive and wealthy man known as the Count, whose secretive work eventually forces them to flee the country.

Henri Tardivat is an intelligent, wry leader within the Maquis who manages logistics and intelligence. Unlike some of his peers, he approaches Nancy without prejudice, judging her entirely based on her ability to supply weapons and support his troops rather than her gender.

Henri Fournier is a dedicated Maquis leader who abandoned his life as a wealthy businessman to finance and fight alongside the resistance. He commands the respect of his men through disciplined leadership and smart tactical planning, living rough in the woods to combat the German forces.

Judex is Gaspard's loyal lieutenant in the Maquis. He follows his commander's lead in military strategy and shares Gaspard's brutal, chaotic approach to resistance warfare, showing a willingness to use torture and violence without hesitation.

Denis Rake, operating under the codename Denden, is a skilled radio operator for the SOE. He plays a vital role in transmitting messages to London to secure airdrops and provisions for the resistance fighters. During training, he acts as Nancy's instructor in hand-to-hand combat and Morse code.

René Dusacq is an SOE weapons specialist and instructor. Operating under the codename Anselm, he is brought into the French countryside to train the local resistance fighters on properly handling explosives and firearms to prevent accidental injuries.

Ian Garrow is a tall, redheaded British operative working to establish escape routes for captured soldiers and refugees out of occupied France. He operates under aliases, including "Simón Bolívar," and relies on civilian smugglers to transport crucial documents safely.

Patrick O'Leary is an operative working alongside Ian Garrow in the escape network. He takes a hands-on approach to organizing safe passage for refugees and downed pilots, demonstrating quick thinking when navigating dangerous Vichy checkpoints.

Frank Gilmore is a British photographer working alongside Nancy during her time as a journalist. He travels with her to Vienna and Berlin to document the rising violence of the Nazi regime, sharing her horror at the escalating situation.

Monsieur Paquet is the local police commissioner in Marseille and a neighbor to Henri and Nancy. He operates under the Vichy government and uses his position to harass the couple, frequently questioning their visitors and looking for reasons to evict them.

Ranier is Henri's father, a wealthy and conservative patriarch of the Fiocca shipbuilding family. He is openly xenophobic and highly critical of Nancy's background, believing his son should marry a traditional Frenchwoman rather than a foreign journalist.

Louis Autry is a young French volunteer fighting with the Maquis. He lacks formal military training but is eager to contribute to the resistance, relying on Nancy for basic medical care and asking her to check on his pregnant wife in Montluçon.

Antoine is a friendly bartender at the hotel where Nancy stays before her wedding. He provides Nancy with local intelligence and eventually asks her to help deliver a package for his friend, officially drawing her into the smuggling network.

Count Paul Gonzalez is Stephanie's wealthy and mysterious husband. He operates in the shadows, using his vast resources and connections to locate people and secretly deal arms across Europe.

Roger le Neveu is a French collaborator working as an assassin and informant for the Germans. He infiltrates resistance networks to gather vital information, ultimately becoming a target for the Maquis.

Jonas Lieberman is a Jewish refugee who escaped Vienna after being subjected to brutal violence by the Brownshirts. He bears a massive facial scar and provides Nancy with crucial firsthand accounts of the escalating Nazi atrocities.

Maurice Buckmaster is the head of the French section of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in London. He oversees the rigorous physical and mental training of new recruits before deploying them into occupied territory.