Lucy is a former recruiter who leaves her job to become a stay-at-home mother, honoring the legacy of her deceased mother, Joy. As a newcomer to the affluent Goodwin family, she hopes to find a maternal figure in her mother-in-law. She favors wearing bright, vintage-style dresses and openly expresses her emotions, which frequently puts her at odds with her husband's family.

Diana is the wealthy matriarch of the Goodwin family and a dedicated philanthropist who advocates for refugee women. She maintains an emotionally detached approach to parenting, refusing to cater to the financial demands of her adult children. Her insistence on fostering self-reliance causes friction within the family.

Ollie is Lucy's husband and the son of Diana and Tom Goodwin. Raised in a wealthy household but denied financial handouts by his mother, Ollie works in a recruitment agency he started with his childhood friend Eamon. He generally maintains a calm demeanor but frequently deals with the conflict between his wife and his mother.

Nettie is Ollie's sister and Diana's daughter. Articulate and capable, she holds a demanding job while dealing with severe fertility issues caused by polycystic ovaries. Her desperate desire to become a mother dominates her thoughts and creates deep resentment toward Diana, who refuses to pay for IVF.

Patrick is Nettie's husband. He regularly supports her as she endures the physical and emotional toll of attempting to conceive. He has a contentious relationship with his mother-in-law, Diana, who suspects his motives are driven by the Goodwin family wealth.

Tom is the patriarch of the Goodwin family and Diana's husband. Originally a plumber's apprentice, he built a highly successful career as a partner in a residential development firm. Unlike his wife, Tom is more lenient with his children and secretly gives them money when they ask.

Eamon is Ollie's childhood friend and business partner. After a difficult divorce leaves him financially ruined, he starts a meal replacement kit business and later a recruitment agency. He frequently pressures Ollie to invest Goodwin family money into their joint ventures.

Ghezala is a young Afghan refugee whom Diana assists through her charitable organization. She forms a close bond with Diana after the older woman delivers her baby. Ghezala provides Diana with a comfortable, non-judgmental space to share secrets about her own difficult past.

Hakem is Ghezala's husband. He is an educated Afghan engineer who struggles to find adequate employment in Australia. His frustrations occasionally cause friction between him and Diana, who secures him a position at Tom's firm.

Archie is Lucy and Ollie's eldest child and Diana's first grandson. As a baby, his severe colic creates stress for Lucy, prompting unsolicited advice and unexpected visits from Diana.

Harriet is Lucy and Ollie's middle child. Her stubborn nature and early colic contribute to Lucy's challenges with motherhood and further the tension between Lucy and Diana.

Edie is Lucy and Ollie's youngest child. She is young and largely unaware of the complex family dynamics surrounding her grandmother's death.

Joy is Lucy's late mother who died of breast cancer when Lucy was thirteen. Her legacy of selfless, dutiful domesticity strongly influences Lucy's decision to abandon her career and focus entirely on her family.

Meredith is Diana's older, divorced cousin. She takes a pregnant, ostracized Diana into her home and teaches her harsh but necessary lessons about self-reliance and independence.

Pamela, who goes by Pammy, is a 14-year-old pregnant girl living at the home for unwed mothers. Diana attempts to teach her decorum before Pammy unexpectedly disappears from the facility.