Clarissa is a fifty-two-year-old publisher living in 1990s New York City. She lives a comfortable, domestic life with her long-term partner, Sally, but frequently yearns for the passion of her youth. Nicknamed "Mrs. Dalloway" by her friend Richard, she closely mirrors the literary character as she prepares to host a party in Richard's honor. She loves the vibrant energy of the city and finds profound beauty in everyday moments.

Laura is a pregnant housewife living in the suburbs of 1949 Los Angeles. Although she married a decorated World War II veteran and outwardly fulfills the expectations of postwar domesticity, she feels profoundly disconnected from her life. She prefers the solitary, imaginative space of literature to her daily responsibilities. Her emotional isolation pushes her to seek refuge in reading and anonymous spaces.

Virginia is a brilliant author living in Richmond, England, in 1923. She struggles with debilitating migraines and auditory hallucinations, which her husband treats by moving her away from the excitement of London. She channels her complex emotional experiences and observations of domestic life into her writing. Desperate to return to the city, she frequently fights feelings of confinement in her quiet suburban environment.

Richard is a distinguished, award-winning poet living in 1990s New York City. He is suffering from severe AIDS-related illness, which ravages his body and clouds his mind with hallucinatory voices. A highly ego-driven artist, he often turns his friends into larger-than-life characters in his mind. He faces a profound sense of failure despite his recent literary accolades.

Sally is Clarissa's partner of eighteen years, characterized by her severe face and restless energy. She works in media and navigates high-profile social circles, producing content and meeting with celebrities. Though she deeply loves Clarissa, she sometimes worries about the vulnerability that accompanies long-term commitment.

Dan is Laura's husband, a handsome and decorated World War II veteran living in 1949 Los Angeles. He is completely satisfied with his postwar life, his suburban home, and his family. His uncomplicated contentment sharply contrasts with his wife's internal unrest.

Richie is the three-year-old son of Laura and Dan Brown. He is an earnest, highly observant child who constantly monitors his mother's emotional state. His intense focus on Laura makes him a barometer for her shifting moods.

Leonard is an author, publisher, and Virginia's devoted husband. He manages her health with strict oversight, moving them to Richmond to facilitate her recovery. While he shows immense patience as a caretaker, he operates as a harsh taskmaster with his employees.

Vanessa is Virginia's older sister, radiating a hale and effortless maternal energy. She manages her three children with a calm confidence that Virginia finds grounding. Her presence highlights the differences in the sisters' capacities for domesticity.

Julia is Clarissa's teenage daughter, described as grave, hale, and handsome. She dresses in a butch style, heavily influenced by her close friend Mary Krull. Her independence occasionally triggers her mother's insecurities about parenting.

Louis is a former drama teacher who recently moved from San Francisco to New York. He is Richard's former lover, having spent a pivotal summer with him and Clarissa years ago. He often feels isolated and cynical about the presence of genuine love in the world.

Kitty is Laura's neighbor, an embodiment of the confidence and popularity of an idealized suburban housewife. She visits Laura to ask her to feed her dog while she undergoes a medical procedure. Her vulnerability during this visit alters Laura's perception of her.

Mary is a queer theorist in her forties who presents in a deliberately butch style. She views sexual orientation through a highly political lens and aggressively rejects conventional societal norms. She harbors a quiet but intense romantic desire for Julia.

Walter is an athletic, successful author of popular gay romance novels. He fully embraces an unapologetic, hedonistic lifestyle. He represents the kind of commercial success and social maneuvering that Richard despises.

Evan is Walter Hardy's partner. He is living with severe illness but is beginning to see improvements due to new drug regimens.

Oliver is a B-movie action star who transitioned into a celebrity gay rights activist after being outed by a magazine. He carries an undeniable star aura and commands attention in professional settings.

Nelly is the housekeeper for Virginia and Leonard Woolf. She operates with a firm, capable domestic authority that routinely intimidates Virginia.

Ralph is a temporary literary assistant working at Hogarth House. He frequently makes careless errors in his work, drawing Leonard's intense frustration.

Barbara is a florist and a former opera singer who now lives in poverty while battling cancer. She provides a brief moment of perfect, grounding interaction for Clarissa during her morning errands.

Willie is a stranger who watches Clarissa walking through the city. He confidently but incorrectly projects his own assumptions about aging and tragedy onto her.

Mrs. Latch is a neighbor of the Browns who steps in to babysit Richie. She feels slightly hurt when Richie cries upon Laura's return, misinterpreting the child's reaction.

Ray is Kitty's husband. Once a vital, popular boy, he has grown into an unremarkable adult who struggles with potential infertility, adding unspoken strain to his marriage.

Julian is Vanessa's fifteen-year-old son. He is handsome, serious, and favored by his mother, and he takes the lead in addressing a dead bird found in the garden.

Quentin is Vanessa's thirteen-year-old son. Though common-looking, he possesses a smart, ironic sensibility and treats the garden bird's burial with tender care.

Angelica is Vanessa's five-year-old daughter. She is nervous and pretty, demonstrating a fleeting interest in nurturing before moving on to play.