- Sofia Carson, Kyle Allen, Sebastian de Souza, and Connie Britton lead the romantic drama’s stacked ensemble.By Brookie McIlvaineMarch 28, 2025
The Life Listfollows the Roses, a family from Brooklyn, New York, helmed by matriarch and beauty mogul Elizabeth (Connie Britton). When Elizabeth dies of a terminal illness, she leaves behind a will stipulating that her daughter, Alex (Sofia Carson), will receive a mystery inheritance only after she completes a list of goals she wrote as a teenager.
Based on the novel of the same name by Lori Nelson Spielman, The Life List is written and directed by rom-com veteran Adam Brooks (Definitely, Maybe; Imposters) and is part of Netflix’s partnership with producer Liza Chasin (The Lost City, Stillwater) and her 3dot Productions.
In the midst of grief, Alex accepts the challenge, rediscovering dreams she’d abandoned or even forgotten. She’s buoyed and challenged by friends and family old and new — and the quest helps her find a way to stay connected to her mother. Keep reading to learn about the characters (played by a cast also including Kyle Allen and Sebastian de Souza) who show how the people we love most are the ones who can help us become our best selves. The Life List is available to watch on Netflix now and get to know the cast below.
Sofia Carson as Alex in The Life List.
NICOLE RIVELLI/NETFLIX
Sofia Carson
as Alex
About the Character
The youngest child of a successful businesswoman and sister to two high-achieving, type A brothers, Alex is rebellious, unpredictable, and aimless. She expects to inherit her mother’s beauty empire, but in order to receive a mystery bequest, she’s tasked with completing a “life list” of goals she dreamed up when she was 13. As she checks off each item, Alex rediscovers her passion for teaching, navigates romance, and uncovers family secrets. Through it all, she grows into the person she — and her mother — always dreamed she could be.
Kyle Allen as Brad in The Life List.
NICOLE RIVELLI/NETFLIX
Kyle Allen
as Brad
About the Character
A young lawyer at a firm full of veterans, Brad is appointed by Elizabeth as the executor of her estate. It’s his job to ensure Alex completes her life list in order to claim her inheritance. Initially, Alex and Brad bicker, but over time, they grow closer, and Brad becomes a steady source of support as Alex’s list grows more complicated.
Previously In
West Side Story, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, American Horror Story
Sofia Carson as Alex and Sebastian de Souza as Garrett in The Life List.
Sebastian de Souza
as Garrett
About the Character
On paper, Garrett is the perfect boyfriend: charming and intelligent. He’s also Alex’s colleague at Esther House, a women’s shelter, where he helps Alex mark off one item on her list.
Connie Britton as Elizabeth in The Life List.
Connie Britton
as Elizabeth
About the Character
The matriarch of the Rose family and leader of the beauty brand Rose Cosmetics, Elizabeth shares a uniquely close bond with her daughter. When her terminal illness returns, she knows she won’t be around to guide Alex through adulthood, so she devises the idea of the life list — and leaves behind her own life lessons in a series of DVDs.
Sofia Carson as Alex and José Zúñiga as Samuel in The Life List.
NICOLE RIVELLI/NETFLIX
José Zúñiga
as Samuel
About the Character
Samuel raised Alex — he’s the only dad she’s ever known — but they’ve been distant for years. In the wake of Elizabeth’s death, they meet up to rebuild their relationship, and Alex finds out there’s much more to their story.
Jordi Mollà
About the Character
Johnny is a mysterious musician who lives in Vermont and gigs at a local bar. Alex travels to see him play — and to get some answers about her family.
Dario Ladani Sanchez as Lucas (left) and Federico Rodriguez (right) as Julian in The Life List.
Dario Ladani Sanchez
as Lucas
About the Character
Lucas is Alex’s brother, who still thinks of Alex as the little sister that gets a pass from their mother.
Sofia Carson as Alex (left), Federico Rodriguez as Julian (center), and Dario Ladani Sanchez as Lucas (right) in The Life List.
Federico Rodriguez
About the Character
Julian, Alex’s other brother, initially dismisses her journey and is more concerned about some of the more practical aspects of the family business.
Dario Ladani Sanchez as Lucas and Marianne Rendón as Zoe in The Life List.
Marianne Rendón
Zoe, Julian’s wife, is sweet and supportive toward her sister-in-law. She believes in Elizabeth’s plan just as she believes in her mother-in-law’s “true love test”: the four questions to ask yourself to determine whether someone is your match.
Michael Rowland as Finn in The Life List.
Michael Rowland
About the Character
Finn is Alex’s boyfriend, but when Alex realizes that he is more concerned about his zombie video game than supporting her through her grief, she crosses him right off her list.
Chelsea Frei as Megan (left) and Sebastian De Souza as Garrett (right) in The Life List.
Chelsea Frei
as Megan
About the Character
Megan is Alex’s similarly wayward friend who encourages her to have fun and turn the list into an adventure.
Luca Padovan as Ezra in The Life List.
Luca Padovan
as Ezra
About the Character
Ezra is one of Alex’s students at Esther House. At first, Alex struggles to get through to him — he’s angry and skeptical of her — until the list helps reignite her passion for teaching and find a way to connect.
From left to right, Dario Ladani Sanchez as Lucas, Marianne Rendón as Zoe, Sofia Carson as Alex, Rachel Zeiger-Haag as Catherine, and Federico Rodriguez as Julian in The Life List.
Rachel Zeiger-Haag
as Catherine
About the Character
Catherine, who’s in a relationship with Lucas, receives a surprising inheritance after Elizabeth’s death.
Maria Jung as Nina (left) and Kyle Allen as Brad (right) in The Life List.