This post originally appeared on Teen Vogue.
Sex Education season 3 is finally out on Netflix, and with it, a slew of new characters both in and outside of Moordale Secondary.
When season 2 left off, Moordale was in need of a leader following the departure of Adam’s dad, Michael Groff. At the helm of the school this season is its very own dictator: Hope, a manipulative headteacher (played by Jemima Kirke) trying to rid Moordale of any kind of positive discussion of sex or identity. Though she seems fun and relatable at the start, she quickly pivots, splitting hallways in two and forcing the students into gendered uniforms. New characters Cal (Dua Saleh) and Layla (Robyn Holdaway) arguably bear the worst of Hope’s choices; both are nonbinary and simply trying to exist safely at school.
But all is not lost at Moordale this season, especially if Cal, Viv, Jackson, and more have anything to do with it. As you stream season 3, dive in to the new characters in Sex Education, and learn about where you’ve seen them before.
Dua Saleh as Cal
Season 3’s breakout star is acting newcomer Dua Saleh as the relaxed, cool Cal. The character is from Minneapolis, and upon arriving at Moordale, they quickly connect with Jackson (Kedar Williams-Stirling), who desperately needs someone to tell him to give himself a break. Cal doesn’t have everything about themselves or their nonbinary identity figured out, but they have a quiet confidence that plays well with Jackson’s more high-strung personality; their scenes together are some of the most compelling this season.
Though this is Dua’s first professional acting role, you might know them for their imaginative, genre-defying music. The Sudanese-American songwriter released their last EP Rosetta back in 2020, and is currently gearing up for a new one, out in October. Check out previous tracks “umbrellar” and “smut” to get a sense of how dynamic their style is, and prepare to become even more of a fan.
Jemima Kirke as Hope
Jemima Kirke’s new headteacher Hope has big Umbridge energy, though it’s a bait-and-switch — at first, she is cool, chic presence who breaks out a little dance at the school assembly. Very quickly, she’s demanding strict new student policies, demeaning people’s identities, and instituting abstinence-only sex education. Yikes.
The character definitely plays with any assumptions viewers may have about Jemima Kirke, given her previous landmark role: the somewhat iconic, detached Jessa in HBO’s Girls. (Born in London but raised in New York, Jemima went to school with Lena Dunham and acted in Girls precursor Tiny Furniture.) Following Sex Ed, you’ll next see her in the adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, Conversations With Friends.
Jerry Iwu as Oba
In Sex Education season 3, we get to see Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) visit his family in Nigeria for a wedding. Though his mom cautions him not to wear his sexuality so overtly because of the country’s anti-gay laws, he finds a queer community there, largely thanks to a photographer named Oba who shows Eric a different side of himself.
