Everything you need to know about Poker Face
Poker Face is a murder-mystery comedy drama that takes inspiration from past shows like Columbo and Magnum PI in its storytelling.
Operating on a “case of the week” basis, the story centers around Charlie Cale, a casino worker with a natural ability to detect lies.
When she witnesses a suspicious death, Charlie heads on the road as she goes on the run from a casino boss.
On the way, she finds herself making her way through one mystery after another – meeting many unique characters along the way.
Launching in January 2024, Poker Face reached critical acclaim and was celebrated during awards season.
Directed by Rian Johnson (The Knives Out series, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), the series is helmed by Natasha Lyonne as the star, executive producer, writer, and director.
Season two launched exclusively on Sky and NOW in May 2025.
Who stars in Poker Face and where have we seen them before?
Poker Face is a serial drama, and as such, the cast rotates from episode to episode.
Natasha Lyonne, best known for her roles including Orange Is The New Black, …But I’m A Cheerleader, Russian Doll, and American Pie, is the central character of Charlie Cale and appears in every episode.
However, it boasts an all-star guest cast every episode – many of which have previously appeared in other projects alongside Lyonne.
Other notable recurring and guest stars throughout the series are:
- Benjamin Bratt (Law and Order, Miss Congeniality) as Cliff LeGrand
- Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory, Florence Foster Jenkins) as Luca Clark
- Pedro Hollywood (Kaleidoscope, City on Fire) as Mike
- Adrien Brody (The Pianist, Midnight in Paris) as Sterling Frost Jr.
- Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Hand of God) as Sterling Frost Sr.
- Charles Melton (May/December, Riverdale) as Davis McDowell
- Lil Rel Howery (Get Out, Free Guy) as Taffy Boyle
- Judith Light (Transparent, Ugly Betty) as Irene Smothers
- Hong Chau (The Whale, The Menu) as Marge
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, Looper) as Trey Nelson
- Chloë Sevigny (We Are Who We Are, Big Love) as Ruby Ruin
- Dascha Polanco (Orange Is The New Black) as Natalie Hill
- Megan Suri (American Pie, American Beauty) as Sara
- Clea DuVall (...But I’m A Cheerleader, Girl Interrupted) as Emily Cale
How successful was Poker Face and what awards has it won?
Poker Face developed a cult following in its first season and was highly praised during awards season as a result.
The show earned 63 nominations, winning eight overall – including a Primetime Emmy for Judith Light as Outstanding Guest Star in a Comedy Series.
Natasha Lyonne was also nominated for a Golden Globe, a Gotham Award, and a Critics Choice award, and won a Television Critics Association award.
What is the age rating of Poker Face?
The official rating of Poker Face in the UK, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is 15 for the overall series.
This means that it’s not suitable for children, with some scenes for more mature audiences.
Reasons for this rating is due to the show containing:
- Discussions of sex and sexual inferences
- Gun violence including murder
- Distressing violent moments
- Frequent use of profanity
- Scenes of murder with creative kills some may find upsetting
- Scenes of suicide some may find upsetting
How many episodes of Poker Face are there?
Poker Face has currently run for two seasons, totalling 22 episodes.
Season two was confirmed while the first season was still on the air, thanks to its radical cult reception.
Season one and two are available exclusively on Sky and NOW.
How to watch Poker Face in the UK
Poker Face is available in full to watch exclusively on Sky Max now. Season two launched exclusively on Sky and NOW in May 2025.
It’s also available to stream on Sky Go and NOW as well. It is not available on Netflix or Disney+.