"My name is Daniel Blake. I am a man, not a dog."
I, Daniel Blake - Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Daniel Blake
Dave Johns
Motivation
To retain his self-respect and secure the support he has paid into his whole life, while helping Katie survive.
Character Arc
A proud carpenter who starts with a belief in common sense and fairness. As he hits wall after wall, his frustration grows, but his integrity remains unshaken. He dies just moments before potentially winning his appeal, becoming a martyr for the cause of common decency.
Katie Morgan
Hayley Squires
Motivation
Survival and providing for her children, Daisy and Dylan.
Character Arc
Forced to move 300 miles from London to Newcastle to find housing, she starts as a determined protector of her children. The system grinds her down until she resorts to shoplifting and eventually sex work to feed her family, a choice that breaks Daniel's heart.
China
Kema Sikazwe
Motivation
To make money and avoid the trap of the system.
Character Arc
Daniel's young neighbor who understands the system is rigged and operates outside of it by selling knock-off sneakers. He represents the entrepreneurial spirit forced into the gray market to survive.