Marie Curie (played by Rosamund Pike) is a protagonist in Radioactive.
Central protagonist whose life is recounted through flashbacks. She discovers radioactivity and radium, shares a Nobel Prize with Pierre, wins a second Nobel in Chemistry, and faces public scandal over her affair with Paul Langevin. During WWI, she operates mobile X-ray units. Her life ends in 1934 as she envisions the future nuclear age. Pierre Curie (played by Sam Riley) is a protagonist in Radioactive.
Marie's husband and scientific partner. They share a lab, marry, and have two children. Pierre co-discovers radioactivity and radium, accepts a Nobel Prize in Physics jointly, and later suffers from research-related anemia before dying in a horse-drawn cart accident. Paul Langevin (played by Aneurin Barnard) appears in Radioactive.
Marie's colleague with whom she begins a romantic affair. The relationship becomes public and is exploited by xenophobic French nationalist press to harass Marie due to her Polish heritage. Loie Fuller (played by Drew Jacoby) appears in Radioactive.
A friend present at a séance where radium was used to attempt contact with the dead. Later, Marie tearfully begs Loie to try using radium again to reach Pierre after his death.
Radioactive (2020) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Marie Curie
(played by Rosamund Pike) — protagonist
Central protagonist whose life is recounted through flashbacks. She discovers radioactivity and radium, shares a Nobel Prize with Pierre, wins a second Nobel in Chemistry, and faces public scandal ove...
Pierre Curie
(played by Sam Riley) — protagonist
Marie's husband and scientific partner. They share a lab, marry, and have two children. Pierre co-discovers radioactivity and radium, accepts a Nobel Prize in Physics jointly, and later suffers from r...
Paul Langevin
(played by Aneurin Barnard) — supporting
Marie's colleague with whom she begins a romantic affair. The relationship becomes public and is exploited by xenophobic French nationalist press to harass Marie due to her Polish heritage.
Loie Fuller
(played by Drew Jacoby) — minor
A friend present at a séance where radium was used to attempt contact with the dead. Later, Marie tearfully begs Loie to try using radium again to reach Pierre after his death.
Key Relationships
Pierre Curie → Paul Langevin
(Conflict Romantic Rival)
Marie Curie → Loie Fuller
(Social Close Friend)
Marie Curie → Paul Langevin
(Romantic Affair Partner)
Marie Curie → Pierre Curie
(Family Spouse)
Story Analysis
The film traces Marie Curie's scientific breakthroughs, personal tragedies, and the enduring legacy of radioactivity through a reflective narrative structure.
