Whether they’re the puppets or the puppet masters, the diverse set of characters on House of Cards add depth and intrigue to the show’s political machinations. Here’s how they stack up against each other. Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS through the Season 2 finale.
Nancy Kaufberger
Played by: Elizabeth Norment
What she does: secretary to the Democratic whip
Nancy is proud to be Frank Underwood's secretary — so proud, in fact, that with a little flattery, she's willing to aid Frank in spying on Jackie Sharp when she's Jackie's secretary in Season 2. (It's possible she didn't realize what she was doing, exactly. But come on.) Nancy hasn't been given much in terms of character development, but her loyalty, however twisted, is admirable.
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Gillian Cole
Played by: Sandrine Holt
What she does: employee, then owner of Clean Water Initiative
For a very brief period of time, Gillian was a thorn in Claire's side — it looked as though she might actually do some damage. And when Claire, in response to a potential lawsuit, basically threatened the life of Gillian's unborn child, it was an eye-opening moment: Claire could be just as cutthroat as Frank. But Gillian disappeared with little fanfare in Season 2, making it all feel a little pointless.
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Connor Ellis
Played by: Samuel Page
What he does: communications director for Claire Underwood
Aside from being perhaps the most attractive member of the Underwood's staff, Connor didn't leave much of a lasting impression. As soon as Seth Grayson started working for Claire and Frank, purposely pushing Connor out of the loop, there wasn't much left for Connor to do. He left abruptly, leaving only the memories of his pretty face behind.
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Lisa Williams
Played by: Kate Lyn Sheil
What she does: social worker
From the moment Lisa showed up on House of Cards, there were sparks between her and Rachel Posner. Oh, sure, they were just friends at first, but you could tell there was something more brewing. Who didn't breathe a sigh of relief when these two finally got together? Unfortunately, Lisa wasn't much of a character beyond that, and Doug forced Rachel to quickly dispatch her.
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