ZED (Sean Connery)

An Exterminator for the God, Zardoz. Selective breeding has provided him with exceptional powers, both mental and physical. He discovers that Zardoz has exploited and betrayed his people and plans revenge on the Vortex.

CONSUELLA (Charlotte Rampling)

The Eternals are dominated by women (the men are effete and ineffectual) and Consuella is a leading figure dedicated to main-taining the ideals of Vortex life. She is bitterly opposed to Zed, but he arouses in her passions she imagined were long dead.

MAY (Sara Kestelman)

A brilliant research geneticist who is fascinated by Zed's breeding potential. She saves his life and thereby threatens the de-struction of the Vortex.

AVALOW (Sally Ann Newton)

A beautiful prophetess whose spiritual purity allows her to see into the future. She helps Zed in his quest, seeing the destruction he brings on as inevitable.

FRIEND (John Alderton)

Cynical and bitter, in danger of being condemned as a Renegade, he sees in Zed a possibility of achieving the death for which he so deeply longs.

ARTHUR FRAYN (Niall Buggy)

A trickster, Merlin-like figure whose task of controlling the Outlands keeps him apart from the other Eternals. His selective breeding produces Zed who fin-allyoutgrows his creator and brings about his destruction.