Special Ops: Lioness, now listed by Paramount Global Content as Lioness, follows CIA operative Joe McNamara and the team behind the agency’s undercover Lioness program. Zoe Saldaña plays Joe; Laysla De Oliveira plays Season 1 recruit Cruz Manuelos; and Genesis Rodriguez plays Josephina “Josie” Carillo, recruited in Season 2. Here’s how the principal characters fit together, including Joe’s family and the CIA leadership overseeing her missions.
Who plays Joe in Lioness?
Zoe Saldaña plays Joe McNamara, the series’ central CIA operative and leader of the Lioness program. She trains and leads women recruited for undercover missions. The role places Joe between the demands of covert work and the consequences it has for her life at home.
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![Special Ops: Lioness - Season One [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41hbv0k36UL._SL160_.jpg)
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Special Ops: Lioness - Season One [DVD] | $19.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Lioness - Season 2 [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41956hTUoeL._SL160_.jpg)
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Lioness - Season 2 [DVD] | Buy on Amazon | |
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![Special Ops: Lioness Season One [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41nymVg0cgL._SL160_.jpg)
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Special Ops: Lioness Season One [DVD] | Buy on Amazon | |
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Leslie Sansone: 7-Day Calorie Blast | $16.48 | Buy on Amazon |
Who are the Lioness program’s leaders?
Joe leads field operations, while CIA supervisors help shape and oversee the missions.
- Kaitlyn Meade — Nicole Kidman: A strategic CIA supervisor who oversees Lioness and Joe’s missions. She also navigates intelligence-community politics and her personal life.
- Byron Westfield — Michael Kelly: CIA leadership who works alongside Kaitlyn in guiding Joe’s missions. Paramount’s catalog uses “Donald Westfield,” while its Season 3 materials use “Byron Westfield”; Byron is the current-season form.
- Edwin Mullins — Morgan Freeman: A senior government figure identified in Paramount+’s original announcement as the United States Secretary of State.
Who is Cruz in Lioness?
Laysla De Oliveira plays Cruz Manuelos, a Marine recruited in Season 1 for the Lioness Engagement Team. Joe trains her to infiltrate a terrorist organization. As part of that operation, Cruz is tasked with befriending Aaliyah, the daughter of a billionaire businessman with ties to terrorism and a high-value CIA target.
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- Genre: TV Action & Adventure
- Number of Discs: 3
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 352
- Movie Title: Lioness: Season One
Who plays Josie in Lioness?
Genesis Rodriguez plays Josephina “Josie” Carillo, Joe’s Season 2 recruit. She is brought in to gain access to a cartel and help prevent an attack. Paramount materials vary between “Josie” and “Josephina,” and between “Carillo” and “Carrillo”; the Season 3 cast-guide form is Josephina Carillo.
Who is on Joe’s field team?
The recurring team includes CIA and Special Activities Division operatives, along with specialists who support missions.
Rank #2
- Bobby — Jill Wagner: A member of the Lioness/Special Activities Division team.
- Tucker — LaMonica Garrett: An experienced CIA Special Activities Division operative.
- Two Cups — James Jordan: An experienced CIA Special Activities Division operative.
- Randy — Austin Hébert: A surveillance and intelligence technology specialist.
- Tex — Jonah Wharton: A member of Joe’s team.
- Kyle McManus — Thad Luckinbill: A recurring team-related character and an old friend of Joe’s.
- Grady — Ian Bohen: Listed among the Season 3 starring cast.
What are the names of Joe’s family?
Joe’s home life centers on her husband and two daughters:
- Neal McNamara — Dave Annable: Joe’s husband and the girls’ father. The original cast announcement spells his name “Neil”; Season 3 materials use “Neal.”
- Kate McNamara — Hannah Love Lanier: Joe and Neal’s daughter.
- Charlie McNamara: Joe and Neal’s second daughter. Paramount’s Season 3 family synopsis names Charlie but does not identify a corresponding performer in its stated starring roster.
How does the cast change across the seasons?
The show keeps Joe and its supervisory structure at the center while featuring a different mission-specific undercover recruit. Cruz anchors the Season 1 infiltration, and Josie is recruited for the cartel operation in Season 2. Kaitlyn and Westfield remain part of the oversight team, while Neal, Kate and Charlie connect Joe’s covert work to her family life.
Rank #3
- Special Ops: Lioness
- Season One
How many seasons of Lioness are there?
As of October 4, 2026, Paramount Global Content lists three seasons and 24 episodes. Season 3 premiered August 2, 2026, and its eight episodes concluded September 20, 2026. Paramount+ lists the show and its episodes; availability may vary by country. See Paramount+’s Lioness listing and episode guide.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
Sources
- Paramount Global Content: Lioness
- Paramount+: Where To Watch Lioness Season 3
- Paramount+: Taylor Sheridan’s CIA Series Special Ops: Lioness Adds More To Cast (September 29, 2022)
- Paramount+: Lioness Season 3: Everything You Need to Know
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
