Masters of Sex is an American period drama television series developed for television by Michelle Ashford and based on Thomas Maier's biography Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love, about the real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson.
The series chronicles the unusual lives, romance and pop-culture trajectory of Masters and Johnson. Their research touched off the sexual revolution and took them from a mid-western teaching hospital in St. Louis to the cover of Time magazine.
The pilot episode was directed and executive produced by Academy Award nominee John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), and stars Michael Sheen as Bill Masters, Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson, Caitlin Fitzgerald in the role of Masters' wife; Nicholas D'Agosto and Teddy Sears.
Season 2 also stars Annaleigh Ashford (previously recurring), and includes guest stars Beau Bridges, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Silverman, Betsy Brandt, Keke Palmer, Courtney B. Vance, Jocko Sims, Greg Grunberg, Barry Watson, Rose McIver, Rene Auberjonois and Christian Borle.
Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Beau Bridges, and Margo Martindale also appear.
Masters of Sex was created and executive produced by Michelle Ashford (The Pacific). The series will also be executive produced by Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Judith Verno. Michael Sheen, Tammy Rosen and Thomas Maier will serve as producers.
Masters of Sex is produced by Sony Pictures Television.