Strip Search follows several parallel stories examining personal freedoms vs. national security in the aftermath of 9/11; two main subplots involve an American woman detained in China and an Arab man detained in New York City.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Maggie GyllenhaalLinda Sykes | Linda Sykes |
 Glenn CloseKaren Moore | Karen Moore |
 Dean WintersNed McGrath | Ned McGrath |
 Ken LeungLiu Tsung-Yuan | Liu Tsung-Yuan |
 Bruno LastraSharif Bin Said | Sharif Bin Said |
 Shing KaChinese Police | Chinese Police |
 Austin PendletonJames Perley | James Perley |
 Tom GuiryGerry Sykes | Gerry Sykes |
| FFred KohelerJimmy Briggs | Jimmy Briggs |
 Jim GaffiganReverend Craig Peterson | Reverend Craig Peterson |
 Peter JacobsonJohn Scanlon | John Scanlon |
 Justin BarthaNot listed | Not listed |
 George H. W. Bushself (archive footage) | self (archive footage) |
 George W. Bushself (archive footage) | self (archive footage) |
 Bill Clintonself (archive footage) | self (archive footage) |
 Ronald Reaganself (archive footage) | self (archive footage) |
 Harry S. Trumanself (archive footage) | self (archive footage) |
 Kerry WashingtonNot listed | Not listed |
| CChristopher LoganFBI Agent Ransford | FBI Agent Ransford |
 Ramsey FaragallahAbdul Amin | Abdul Amin |