Created by Naomi Sheldon & Gabbie Asher.
The Girlfriend premiered on September 10, 2025.
Distributed by Amazon Prime Video / Amazon MGM Studios.
Series Review
The Girlfriend (2025) is a gripping psychological thriller on Prime Video that mixes family drama with suspense.
Robin Wright plays Laura, a wealthy mother who seems to have everything under control until her son brings home Cherry, played by Olivia Cooke.
From that moment, things slowly spiral out of control.
The series is full of tension, secrets, and shifting power games between the two women.
Wright delivers a powerful performance as a mother trying to protect her family, while Cooke keeps the audience guessing with her mix of charm and hidden danger.
The show looks stylish and has a dark, moody atmosphere that adds to the suspense.
While some twists feel a bit forced, the story and acting keep it interesting all the way through.
If you enjoy intense family thrillers with mystery and drama, The Girlfriend is a must-watch that will keep you hooked until the very end.
Ratings
• IMDb: 7.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
• Google Audience Score: 57% liked this TV show.
The Girlfriend (2025) Actors
Robin Wright as Laura Sanderson
DOB: April 8, 1966.
Bio: American actor, director, and producer whose career has spanned over four decades.
She first rose to prominence with her breakout role in The Princess Bride (1987), which showcased her natural screen presence and established her as a leading star of her generation.
Wright went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for Forrest Gump (1994), where her layered performance as Jenny added depth and heart to the iconic film.
Role: Laura Sanderson, a wealthy and impeccably polished matriarch whose controlled world unravels when her son introduces his new girlfriend, Cherry.
Initially gracious and composed, Laura slowly reveals darker layers, growing possessive, paranoid, and increasingly dangerous.
Episodes: 6 eps.
What to Expect: A layered lead performance that moves from social grace to brittle menace; Wright leans into small gestures that suggest a woman pushed past the limits of propriety.
Interesting facts: Wright also directed episodes and serves as an executive producer on the series, giving her creative sway behind the camera as well as onscreen.
Notable Works: House of Cards, Forrest Gump, Blade Runner 2049.
Olivia Cooke as Cherry Laine
DOB: December 27, 1993.
Bio: British actress known for her versatility across film and television.
She gained early recognition in Bates Motel (2013–2017) and broke out with acclaimed performances in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) and Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One (2018).
She has earned widespread attention as Alicent Hightower in HBO’s House of the Dragon.
Role: Cherry Laine is the enigmatic new girlfriend at the center of the psychological drama.
She is glamorous and magnetic, yet unsettling in her ambiguity.
The series continually questions whether Cherry is a calculating social climber seeking power, or a vulnerable young woman unfairly judged by those around her.
Episodes: 6 eps.
What to Expect: An ambiguous, watchable turn that keeps you guessing; Cooke brings an unsettling stillness to moments that could otherwise tilt melodramatic.
Interesting facts: Critics singled out Cooke’s chemistry with Robin Wright as a major driver of the show’s tension.
Notable Works: Bates Motel, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Ready Player One, House of the Dragon.
Laurie Davidson as Daniel “Danny” Sanderson
DOB: November 11, 1992.
Bio: English actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
He first gained recognition playing the young William Shakespeare in TNT’s Will (2017) and has since appeared in a mix of television, film, and theatre projects.
Role: Daniel “Danny” Sanderson is Laura’s son, whose relationship with Cherry sets the story in motion.
Caught between devotion to his mother and attraction to Cherry’s enigmatic allure, Danny becomes the show’s emotional pivot.
Episodes: 6 eps.
What to Expect: A performance that balances filial loyalty, bewilderment and the awkwardness of being the prize in a toxic adult game.
Interesting facts: Davidson’s casting as the son gives the story a generational angle, he’s the link between the wealthy parental world and Cherry’s more precarious position.
Notable Works: Will, Mary & George, Cats.
Waleed Zuaiter as Howard Sanderson
DOB: January 19, 1971.
Bio: Palestinian-American actor and producer with a career spanning stage, film, and television.
Trained in theatre and active on both Broadway and the West End, Zuaiter has earned recognition for his ability to portray layered, morally ambiguous characters.
Role: Howard Sanderson is Laura’s husband and Daniel’s father, the family patriarch whose stabilizing presence is also marked by complacency.
He represents the polished, privileged world the Sandersons inhabit, but his blind spots and reluctance to challenge Laura’s authority allow deeper tensions to take root.
Episodes: 6 eps.
What to Expect: Understated, controlled acting that masks frustration and unease beneath a calm public face.
Interesting facts: In addition to his acting work, Zuaiter is also a producer, having helped shepherd acclaimed projects like Omar (2013), which was nominated for an Academy Award.
Notable Works: Baghdad Central, The Spy, Omar (actor/producer), London Has Fallen.
Tanya Moodie as Isabella Russell-Bailey
DOB: April 16, 1972.
Bio: British actor with an acclaimed career across stage, television, and film.
Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), she has built a reputation for playing intelligent, emotionally nuanced characters with both authority and vulnerability.
Role: Isabella Russell-Bailey is Laura Sanderson’s close friend and confidante.
Her loyalty is tested as Laura’s suspicions deepen, and her protective instincts for both Laura and Daniel complicate the family’s dynamics.
Episodes: 6 eps.
What to Expect: Strong, principled scenes that help ground the series’ social milieu and show how friendships can be strained by paranoia.
Interesting facts: Moodie is widely respected for her theatre work, having received Olivier Award nominations for performances on the London stage.
Notable Works: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Motherland, Neverwhere.
Shalom Brune-Franklin as Brigitte Russell-Bailey
DOB: August 18, 1994.
Bio: British-Australian actor who has quickly established herself as a rising talent in both U.K. and international television.
She studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and gained early recognition in Our Girl before breaking out with acclaimed turns in Line of Duty, The Tourist, and Baby Reindeer.
Role: Brigitte Russell-Bailey is Isabella’s daughter and a pivotal supporting character.
Her teenage history with Daniel Sanderson resurfaces when Cherry enters the picture, bringing old tensions and rivalries into Laura’s increasingly paranoid world.
Episodes: 6 eps.
What to Expect: A modern, grounded performance that complicates loyalties and shows how past relationships ripple into the present.
Interesting facts: Brune-Franklin’s career momentum has been fueled by consistent standout turns in British drama.
Notable Works: Line of Duty, The Tourist, Baby Reindeer, Our Girl.
Leo Suter as Nicholas Hale
DOB: September 26, 1993.
Bio: English actor with a background in stage and screen who trained at Oxford University while honing his craft in theatre.
He has steadily gained recognition for his mix of classical poise and modern charisma, with standout roles in both period pieces and contemporary drama.
Role: Nicholas is Cherry’s ex and a figure from her past whose presence raises questions about motive and memory.
He helps populate the show’s world outside the Sandersons’ house.
Episodes: 2 eps.
What to Expect: A performance that fills in Cherry’s backstory with glimpses rather than full answers, keeping the mystery alive.
Interesting facts: Alongside his television work, Suter maintains strong ties to theatre, which shapes the layered subtlety he brings to screen roles.
Notable Works: Vikings: Valhalla, Victoria, Sanditon.
Karen Henthorn as Tracey Laine
DOB: 1968.
Bio: British actor with decades of work across television, theatre, and film.
She is best known for her long-running roles in British soaps and dramas, where she has earned a reputation for playing authentic, down-to-earth characters.
Role: Tracey Laine is Cherry’s mother, whose appearances reveal crucial aspects of Cherry’s past.
Through Tracey, the audience gains insight into Cherry’s background, her vulnerabilities, and the family pressures that shaped her.
Episodes: 6 eps.
What to Expect: Realistic, compassionate scenes that humanize Cherry and show family strains.
Interesting facts: Henthorn’s long TV career includes guest roles that add authenticity quickly in limited-run series.
Notable Works: Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders.
Francesca Corney as Millie De Polgnac
DOB: August 16, 1992.
Bio: British-Thai actor whose career has steadily grown with roles in television and streaming projects.
She often portrays sharp, modern young women balancing vulnerability with intelligence.
Role: Millie De Polgnac is Nicholas’s fiancée, a polished young woman whose presence complicates the social web around Cherry and Daniel.
Millie represents the expectations of status, family name, and reputation.
Episodes: 2 eps.
What to Expect: Scenes that expose the class and social anxieties driving much of the show’s whisper network of suspicion.
Interesting facts: Corney brings international background and physicality to the role; she was noted in casting announcements last year.
Notable Works: The Buccaneers (Apple TV+), Fistful of Vengeance (Netflix).
Ben Miles as Max Kader
DOB: September 29, 1966.
Bio: English actor with a career spanning comedy, period drama, and political thrillers.
Known for his range, he first gained wide recognition in the hit sitcom Coupling before moving into acclaimed projects like The Crown and Andor.
Role: Max Kader is part of the Sandersons’ upper-class social sphere, a figure who embodies the reputational risks and social maneuvering that hover over the family’s private crisis.
Episodes: 2 eps.
What to Expect: A composed, textured supporting performance that hints at private agendas.
Interesting facts: Beyond his screen work, Miles is also an accomplished stage actor, having appeared in acclaimed National Theatre and West End productions.
Notable Works: Coupling, The Crown, Andor, Collateral, Devils.
Marina Bye as Pandora Henry
DOB: 1993.
Bio: British actor with growing visibility in film and television.
She is known for bringing authenticity and detail to her supporting roles, often portraying characters who enrich the atmosphere of the story’s wider social world.
Role: Pandora Henry is part of the extended social circle that surrounds the Sanderson household.
Through her presence, the series highlights how gossip, suspicion, and class dynamics ripple through the community, adding depth to the central mystery.
Episodes: 3 eps.
What to Expect: Naturalistic small scenes that help the show feel like a lived-in society.
Interesting facts: Bye’s recent presence in high-profile films helped secure her this supporting TV turn.
Notable Works: Appearances in recent UK films and TV.
Anna Chancellor ‘as’ Lilith Greenway
DOB: April 27, 1965.
Bio: English actor with an extensive career spanning television, film, and theatre.
Known for her sharp wit and commanding presence, she often portrays sophisticated, incisive characters who can deliver both charm and bite.
Role: Lilith Greenway is a prominent member of the social set surrounding the Sanderson family.
Her influence, remarks, and maneuvering within these circles help fuel the rumors and escalating suspicions at the heart of the series.
Episodes: 4 eps.
What to Expect: Wry, knowing performances that add pinch and satire to the show’s high-society scenes.
Interesting facts: Chancellor has worked extensively on stage, including acclaimed performances with the Royal National Theatre and in West End productions.
Notable Works: The Hour, Pride and Prejudice (1995).
More Actors
• Naomi Sheldon as Harriet Bancroft.
• Nicholas Burns as Elliot.
• Simon Meacock as John Laine.
FAQ – The Girlfriend (2025) TV Series
Is The Girlfriend based on a book?
Yes. It is adapted from Michelle Frances’s novel The Girlfriend, though the show makes some significant changes from the book.
How many episodes are in Season 1?
Season 1 has six episodes, each roughly 45–52 minutes long.
Where was The Girlfriend filmed?
Principal filming took place in London and on location in Spain (including Málaga / the Benahavís / Marbella area). More on Travelnoire
Are there big differences between the book and the show?
Yes, the adaptation changes several plot points and character beats; detailed comparisons are available in reviews and explainers.
Expect familiar bones with new twists.
Where can I watch The Girlfriend?
The series is available to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Conclusion
The Girlfriend (2025) is a tense and stylish thriller that explores trust, power, and the hidden dangers within family life.
With strong performances from Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke, the series keeps viewers engaged through suspenseful twists and emotional drama.
While it may not reinvent the genre, its mix of mystery, tension, and character-driven storytelling makes it a solid and gripping watch for fans of psychological dramas.