7 best Cherry moments in The Girlfriend that showcase Olivia Cooke’s acting brilliance

The Girlfriend is a psychological thriller television miniseries, directed by Robin Wright and Andrea Harkin, available on Amazon Prime Video. It is based on the novels by Elie Wiesel and stars Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, and Laurie Davidson, debuting on September 10, 2025.

Cherry Laine is the character essayed by Olivia Cooke. Cherry is an intelligent, resourceful, and scheming woman of working-class origin who employs her wit and face card to achieve a high standard of living by marrying into a wealthy family. Howard sees her donations to a nursing home where her father allegedly died as a gauge of her goodness.

Cherry wants love and security, but hides secrets that threaten everything she has built. The show explores class, survival, and identity through Cherry’s journey. The miniseries blends emotional drama with suspense. Cooke’s performance stands out as she easily shifts between warmth and vulnerability. The audience is sucked into the world of Cherry with no idea of whether to believe her or not, and cannot take their eyes off her.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

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Here is the list of the 7 best Cherry moments in The Girlfriend

7. Cherry's heartbreak (Season 1, Episode 2)

Cherry's heartbreak becomes intensely personal when her newfound relationship with Laura breaks apart in an instant in Season 1, Episode 2 of The Girlfriend. Olivia Cooke captures Cherry's raw emotion as she realizes everything she has strived for could be snatched away. Cooke's fans were swift to compliment her ability to reveal Cherry's vulnerability behind her calculated face. One reviewer on IMDB explained that

"Olivia Cooke absolutely steals it. She's magnetic - vulnerable one moment, sharp and unpredictable the next."

Cooke's talent shines through in this acting role, where she alternates between disappointment and optimism. Moreover, observers praised Cooke's ability to make Cherry's pain realistic despite her reputation as an untrustworthy figure.

The moment illustrates the human cost of Cherry's career ambitions. Cooke's talent is such that viewers can't help but empathize with a character who has been manipulative throughout the season. This is why Cooke's characterisation is so effective and memorable.

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6. Cherry's secret was discovered by Laura (Season 1, Episode 2)

In Season 1, Episode 2 of The Girlfriend, Cooke turns from an adorable girlfriend to a ruthless survivor within seconds, once Laura realizes the secret she had been hiding. This pivotal moment showcases Cooke's ability to shift emotional gears in a matter of seconds and with great conviction. Cooke turned Cherry's frustration into pure determination, which captivated the spectators.

The confrontation sequence allows Cooke to explore Cherry's darker side without losing the audience's compassion. Her acting demonstrates that her working-class background helps her learn how to survive. The way Cooke presents the ultimatum is terrifying and touching at the same time. Critics noted that she justified Cherry's fury rather than depicting her as a villain.

The scene illustrates Cooke's skill in portraying morally ambiguous characters who behave in the gray.

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5. Yacht incident and unexpected bonding (Season 1, Episode 2)

The Girlfriend viewers noted the yacht disaster as an emotional moment for Cooke. Her frailty at this point is extremely natural, as she lets her guard down towards Laura for the first time. The crowd enjoyed seeing the true side of Cherry, which Cooke skillfully portrayed.

One of the critics noted that Cooke is very good at holding her cards close to the chest and still providing an emotional depth. It illustrates Cooke's ability to depict Cherry's need to fit in and feel at ease anywhere. Cooke also renders the desperation of Cherry's desire to adjust to this high-income world really well.

Cherry's performance shows that she is often motivated by genuine insecurity rather than a malicious aim. The faint facial expressions reveal how Cherry has finally managed to feel heard and acknowledged by someone. This little peace between the conflicts signifies the versatility of Cooke.

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4. Family vacation jealousy (Season 1, Episode 2)

The insecurity that Cooke exposes with stunning diplomacy was revealed in Season 1, Episode 2 of The Girlfriend, when Cherry becomes jealous during the family vacation. Filmmakers noted how Cooke humanizes Cherry's envy rather than portraying it as petty and manipulative. Critics praised her ability to represent Cherry's inner fight between emotions and strategic moves.

Cooke used the holiday environment to highlight Cherry's social rising tendencies while still making her likable. Her relationship with Daniel consists of genuine love and maneuvering. Cherry's status as an outsider in a privileged household due to her working-class upbringing is clearly revealed in her acting. Her fear of not being granted the life she has always desired is the source of her envy.

The micro-expressions and her body language reveal how Cherry is always on the alert and afraid of her status. Cooke lets the viewers know that Cherry's acts are motivated by a shortage of perspective rather than greed. Consequently, it makes her performance effective and natural throughout the series.

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3. The first lie (Season 1, Episode 1)

Cooke's performance in The Girlfriend's pilot episode transforms into a marvel of psychological reality and swift adaptation once Laura reveals Cherry's first lie. Her shift from charm to defensiveness feels completely natural and instinctive. Fans admired Cooke's portrayal of Cherry's fight to maintain her face. One reviewer noted,

"How Cherry always looks like she's about to get caught?"

Her facial expression adds constant tension to her scenes. Cooke's portrayal illustrates how Cherry's lies are motivated more by self-preservation than by malice. This lie turns out to be a highlighting point that preconditions the whole war between Cherry and Laura. Cherry's dishonesty is evident in the way Cooke represents her, as she is anxious to escape her history.

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2. Cherry navigates high society (Season 1, Episode 1)

Cooke's ability to subtly convey class consciousness and social mobility is shown in The Girlfriend's pilot episode. In the episode, viewers watched Cherry adjust to high society. Her performance evokes the impression of a person desperately attempting to fit in a world in which she is a pretender. Enthusiasts enjoyed how Cooke's portrayal makes Cherry's makeover both uplifting and heartbreaking.

Critics praised her talent for portraying Cherry's wit and adaptability to new social circumstances. Cooke's attempts to hide her humble beginnings reveal her understanding of social pressure and class dynamics.

Her acting illustrates how Cherry's desire to rise is a desire to live a better life. Viewers perceived Cherry's social mobility as compassionate rather than manipulative. Cherry's elegance appears to be learned rather than natural, which adds realism to the performance. Cooke's interactions with London's nobility reveal her keen observation and mimetic skills. Cooke sees hiding her origin as both an asset and a liability. This ambivalence creates a complex Cherry that viewers can admire but also question.

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1. Cherry's introduction (Season 1, Episode 1)

Cherry's introduction to the Sanderson family becomes an instant showcase of Cooke's magnetic screen presence and layered performance. Since the moment she shows up in her dramatic red dress, Cooke is the center of attention, although one can see the nervousness of Cherry hidden behind her confident demeanor. Those who heard the song immediately identified Cooke as someone who is urgently trying to impress a new date while hiding his/her own fears. An IMDB reviewer stated that

"Olivia Cooke was in top form in The Girlfriend and the perfect rival for Wright's character."

The opening sequence showcases Cooke's ability to express multiple emotions simultaneously through subtle facial expressions and body language. Her romance with the rest of the cast is instant and electric. The description that Cooke gives implies that there is much more to Cherry than meets the eye. The opening scene establishes the atmosphere of everything that is yet to happen and why Cooke was the right choice to play this tricky role.

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Olivia Cooke’s performance in The Girlfriend left a strong impression on the hearts and minds of viewers. She gave Cherry Laine a sense of authenticity by using strength to convey her desire, ambition, and terror.

Each moment revealed a new layer, making Cherry’s story feel personal and raw. Cooke's ability to convey both vulnerability and strength made the series stand out.