The Girlfriend: What role has Olivia Cooke played in Prime Video's latest psychological thriller? Details explored 

Prime Video’s The Girlfriend arrived on September 10 with six hour-long episodes that promise a sharp mix of psychological tension and messy family drama. Adapted from Michelle Frances’ 2017 novel, the series focuses on a wealthy London household thrown into chaos when Daniel Sanderson, a kind-hearted medical student played by Laurie Davidson, introduces his new partner to his protective mother.

The girlfriend in question, Cherry Laine, is brought to life by Olivia Cooke, best known for House of the Dragon. Cooke’s Cherry comes from a working-class background and now works as a high-end realtor, but she immediately clashes with Daniel’s mother Laura, a successful art gallerist played by Robin Wright.

Wright not only stars but also directs the first episodes, shaping the drama as Laura’s suspicion of Cherry spirals into an all-out battle. The Girlfriend cleverly splits each episode into two perspectives, first showing events through Laura’s eyes, then through Cherry’s.

This device keeps viewers questioning who is telling the truth and who is twisting it for personal gain. With wealth, class, and family loyalty colliding, Cooke’s performance as Cherry positions her at the center of a storm that turns a simple romance into a dangerous game.

Olivia Cooke turns Cherry Laine into Prime Video’s most unpredictable character in The Girlfriend

Olivia Cooke’s role as Cherry Laine in The Girlfriend is deliberately written to stir discomfort and doubt from the moment she appears. Cherry is a young realtor who has climbed her way out of a working-class upbringing and is eager to secure a future that looks far more polished than the one she came from.

Her entrance into the Sanderson family home is designed to clash with its wealth and restraint. Dressed in a bold red minidress with dark lipstick, she looks out of place against Laura Sanderson’s beige-toned mansion. Laura, played by Robin Wright, immediately notices how different Cherry seems, and that sense of difference grows into deep suspicion.

Cooke plays Cherry as someone constantly calculating how she is perceived. In Laura’s eyes, she lies about her background, fakes her knowledge of art, and appears manipulative.

Yet when the same moments are shown from Cherry’s perspective, her behavior looks more like someone desperate to belong in a world that doesn’t want her. This dual structure highlights Cooke’s ability to play two sides of the same character: the schemer and the outsider. It leaves viewers unsure whether Cherry is genuinely dangerous or simply judged unfairly.

The series escalates when Laura catches Cherry in moments that blur innocence and guilt. One early shock comes when Laura walks in on Cherry performing a se*ual act with Daniel during a family gathering. For Laura, it confirms her worst fears, but Cooke’s Cherry carries on with defiant confidence, daring Laura to confront her.

Later, Cherry’s choices grow riskier, including a chaotic scene at an ex-boyfriend’s wedding that turns bloody. These incidents fuel Laura’s paranoia, though The Girlfriend never lets the audience fully settle on one interpretation.

Cooke has said she admired Cherry’s boldness even if she doesn’t share it personally. She described the character as someone in touch with her anger, willing to push boundaries without hesitation. This matches what viewers see on screen, where Cherry alternates between charm and hostility with ease.

By placing Cherry in direct opposition to Laura, The Girlfriend becomes less about Daniel and more about a tug-of-war between two women determined to control his future. For Cooke, it’s a role that lets her balance sly humor, visible scheming, and sudden flashes of raw emotion.

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