The Girl Before Cast & Character Guide

Information about BBC and HBO Max’s “The Girl Before,” including the latest information about its characters, organizations, locations, and more.

Title Card 2 - The Girl Before Season 1 Episode 1 [Series Premiere]

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Information about BBC and HBO Max’s “The Girl Before,” including the latest information about its characters, organizations, locations, and more.


Please Note: This content contains pertinent spoilers, descriptions are updated as new information is presented, images changed as better ones are captured, and this is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, guest star, or reoccurring role.

General Information

Network(s) BBC/ HBO Max
Created or Developed By J.P. Delaney
First Aired 12/19/2021

Groups & Organizations

  • Flow2o (1.1): Emma’s employer

Notable Locations & Items

  • 1 Folgate Street (1.1): Where the house Edward built is located

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Edward (David Oyelowo)

Edward (David Oyelowo) interviewing one of the ladies
Edward (David Oyelowo)

An architect whose style focuses on minimalism, no one could say with any honesty that Edward is a warm and approachable guy. He can be aloof, volatile when upset, clearly is dealing with immense trauma due to his son and wife dying in the house he built for them all to live in. Hence him seeking tenants who look like her and trying to relive the life he should have had.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
  • Ex-Wife and Child (1.2): Her name is Elizabeth, and their son was Max

Quotes & Gifs

Emma (Jessica Plummer)

Emma (Jessica Plummer) in therapy
Emma (Jessica Plummer)

27-year-old Emma recently had the traumatic experience of being assaulted. Because of that, she wants a new life, potentially a new partner, and to go back to that place where she could be carefree, flirty, and comfortable with her body.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1

Quotes & Gifs

Jane Cavendish (Gugu Mbatha-Raw)

Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) touring the house
Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw)

After experiencing a stillbirth at 39 weeks, Jane just wants whatever she can have to take her mind off of it. She’d love to go back to work, but someone is covering her position due to them expecting her to be on paternity leave. So while they have space for her, she can’t pour herself into work. So, with that not being an option, she seeks to leave her home because, between the bedroom set up for her daughter, Isabel, and so much more, it’s not a space where she can do anything but dwell on what she could have done to save her baby. Hence her wanting to move.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1

Quotes & Gifs

Simon (Ben Hardy)

Simon (Ben Hardy) talking to Jane
Simon (Ben Hardy)

Simon is Emma’s boyfriend at the beginning of the series.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1

Quotes & Gifs

Peter (Ben Addis)

Peter (Ben Addis) looking around a corner in episode 3
Peter (Ben Addis)

Peter is one of Edward’s partners at his firm, whose focus is the technology behind the housekeeping program at 1 Folgate Street.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 2
  • Partnership Length (1.2): Has worked with Edward for 15 years

Quotes & Gifs

Carol (Amanda Drew)

Carol (Amanda Drew) talking to someone
Carol (Amanda Drew)

Carol is Emma’s former therapist.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 2

Quotes & Gifs

Traumatic emotions are like water. They have a knack of locating the cracks and finding a way out.
— Carol

Amanda (Daniela Pasquini)

Amanda (Daniela Pasquini) talking to Jane
Amanda (Daniela Pasquini)

Amanda is one of Emma’s co-workers who is married to Saul, who is definitely having an affair, and maybe had multiple affairs.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 3

Quotes & Gifs

DI James Clarke (Ian Conningham)

DI James Clarke (Ian Conningham) talking to Jane
DI James Clarke (Ian Conningham)

DI Clarke takes the lead on Emma’s rape case against Ray Nelson and coaxes her into doing more than she is comfortable with.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 3

Quotes & Gifs

DI Liz Willan (Kayla Meikle)

DI Liz Willan (Kayla Meikle) talking to Jane
DI Liz Willan (Kayla Meikle)

DI Willan was DI Clarke’s second in the case against Ray Nelson but often seems to not be included when it comes to talking with Emma.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 3

Quotes & Gifs

Saul (Mark Stanley)

Saul (Mark Stanley) getting arrested
Saul (Mark Stanley)

Saul is one of the top sales guys at Emma’s job and her former boss before she transferred to marketing.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 4
  • Affair (1.3): With a woman in marketing

Quotes & Gifs

Ray Nelson (Jimmy Walker)

Ray Nelson (Jimmy Walker) breaking into Emma's home
Ray Nelson (Jimmy Walker)

Ray is a notable rapist and burglar who DI Clarke has made his mission to take down.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 4

Quotes & Gifs

Paul Ellis (Luke Norris)

Paul (Luke Norris) talking bad about Edward
Paul (Luke Norris)

Paul is a former partner of Edward who has absolutely no problem beseeching his name.

Additional Information

  • Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 4

Quotes & Gifs


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