Girl Taken: Who stars in the Paramount Plus thriller?

The new Paramount+ drama, Girl Taken, tells a harrowing story of a family whose lives are shattered by the cruel actions of a manipulative and dangerous criminal.

Inspired by Hollie Overton’s novel Baby Doll, Girl Taken tells the story of a close-knit town shaken when beloved 17-year-old Lily Riser vanishes right before her high school graduation.

Lily was taken from her twin sister, Abby, and their mother, Eve, and suffered for seven years under the control of her teacher, Rick Hansen. All the while, her family was devastated by guilt and anger, not realizing she was nearby, held captive just out of reach.

Once Lily escapes, things don’t get easier. Hidden truths are revealed, and misunderstandings arise as Mr. Hansen, previously a well-respected figure, desperately tries to avoid going to jail.

Girl Taken cast

The main cast list for Girl Taken is:

Alfie Allen is Rick Hansen
Jill Halfpenny is Eve Riser
Tallulah Evans is Lily Riser
Delphi Evans is Abby Riser
Vikash Bhai is DS Tommy Shah
Niamh Walsh is Zoe Hansen
Levi Brown is Wes Bartlett
Victoria Ekanoye is DS Rachel Brenton

Here’s what you need to know about each character and who plays them.

Alfie Allen plays Rick Hansen

Rick Hansen is a popular teacher at Lily and Abby’s school, well-liked by both students and parents. He’s a pillar of the community, but this carefully constructed image falls apart when he’s revealed as Lily’s kidnapper. A skilled manipulator, Rick will do anything to avoid capture and stay free.

Alfie Allen is a British actor most famous for his portrayal of Theon Greyjoy in the hit TV series Game of Thrones, a role which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2019. He’s also appeared in films like Jojo Rabbit and television series including Harlots, White House Farm, SAS: Rogue Heroes, and Atomic. In 2022, Allen received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the Broadway play Hangmen.

Jill Halfpenny plays Eve Riser

Eve Riser is the mother of Lily and Abby. She experienced every parent’s greatest fear when Lily went missing and has continued to hope for her safe return. However, Lily’s reappearance brings new challenges, as Eve must navigate the complexities of reconnecting with a daughter who has endured significant trauma and grown up during her absence.

Jill Halfpenny is an actress from Newcastle, England, who is well-known for her roles in both television and theatre. She first gained recognition as a teenager on the show Byker Grove in the late 1980s and early 90s. Many viewers will remember her as Kate Mitchell in the popular soap opera EastEnders, a role she played from 2002 to 2005. Since then, she’s appeared in shows like Waterloo Road, Humans, Everything I Know About Love, and The Cuckoo. She’s also a talented performer on stage and screen, winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and receiving an Olivier Award in 2011 for her role in Legally Blonde: The Musical.

Tallulah Evans plays Lily Riser

Lily Riser was a typical 17-year-old with a bright future – popular, with a boyfriend named Wes, and excited about life. However, her life was turned upside down when she was kidnapped. After five years, she managed to escape, but now she must confront the trauma she experienced to ensure her captor, Rick, is brought to justice.

Tallulah Evans is an actress who began her career at the age of seven with a role in the 2006 film Penelope. She’s since been in several other projects, including Son of Rambow, White Lines, and Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey. Her most recent role was as Olivia Carteret in The Forsyte Saga.

Delphi Evans plays Abby Riser

Abby Riser is Lily’s twin sister. She had planned to go to college, but those dreams were derailed when Lily disappeared. After the loss, Abby struggled and began to rebel, feeling responsible for what happened on the day Lily went missing.

I just learned about Delphi Evans, and it’s fascinating! She’s actually Tallulah’s twin sister, and Girl Taken marks her very first acting role. It’s cool to see siblings supporting each other in the industry, and I’m definitely curious to see what she brings to the screen.

Vikash Bhai plays DS Tommy Shah

Detective Tommy Shah is leading the search for Lily, and his investigation has become deeply connected to the Riser family over the past seven years – perhaps a little too much. Despite trying his best, some mistakes in the investigation have stalled the case. When Lily reappears, he’s more committed than ever to ensuring she and her family receive justice.

Vikash Bhai is an award-nominated actor known for his roles in shows like Limbo, the crime drama Virdee, and Crossfire with Keeley Hawes. He first gained significant recognition playing Martin Shral in Pandora on The CW.

Niamh Walsh plays Zoe Hansen

Zoe Hansen is Rick’s wife, and she loves him very much, but she feels like he’s keeping secrets. She’s much more of a homebody than Rick is. Zoe really wants to have a family with him, but they’ve had difficulties getting pregnant in the past.

Niamh Walsh is an Irish actress known for her roles in several popular TV shows. She first became well-known for playing Cara Martinez on Holby City between 2015 and 2016. Following that, she appeared as Verity Rutter in the Sky Original series Jamestown in 2019. More recently, she’s been in Netflix’s The Sandman, BBC Three’s Wreck, and The English Game.

Levi Brown plays Wes Bartlett

Wes Bartlett is Lily’s boyfriend from high school. Although he has a bit of a bad reputation, it’s mostly due to the company he keeps – he’s actually a good person once you get to know him. However, Abby is still concerned about him, particularly because he keeps calling Lily a name she dislikes. When Lily disappears, though, Wes might be the support Abby needs to cope with her loss.

Levi Brown is a rising actor who graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2021. He quickly began appearing on TV, with early roles in shows like I Hate You and Invasion. He gained wider recognition for his role as Dante Williams in the 2024 BBC series This Town, which tells the story of teenagers growing up amidst the 1980s music culture in Coventry and Birmingham.

Victoria Ekanoye plays DS Rachel Brenton

Detective Sergeant Rachel Brenton is one of the investigators working on the case of Lily’s disappearance, partnering with Tommy Shah.

Victoria Ekanoye is a British actress best known for her role as Angie Appleton on the popular TV show Coronation Street, which she appeared in from 2017 to 2019. She’s also been in other shows like The Royals and The Jury: Murder Trial, where she played DC Rachel Wickford in a realistic recreation of a murder trial.

Girl Taken starts Thursday 8th January on Paramount+.

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Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance journalist who writes about television, covering everything from popular reality shows like Love Is Blind to science fiction series such as Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working as a deputy editor at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US.

2026-01-08 11:08