The Girlfriend's Robin Wright says filming was a 'therapy session' as she takes on dual roles

Robin Wright has opened up about the demanding nature of both starring in and directing Prime Video's gripping new thriller, The Girlfriend.

Featuring House of the Dragon's Olivia Cooke, the six-episode drama centres on Laura (portrayed by Wright), a powerful gallery owner who becomes troubled when her son Danny (Laurie Davidson) introduces a new romantic interest.

Whilst Danny and his fresh flame Cherry Laine (Cooke) seem utterly smitten, Laura remains convinced she's merely a calculating opportunist exploiting her son to climb the social ladder and accumulate riches.

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At the series' London premiere, Wright told the Mirror: "They're all such pros. And so incredible to work with, as an actor-director to have that kind of professionalism and talent.

"They're both really experienced, the kids, as I call them," she continued, lauding Cooke and Davidson's acting abilities, reports the Express.

"And to have Waleed [Zuaiter] as the husband, you couldn't have a nicer guy. I think everybody was perfectly cast and we all got along off-camera and really respect and love each other."

The accomplished screen performer, 59, has also moved into directing over the past ten years, taking charge of House of Cards and Ozark episodes for Netflix.

After her directorial film debut with Land in 2021, Wright has now pushed herself by helming three of The Girlfriend's six instalments whilst simultaneously tackling one of the principal characters.

"There was no disparity on set," she continued.

"We were a family with an incredible team around me as a director, we had a blast.

"And it was a grind, don't get me wrong. It was a lot. But I hope the final product will be welcomed."

Though the Forrest Gump actress was juggling dual roles on set, helming The Girlfriend did offer certain advantages.

During the Q&A session, Wright confessed: "What's great about being in that position is I get to call cut on myself when I'm terrible in the take. Let's do it again!

"But, working as an actor with actors, I'm also watching them as I'm playing the scene, and I'm like, 'Hmm, okay, we're going to have to do something else'."

Her fellow cast member Shalom Brune-Franklin, who plays Danny's friend Brigitte, remarked: "I just don't know how Robin did it, how to split your focus like that. It would be incredibly difficult but she did it so well and with such grace.

"I'm not going to say I was scared I was being judged the whole time I was acting opposite my director!"

Wright revealed: "It was like a therapy session. We got to talk in depth about dynamics and who are you, why are you this way?"

Meanwhile, her screen son Davidson quipped: "I found it hard doing some of those intimate scenes in front of mum, that's for sure!"

The Girlfriend is not only filled with larger-than-life characters and a plethora of twists, but it also presented a unique directing challenge for Wright as each episode follows the dual perspectives of Cherry and Laura.

Fortunately, Wright's experiences as a Hollywood actress and now director meant she was a steadfast anchor for both the cast and crew throughout production.

Tanya Moodie, who plays Brigitte's mother Isabella, lauded the star: "It's not so much working opposite an actor who's also the director, but having a director who's also an actor was a huge privilege.

"Robin inherently knew what our processes were, what our needs were, how we thought. There was always that fundamental connection in terms of her process and ours."

The Girlfriend premieres Wednesday, 10th September on Prime Video.