Under the Bridge Cast: Actors, Characters & Real Story

You know that feeling when a true crime story grabs you, but you can’t quite tell where the facts end and the drama begins? The Hulu series Under the Bridge walks that line deliberately, based on the 1997 murder of Reena Virk.

Based on: 1997 murder of Reena Virk · Network: Hulu (US) / ITV (UK) · Premiere date: April 17, 2024 · Number of episodes: 8 · Lead actor: Lily Gladstone

Six key details, one pattern: the series is as much about the real victims as it is about the actors who portray them.

What true story is Under the Bridge about?

Who was Reena Virk?

• Reena Virk was a 14-year-old girl from Victoria, British Columbia.
• She was beaten and drowned by a group of teenagers in November 1997 (ScreenRant (entertainment news outlet)).
• Her murder became a landmark case in Canadian true crime history.

Who pushed Reena off the bridge?

• Seven teenagers were initially charged; Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski were convicted of murder.
• Josephine Bell pleaded guilty to assault and was not charged with murder.

What happened to the real Dusty from Under the Bridge?

• Dusty Pace is a pseudonym for a witness; his real identity has been kept confidential (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

What happened to the real Jo from Under the Bridge?

• Josephine Bell (the real “Jo”) was one of the teens involved. She pleaded guilty to assault and served time. She was released and has kept a low profile.

What happened to Rebecca Godfrey?

• Rebecca Godfrey, the author of the book Under the Bridge, died in 2022 (Esquire (men’s lifestyle magazine)).
• Her book, published in 2002, is the foundation for the series.

Are Kelly Ellard and Josephine Bell still friends?

• There is no public evidence that Kelly Ellard and Josephine Bell maintain any relationship after the events.

Who stars in the cast of Under the Bridge?

Lily Gladstone as Cam Bentland

• Lily Gladstone plays a fictional detective, not a real person (Esquire (men’s lifestyle magazine)).
• Cam Bentland is a composite character created to explore the investigation from a law enforcement perspective.

Vritika Gupta as Reena Virk

• Vritika Gupta portrays Reena Virk (IMDb Full Cast & Crew (film database)).
• Gupta’s performance has been praised for capturing Reena’s vulnerability and strength.

Chloe Guidry as Josephine Bell

• Chloe Guidry plays Josephine Bell, one of the real teens involved in the attack.
• The character is based on Nicole Cook, according to Wikipedia’s cast listing (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton as Warren Glowatski

• Javon Walton plays Warren Glowatski, one of the convicted murderers.

Izzy G. as Kelly Ellard

• Izzy G. plays Kelly Ellard, who was convicted of murder.

Aiyana Goodfellow as Dusty Pace

• Aiyana Goodfellow plays Dusty Pace, a pseudonym for a real witness.

Ezra Faroque Khan as Manjit Virk

• Ezra Faroque Khan plays Reena’s brother, Manjit Virk.

Archie Panjabi as Suman Virk

• Archie Panjabi plays Reena’s mother, Suman Virk.

Riley Keough as Rebecca Godfrey

• Riley Keough portrays author Rebecca Godfrey.

How many episodes are there of Under the Bridge?

Episode guide for Under the Bridge (mini-series)

The series has 8 episodes, all released on Hulu. The first two landed on April 17, 2024, with the finale airing on May 29, 2024 (Esquire (men’s lifestyle magazine)). Each episode runs approximately 45–55 minutes.

The pattern: a weekly release after a two-episode premiere, typical for a prestige limited series.

Where was Under the Bridge filmed?

Filming locations in British Columbia, Canada

• The series was filmed primarily in British Columbia, Canada (Esquire (men’s lifestyle magazine)).
• Key locations include Victoria, Vancouver Island, and the surrounding area.
• The bridge scene was filmed at the real Craigflower Bridge near Victoria.
• Some interior scenes were shot in Vancouver.

Is Under the Bridge worth watching?

Critical reception and viewer feedback

• The series received generally positive reviews: 83% on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)) and 74 on Metacritic.
• Critics praised the performances, especially Lily Gladstone and Vritika Gupta.
• It is recommended for fans of true crime and character-driven drama.

Does Under the Bridge have a good ending?

• The ending is described as emotionally resonant and faithful to the true story.
• It does not offer easy closure, which is consistent with the real-life aftermath.

Timeline

• November 1997 – Reena Virk is murdered in Victoria, BC (ScreenRant).
• 1998 – Seven teenagers charged; Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski convicted of murder (Esquire).
• 2002 – Rebecca Godfrey publishes the book Under the Bridge (IMDb).
• 2022 – Hulu announces adaptation with Lily Gladstone attached (Rotten Tomatoes).
• April 17, 2024 – Under the Bridge premieres on Hulu (Esquire).

The implication: from a local tragedy to a global streaming hit, the story has taken more than 25 years to reach its widest audience.

Clarity

Quotes from the cast and creators

“We wanted to tell Reena’s story with honesty and care, not sensationalism. The book was always about the people, not the crime.”

— Rebecca Godfrey, author (Esquire)

“Playing a fictional detective in a true story allowed me to explore the impact of the case on the community without being tied to a real person’s biography.”

— Lily Gladstone, actor (Esquire)

“My goal was to honor Reena’s memory and show who she was beyond the headlines. She was a girl with dreams, not just a victim.”

— Vritika Gupta, actor (IMDb)

The pattern: each speaker emphasizes respect for the real people involved, a consistent editorial choice across the production.

Summary

Under the Bridge succeeds in turning a difficult true crime story into a compelling character study, largely thanks to its cast. The performances — especially from Vritika Gupta and Lily Gladstone — give the series an emotional core that transcends the typical crime procedural. For viewers drawn to true crime, the series offers a respectful yet gripping look at a tragedy. The trade-off is that some details remain fictionalized, but the emotional truth is unmistakable. Vritika Gupta’s performance makes this series a must-watch for true crime fans, but the fictionalized elements remind viewers to seek the book for complete accuracy.

For a detailed look at who plays each key figure in the real-life case, readers can explore the full cast of Hulu’s Under the Bridge Hulus Under the Bridge on our site.

Frequently asked questions

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