Based on Karin Slaughter’s series of novels, Will Trent follows the titular detective at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The ABC show proved to be a surprise hit, building off of its eccentric yet endearing unconventional detective, played to perfection by Ramón Rodríguez, with the opening episodes presenting minor cases aimed at building up Trent and the various agents at the GBI.
The show premiered on January 3, 2023, and opened as ABC’s No. 1 debut of the season with 6.6 million viewers. The show has been renewed for a second season, though the release date of the second season is not confirmed.
To help newcomers to the show or to act as a refresher for existing fans, we have put together a Will Trent cast and character guide, breaking down the actors behind the charismatic personas that have made the show a smash hit.
Ramón Rodríguez as Will Trent
Ramón Rodríguez is an actor, director, writer, and producer. He is best known for his roles in TV, including The Wire and Day Break. Outside the TV and film industry, Rodríguez is known for his activism and community involvement, including helping spearhead the 100Roofs Project, which assisted in the building and repairing homes of those affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico.
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Ramón Rodríguez plays the titular character of Will Trent, an eccentric agent working for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, touting the highest clearance rate within the bureau. Having struggled through the foster care system in his youth, Trent brings a particular understanding and methodology that is both unorthodox and effective. Rodríguez’s role has been praised, and many attribute the surprise success of the ABC show to the actor’s sincere and charismatic portrayal of Will Trent.
Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski
Erika Christensen is an actor and singer who has worked in the entertainment industry since 1997. She has appeared in numerous TV series and movies, including Steven Soderbergh’sTraffic for which she won two awards for her portrayal of Caroline Wakefield, the MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Christensen has received recognition for her work with the non-profit organization Medinova NY, which raises funds for hospitals in Haiti.
In Will Trent, Christensen plays Angie Polanski, an Atlanta homicide detective who is also the on and off again girlfriend of Will Trent. Polanski is a dedicated detective whose tumultuous relationship with Trent often boils down to her commitment to work over romance. Still, her assuredness and astute skills as a detective make her an essential ally to the titular Will Trent, and a model agent for the G.B.I.
Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell
Iantha Richardson is an actor and dancer who has shown interest in the performing arts since a young age. In education, Richardson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Fordham University. Her first notable role came via the TV comedy show Journey of a Goddess, where she played Krys in several episodes. Richardson was also a regular cast member in Jones, American Soul, Good Trouble, and This is Us.
Iantha Richardson plays Faith Mitchell, Will Trent’s partner at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, after being granted temporary status by the head of the agency, Amanda Wagner. Being brought up in a law enforcement family, Mitchell’s dreams were cut somewhat short when she became pregnant at 14, which sidetracked her ambitions. However, Mitchell’s quick wit and strong will make her a worthy partner to the talented Trent.
Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner
Sonja Sohn is an actor, director, activist, and poet whose first significant break came when she was discovered by Marc Levin while performing. Her presence on stage and skill in slam poetry led to a role in Levin’s Slam, in which Sohn also acted as a co-writer.
Along with various minor appearances in TV and film, Sohn would find one of her most iconic roles as Baltimore detective Kima Greggs in the hit HBO showThe Wire. Outside of acting, Sohn is noted for her community work and activism in her native Baltimore, including founding the non-profit organization ReWired for Change.
In Will Trent, Sonja Sohn plays the head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Amanda Wagner. Wagner is known to be confident and professional in her role, often coming across as cold. However, she is also known for having a soft spot for Trent and allows the calm veneer she crafts for the job to crack a little when talking with the highly skilled detective — having the highest clear rate of cases doesn’t hurt their congenial relationship.
A fan favorite with a big attitude for such a little girl, Bluebell plays Betty the Dog, the charming Chihuahua. Betty meets Will Trent in the first episode when Trent finds her abandoned and can’t find it in himself to leave her at a shelter — a reflection of his own experiences in foster care.
Betty is Trent’s ‘secret weapon,’ and — although this is just speculation — the doggo actor is considered a ‘good girl’ on set and worth all the pets and belly scratches.