meet the cast

Hanna Marin

Played by Ashley Benson

Character Bio

Hanna Marin goes after what she wants. The more forbidden it is, the better -- whether it's a pair of designer sunglasses, junk food, or her chastity-pledging boyfriend's virtue. Rosewood High's "It" girl is an expert at creating the façade of the perfect life. What would people say if they knew about her run-in with the law? Today Hanna rules the school, but "A's" mysterious messages are unsettling. How easy would it be to topple Hanna's reign, and just how far would she go to save it?

Actor Bio

Ashley Benson stars as Hanna Marin, who became the school's new "it" girl after Alison disappeared. But being at the top of the social ladder is not all it is cracked up to be, especially when someone is out there reminding Hanna of how things used to be.

Born and raised in California, Benson developed a passion for theater at the age of 3, began acting when she was 9 – working mostly in commercials – and then quickly made the transition into film and television. Most recently in television, she was a series regular on ABC's "Eastwick," playing Rebecca Romijn's daughter, and she starred in the Lifetime Television movie "Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal." Her additional television credits include appearances on "The District," "The West Wing," "Scrubs" and "The O.C." Previously, Benson spent three years on NBC's "Days of Our Lives," playing Abigail Deveraux.

Benson made her feature film debut in "13 Going on 30," starring Jennifer Garner. She was also the lead in "Bring It On: In It to Win It," as the fresh-faced captain of the West High cheerleading team. In 2009, she was seen in the independent film "Bart Got a Room," opposite William H. Macy.

Benson lives in the Los Angeles area with Olive, her Maltese Shih Tzu. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, singing, the beach, the movies and watching the Los Angeles Lakers — she's a huge fan.