MTV’s Faking It was weirdly ahead of its time. It premiered in 2014, a year before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, and it leaned into a high school hierarchy that felt like a fever dream. At Hester High, being "different" was the only way to be popular. If you were an athlete or a straight, cisgendered prom king type? You were a social pariah. Honestly, it was a refreshing flip on the tired Mean Girls tropes we’d been fed for decades.
But the cast of Faking It really carried the show's chaotic energy. When Amy and Karma decided to pretend to be a couple just to climb the social ladder, the show could have easily devolved into a tacky, offensive mess. Instead, thanks to the chemistry of the actors, it became a nuanced exploration of questioning your identity while navigating the messiness of teenage friendships. It’s been years since the show was abruptly canceled after three seasons, leaving fans with a cliffhanger that still stings. You’ve probably seen some of the actors popping up in massive Netflix hits or indie films recently and wondered where you recognize them from.
Rita Volk: The Heart of the Show
Rita Volk played Amy Raudenfeld. Amy was the cynical, sarcastic voice of reason who—oops—actually fell in love with her best friend while they were pretending to be lesbians. It was a heartbreaking performance. Volk brought a level of vulnerability that made Amy the most relatable person on screen.
After the show wrapped, Volk didn't just disappear, though she’s been somewhat selective with her roles. She took on a lead role in the 2016 film Almost Friends, starring alongside Freddie Highmore and Odeya Rush. It’s a quiet, charming dramedy that really showed off her range beyond the "angsty teen" archetype. Later, she appeared in the TV series Relationship Status, which explored the complexities of digital-age dating. If you’re looking for her more recent work, she popped up in the horror-thriller Summertime (2020). While she isn't as active on social media as some of her former costars, her portrayal of Amy remains a touchstone for LGBTQ+ representation in mid-2010s television. She really nailed the "I’m figuring it out" energy.
Katie Stevens and the Post-MTV Glow Up
Then there’s Katie Stevens. Karma Ashcroft was... a lot. She was desperate for fame, slightly selfish, and constantly dragging Amy into her schemes. But Stevens made her likable. You wanted to root for her even when she was being a disaster.
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If you feel like you see Katie Stevens everywhere, it’s because you do. Shortly after Faking It ended, she landed the lead role of Jane Sloan in Freeform’s The Bold Type. That show ran for five seasons and became a massive cultural hit, cementing Stevens as a staple of "prestige" teen-and-young-adult TV. It was a big jump from playing a high schooler in Austin to a writer at a high-fashion magazine in Manhattan.
Stevens has also leaned into her musical roots—remember, she started on American Idol—and has been vocal about her personal life. She married musician Paul DiGiovanni in 2019, and they welcomed their first child in 2023. She’s transitioned from the "girl next door" role into a legitimate leading lady in the industry.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Spotlight
You can't talk about the cast of Faking It without mentioning Michael J. Willett and Gregg Sulkin. They provided the necessary balance to the Amy/Karma drama.
- Michael J. Willett (Shane Harvey): Shane was the "queen bee" of the school, but with a lot more depth than the title suggests. Willett was already known for the film G.B.F. before joining the show. Since Faking It, he has stayed busy with various projects, including a stint on Drunk History and the 2019 film The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo. He’s a multi-hyphenate, often focusing on his music career as well.
- Gregg Sulkin (Liam Booker): Sulkin was already a Disney Channel veteran (Wizards of Waverly Place) when he joined the cast. As the resident heartthrob Liam, he had the "troubled artist" thing down to a science. After the show, his career skyrocketed. He landed a lead role in Marvel’s Runaways as Chase Stein, which gave him a huge platform in the MCU-adjacent TV world. More recently, he starred in the Netflix sitcom Pretty Smart alongside Emily Osment.
- Bailey De Young (Lauren Cooper): Lauren was the conservative, pill-popping step-sister who ended up being one of the most progressive characters on the show after she came out as intersex. De Young’s performance was masterful—she was the character everyone loved to hate, then just loved. After the show, she moved on to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, playing Imogene Cleary. Seeing her in 1950s period costumes was a trip, but she fit that world perfectly.
Why the Faking It Legacy Still Holds Up
A lot of shows from the 2014 era feel dated now. The fashion is cringey, the jokes don't land, and the social commentary feels shallow. Faking It feels different. It tackled the nuances of the "B" in LGBTQ+—bisexuality is often ignored or treated as a phase in media—and it gave us one of the first major intersex characters on a scripted series.
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The show was canceled right as things were getting interesting. Amy had just left for the summer, Lauren and Shane were in a weird power struggle, and Karma and Liam were... well, Karma and Liam. The fans were livid. There are still petitions floating around online to bring it back for a reunion movie, though the actors have all moved on to such different stages of their lives that it seems unlikely.
The chemistry of the cast of Faking It was the secret sauce. You could tell they actually liked each other. Even now, you’ll occasionally see them interacting on Instagram or doing "mini-reunions" that send the fandom into a tailspin. They weren't just actors playing roles; they seemed to genuinely care about the progressive messages the show was trying to send to a younger audience.
Behind the Scenes Realities
Showrunner Carter Covington has been pretty open about what would have happened if Season 4 had been greenlit. Basically, Amy and Karma were the "endgame," but the journey there was going to be messy. The show was filmed on a relatively tight budget in Los Angeles, even though it was set in Texas. That indie, scrappy feel is part of what made it feel authentic.
It’s also worth noting how many of these actors used the show as a springboard. MTV in the mid-2010s was a powerhouse for launching careers—think Teen Wolf or Awkward. The cast of Faking It fits right into that legacy of talented young actors who were given a platform to do something a little bit risky.
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Where to Follow the Cast Now
If you want to keep up with what everyone is doing, social media is your best bet, though some are more active than others. Katie Stevens is the most public-facing, often sharing behind-the-scenes looks at her life as a mom and her new projects. Gregg Sulkin is also very active, often posting fitness content and updates on his production company.
Rita Volk stays more low-key, which honestly fits her vibe. Michael J. Willett is great to follow if you’re into indie music and fashion.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're feeling nostalgic for the Hester High days, here is how you can dive back in or support the actors today:
- Stream the Series: Currently, Faking It is often available on platforms like Paramount+ or for purchase on Amazon Prime. Rewatching it through a 2026 lens reveals just how much the show predicted about modern "clique" culture.
- Watch The Bold Type: If you haven't seen Katie Stevens in The Bold Type, start there. It’s the spiritual successor to her role as Karma, just more "adult" and set in the publishing world.
- Check out Marvel's Runaways: For a completely different side of Gregg Sulkin, this is a must-watch. He trades the paintbrush for high-tech "fistigons" and deals with some pretty heavy sci-fi drama.
- Support Indie Projects: Keep an eye on Rita Volk’s IMDb. She tends to do smaller, more character-driven films that don't always get massive marketing budgets but are usually worth the watch.
- Follow the Intersex Justice Project: Since the show was a pioneer in intersex representation through Lauren’s character, supporting organizations that advocate for intersex rights is a great way to honor the show's impact.
The cast of Faking It might have moved on to bigger budgets and different characters, but for a specific generation of TV watchers, they will always be the kids from Austin who made "faking it" feel more real than anything else on television.