Jenna Coleman started out like so many actors from the British Isles: in a soap. In 2005, she appeared as Jasmine Thomas in Emmerdale, a role she played almost daily for three years. Then came a trip to Waterloo Road, where she played the feisty student Lindsay James. From soap to school drama, what’s the difference!
Coleman's real breakthrough with the general public is in 2012. She does that in that quintessentially British series with the iconic blue telephone box: Doctor Who. Coleman is cast as Clara Oswald, the new companion of the Doctor. Her character quickly becomes a permanent fixture and she plays a key role in the universe of the long-running series between 2012 and 2015. For many viewers, Clara is still the companion of the Doctor Who years of Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.
While Coleman is fulfilling her role in the TARDIS, she also appears in a few other productions. For example, we see her in a series version of the world's most famous sunken ship: Titanic. She can also be seen in miniseries Room at the Top and Dancing on the Edge and plays a guest role in Death Comes To Pemberley, a mystery drama based on a sequel to Pride and Prejudice. As a voice actor, she also plays the role of Baines in the animated series Thunderbirds Are Go!.
While her role in Doctor Who is still ongoing, Coleman knows she can look for a new project. That will be the successful Victoria, in which she plays the title role of Queen Victoria. She portrays Victoria with a mix of royal allure and humanity that appeals to the audience. In between, you can also spot Coleman in the miniseries The Cry.
After a guest appearance on Inside No. 9, Coleman takes on a darker role in 2021 when she shows off her acting chops in The Serpent, based on the true story of serial killer Charles Sobhraj. Coleman plays Marie-Andrée Leclerc, Sobhraj’s partner-in-crime. The series has received critical acclaim, thanks in part to Coleman’s subtle portrayal of a woman caught up in manipulation and violence.
Different, but perhaps just as dark is The Sandman. In this Netflix series based on the graphic novels by Neil Gaiman, Coleman plays the role of Johanna Constantine, who is indeed related to John Constantine. Her character may not be a cynical smoker in a trench coat, but a description as a female exorcist with style, who tackles demons with flair and sarcasm, gives a good picture. Coleman portrays her in such a way that she becomes a crowd pleaser in just a few episodes.
At Prime Video, she gets to work in Wilderness, which is less well-received. No problem for Coleman, with a role in miniseries The Jetty that quickly follows, that is quickly forgotten. And for the fans: it looks like we can expect her return in the second season of The Sandman at the beginning of July…
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