Jenna Coleman has been lighting up our screens this autumn in Victoria, ITV’s gorgeous historical drama about the English queen’s early days on the throne, and it’d made for truly compelling viewing.
The good news for those who have yet to see it – or for those already keen to see it again – is that it’s released on DVD this week from ITV Studios Global Entertainment and is available now on digital download.
Following her breakout roles in Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, now seems like a good time to revisit some of our favourite things the delightful Ms. Coleman has been in…
Death Comes To Pemberley
Victoria wasn’t the first time Coleman starred in an historical costume thing by any stretch.
For instance, in BBC One’s 2013 adaptation of P.D. James’ murder mystery / fanfic of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, she plays Lydia, sister to our hero Elizabeth (now Mrs. Darcy) and the wife of Mr. Wickham, who is rather a naughty man indeed. But was he so naughty he did a murder? That would be telling…
Me Before You
Illustrating that Jenna’s range extends well beyond bonnets and time-travelling, here she plays Katrina, sister to the Emilia Clarke out of Game of Thrones (also known as the illustrious Unburnt Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and of the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons).
Whether you found the film’s ending to be grim or heartwarming, Jenna is as always a ray of sunshine every time she graces the screen.
Titanic
From the creator of Downton Abbey, ITV’s four-part ambitious series from 2012 about the famous ship (spoiler alert: it hits an iceberg) features an impressively large cast of luminaries, including Ms. Coleman as the delightful stewardess Annie Desmond, who quickly catches the eye of a sweet young steward named Paolo.
I wish I could tell you that everyone lives happily ever after, but… well, let’s pretend that these two definitely floated to New York and set up a small but successful deli in, let’s say, Queens. Because I said so.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Fast-forwarding from the Titanic’s times to World War II, Jenna appears (full of sparkling enthusiasm, but all too briefly) as a young lady with an apparent interest in science and technology on a delightful evening out with little Steve Rogers and his best guy Bucky Barnes.
Now, while the credits list her character’s name as “Connie,” I can’t be the only person to look back and wonder, isn’t there a certain time-and-space-travelling diner out there that would fit right into the 1940s Brooklyn aesthetic, which leads us neatly to…
Doctor Who
You may remember that Jenna Coleman recently had a part in a little programme called Doctor Who, in which she played a teacher named Clara Oswald.
Indeed, Clara went on to become an incredibly significant companion to the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, and their arc together was as compelling as it was bittersweet. She was brave and strong, sometimes a little reckless, but always kind. It’s no wonder that Clara quickly made her way into my little shortlist of very favourite companions.
Victoria
I think it’s fair to say that if you’ve been watching along with me, you’ll know that I’ve enjoyed seeing lovely Jenna take on the mantle of queen – in this case, the titular Victoria – and indeed, it’s a role she wears beautifully.
ITV’s eight-part series follows the young monarch from the day she becomes queen, through various triumphs and frustrations, through the early days of her marriage to Prince Albert. Both the show and its star are nothing short of stunning.
From her quiet beginnings and her best friend Dash (who’s a good puppy!) to her beautiful, heartbreaking friendship with Lord Melbourne, and then her marriage to Albert, it’s such a joy watching Coleman’s Victoria navigate British politics, and come into her own as a leader, at once commanding and regal, but with that undercurrent of vulnerability that makes it all so compelling.
Bring on Season 2 next year!
Buy the first season of Victoria on DVD on Amazon here.
What’s your favourite Jenna Coleman role? Let us know below…