Meet the Doctor's new companion

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Publication: Daily Express
Date: 2012-09-22
Author: Denise Marshall
Page: 6
Language: English

New Doctor Who actress Jenna-Louise Coleman, talks to Saturday magazine about landing one of the most coveted roles in British television and her new period drama, Room At The Top

ROOM AT THE TOP, WEDNESDAY, 9PM, BBC4

Three years after bidding farewell to her first acting role as Emmerdale's Jasmine Thomas, Jenna-Louise Coleman's journey from The Dales to her unveiling as the latest Doctor Who companion is nothing short of outstanding.

Last month more than six million viewers tuned in for Jenna's surprise Doctor Who debut as the show returned with a seventh series. Fans weren't expecting to see the 26 year old on screen until Christmas when she officially takes over from Matt Smith's current co-star, Karen Gillan, who plays Amy Pond.

Jenna's role in last month's opening episode was shrouded in secrecy and millions of viewers were given a nice surprise when she appeared on screen as captive time traveller Oswin, stranded in the skeleton of a Dalek.

Prior to her recent dalliance with the Time Lord, we last saw Jenna in April, aboard Julian Fellowes' ITV1 miniseries Titanic playing loyal servant Annie Desmond. Now, this week, she is propelled from the 1910s to the 1950s for her second period drama, the racy post war classic Room At The Top.

"I found it charged, dark, exciting, heartbreaking and full of tension," enthuses Jenna. "It was hailed as one of the first real life dramas and is very raw and visceral. It is real love in everyday form; revealing the ugliness as well as the beauty of love."

Jenna's character Susan Brown feels stifled as she struggles to win the heart of handsome social climber Joe Lampton (played by Misfits star Matthew McNulty).

"Susan is a young, naive and innocent girl in lots of ways but she can also be quite wise," explains Jenna.

"We meet her at an age where she's definitely experimenting and rebelling. She's doesn't really know who she is and she doesn't have an identity because she's grown up in a glass cage:'

The daughter of a wealthy local businessman, Susan is forced to question the values instilled in her by her parents when she is swept off her feet by former soldier Joe.

"She's very selective and observant but is very lonely because her life is so controlled and contrived," continues Jenna.

"She has elocution lessons, goes to the ballet and has a timetable of events in her social calendar. She's expected to behave in a certain way and that's what attracts her to Joe so much; he breaks through all of the boundaries and that's exciting for her."

Joe is initially smitten with the beautiful Susan and also believes that dating the daughter of a wealthy, successful family will help him climb the social ladder.

But complications arise when Joe is seduced by frustrated wife Alice, played by Maxine Peake, and the pair embark on a dangerous affair which threatens to destroy everything he has built with Susan and her powerful family.

The explicit nature of the story caused something of a scandal when the Oscar-winning film was released in 1959, but Jenna feels the strong scenes are an integral part of BBC4's two-part version.

"I felt passionate about the script and it was overwhelming working with people that I respect and admire so much. I enjoyed all of it and wished it could have gone on longer:'

Room At The Top was due to air last April, but postponed due to last minute copyright issues that have since been resolved. Filming took place back in winter 2010.

"I'd never played a glamorous character before," laughs Jenna. "I absolutely adored the outfits. I love the period as well so was totally in my element with the costumes! It's amazing how it makes you feel and the difference it can make in walking you back to the period:'

Jenna's parents Karen and Keith are hugely proud of their daughter's newfound fame. They will be tuning in to Doctor Who at Christmas to watch scenes in which the Blackpool-born actress has been spotted filming in Victorian costume.

Like all new recruits to the family sci-fi favourite, Jenna was under strict orders to keep storylines under wraps. "When she was auditioning, Karen Gillan had been given the codename 'panic moon' which is an anagram of 'companion' — so I worked out that 'men on waves' is an anagram of 'woman seven', because this is the seventh series," explained Jenna on landing the role.

"Weirdly, seven is my lucky number and this is my seventh job."

The demand for Jenna shows no signs of waning and we'll soon see her gracing yet another decade when she stars in acclaimed director Stephen Poliakoff's eagerly-awaited TV drama Dancing On The Edge.

The five-part series, showing on BBC2, follows the rise of black jazz musicians in the 1930s and also stars Anthony Head and Jane Asher.

So just as you'd expect from a Doctor Who companion, Jenna looks well and truly set to conquer the universe.

FROM THE DALES TO DALEKS

The rise and rise of Jenna-Louise Coleman

EMMERDALE (2005-09)

Jenna claimed a string of award nominations for her role as bed-hopping Jasmine Thomas. Big storylines included teenage pregnancy, murder and a lesbian relationship with Debbie Dingle.

WATERLOO ROAD (2009)

Schoolgirl Lindsay James was a surreal role for Jenna to take on at the age of 23. "She's a hard nut to crack, a tormented soul," said Jenna.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST AVENGER (2011)

Jenna turned heads in Hollywood with her first big screen role in the superhero flick following comic hero Captain America. She played the Captain's girlfriend Connie.

TITANIC (2012)

"Fellowes has given me a gift," said Jenna of her part as maid Annie Desmond in Julian's adaptation. "I'm the Eliza Doolittle of the ship." Jenna prepared for the maiden voyage by studying Barbara Windsor's cockney accent.

DOCTOR WHO

(2012)

Jenna will return to our screens at Christmas alongside the current Time Lord Matt Smith. "Boo! Hello! Hope we gave you a good surprise!" the actress said after her unexpected arrival last month. "More to come... watch this space!"

DANCING ON THE EDGE (due to air 2013)

Jenna will appear in a single episode of the long-awaited series Dancing On The Edge directed by Stephen Poliakoff, cementing her status as "one to watch".

Captions:

Above: Jenna as Emmerdale's Jasmine Thomas kissing Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) in 2006.

Below: in Titanic with Glen Blackhall

Below: Jenna replaces Karen Gillan as Dr Who's companion this Christmas

Caption: Room At The Top is a remake of a critically acclaimed 50s classic (above). Jenna (below, left) stars alongside Misfits actor Matthew McNulty and dinnerladies' Maxine Peake

Right: Jenna proved a hit with Doctor Who fans when she made her debut last month

Meet the Doctor's new companion

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