Jenna-Louise Coleman
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This article's lead section may not adequately summarize key points of its contents. (February 2013) |
| Jenna-Louise Coleman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 April 1986 Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Partner(s) | Richard Madden (2011–present) |
Jenna-Louise Coleman (born 27 April 1986)[1] is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Jasmine Thomas in the British soap opera Emmerdale, and the Eleventh Doctor's companion Clara Oswald in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.
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Early life [edit]
Coleman was born in Blackpool, Lancashire. She attended Arnold School, where she was head girl and gained straight As in her A-levels.[citation needed] Discussing her role on Emmerdale, Coleman said that she regrets not having a conventional university experience. While at school, Coleman was a member of a theatre company called In Yer Space, with whom she performed in the play Crystal Clear at the Edinburgh Festival. She won an award for her performance, and the play was also received favourably.[2]
Career [edit]
Whilst auditioning for drama schools, Coleman landed the part of Jasmine Thomas in Emmerdale in 2005. At the 2007 British Soap Awards, she was nominated for the Best Newcomer award, and at the 2007 National Television Awards, she was nominated for the Most Popular Newcomer award.[3] At the 2009 British Soap Awards, she was nominated for the Best Actress, Sexiest Female, and Best Dramatic Performance awards.[4] She received a nomination for the Best Actress award from the TV Choice Awards. In May 2009, it was announced that Coleman would be joining BBC drama series Waterloo Road as "hard girl" Lindsay James.[5] As she was 23 at the time of her casting, Coleman found the experience of playing a schoolgirl "surreal".[6]
In December 2010, it was announced that Coleman would be playing Susan Brown in a BBC Four television adaptation of the John Braine novel Room at the Top.[7][8] The adaptation was originally intended to air in April 2011, but this was cancelled due to a rights dispute between the production company and Braine's estate. The dispute was resolved by 2012, and the show aired in two parts on 26 and 27 September 2012.[9] In 2011, she made her feature film debut in Captain America: The First Avenger. She also landed the part of Annie Desmond in Julian Fellowes' four part mini-series Titanic, describing her character as a "cheeky little Cockney" and "the Eliza Doolittle of the ship".[10]
Coleman provided the voice for the character Melia in the English dub of the 2011 video game Xenoblade Chronicles. In 2012, Coleman was cast as Rosie in Stephen Poliakoff's original drama series, Dancing on the Edge, which follows the fortunes of a black jazz band in the 1930s. The show aired on BBC Two in February 2013. On 21 March 2012, Doctor Who producer Steven Moffat confirmed at a press conference that Coleman would play the companion of the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith).[11] Moffat chose her for the role because she worked the best alongside Smith and could talk faster than him.[12] She auditioned for the role in secrecy, pretending it was for something called Men on Waves (an anagram for "Woman Seven", as she would first appear in the show's seventh series).[13]
Although originally announced as beginning her run as companion in the Christmas special in 2012, Coleman made a surprise appearance on 1 September 2012 in the first episode of the seventh series, playing Oswin Oswald, who dies at the end of the episode.[14] She subsequently debuted as a series regular in the Christmas special episode, "The Snowmen", playing the Victorian governess and barmaid Clara Oswin Oswald; like her previous incarnation, the character dies. At the end of that episode, Coleman is seen playing a third version of the character, this time from contemporary London and named simply Clara Oswald. The Doctor finds the third version of her, and from the episode "The Bells of Saint John", this version begins her travels as the Doctor's regular companion.[15]
Personal life [edit]
Coleman has been in a relationship with Richard Madden since late 2011.[16] In 2012, she was voted 91st by readers of FHM in their annual 100 Sexiest Women poll.[17]
Filmography [edit]
Television [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2009 | Emmerdale | Jasmine Thomas | 168 episodes |
| 2009 | Waterloo Road | Lindsay James | 9 episodes |
| 2012 | Titanic | Annie Desmond | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Room at the Top | Susan Brown | 2 episodes |
| 2012–present | Doctor Who | Clara Oswald | Series 7, 2013 specials, Series 8 |
| 2013 | Dancing on the Edge | Rosie Williams | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | Vicious | Chloe | 1 episode |
Film [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Captain America: The First Avenger | Connie | |
| 2012 | Imaginary Forces | Ellen | Short film |
| 2013 | Doctor Who 50th anniversary special | Clara Oswald | Shown on television and in cinemas simultaneously |
Video games [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Xenoblade Chronicles | Princess Melia Antiqua | English dub of Japanese game |
References [edit]
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (21 March 2012). "Jenna-Louise Coleman: Ten Things about the new 'Doctor Who' star". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "Blackpool soap star needs your help". Blackpool Gazette. 31 July 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ Wilkes, Neil; Welsh, James (31 October 2006). "National TV Awards 2006: Full winners list". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- ^ Green, Kris; Kilkelly, Daniel (10 May 2009). "British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ Green, Kris (13 May 2009). "Ex-'Emmerdale' actress joins 'Waterloo Road'". Digital Spy. UK. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (29 October 2009). "Coleman: 'Waterloo Road is surreal'". Digital Spy. UK. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "Stars in city to remake classic film". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. UK. 27 December 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ "Casting Unveiled on Room at the Top". UK: Screen Yorkshire. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ Jeffrey, Morgan (29 May 2012). "'Room at the Top': BBC Four drama to air following legal dispute". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ Conner, Megan (11 March 2012). "Why we're watching: Jenna-Louise Coleman, actor". The Observer. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ "Doctor Who's latest companion is unveiled". BBC News. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (21 March 2012). "'Doctor Who': Jenna-Louise Coleman – The press conference in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ Gallagher, William (27 March 2012). "Doctor Who's secret history of codenames revealed". Radio Times. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ Brown, David (1 September 2012). "Doctor Who - a message from Steven Moffat and Jenna-Louise Coleman about tonight's surprise". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ Steven Moffat (writer), Colm McCarthy (director), Denise Paul (producer) (30 March 2013). "The Bells of Saint John". Doctor Who. Series 7. Episode 7. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ Wagner, Curt (19 April 2012). "Richard Madden: I'd appear in 'Doctor Who' with girlfriend Jenna-Louise Coleman". RedEye (Chicago: Articles.redeyechicago.com). Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ Full 100 Sexiest Women results
