Jenna Coleman became a household name in the UK when she joined ITV soap Emmerdale in 2005. During her four years as well-loved character Jasmine Thomas, she enjoyed some huge storylines before leaving to spread her wings.
After leaving the soap Jenna went on to appear in Waterloo Road, Titanic, and Room at the Top before landing the role of Clara Oswald in Doctor Who. Since then she has landed some huge TV roles including playing Joanna Lyndsay in The Cry, Queen Victoria in ITV period drama Victoria, Marie Andree Leclerc in The Serpent and most recently starring in TV thrillers Wilderness and The Jetty.
She turned down a place at university to be in Emmerdale
Jenna was offered a place to study English at the University of York but turned it down to join the cast of Emmerdale in 2005, where she learned her trade by working hard and proving she has got what it takes to be a successful actress. Unbelievably Jenna didn't get into drama school when she applied - however, she soon proved them wrong with with her now hugely impressive acting CV.
She was once rumoured to be dating Prince Harry
Jenna got tongues wagging back in 2015 when she was spotted looking friendly with Prince Harry at a polo match. Of course, the nation got itself into a frenzy, however it turns out the pair are just good friends.
She was buying avocados when she heard she'd got the Doctor Who job
Jenna has often been quoted declaring her love for avocados, but it turns out they are also part of a very important moment in her life. She was apparently shopping for her favourite food when she got the call from her agent revealing that she had landed the role as the next Doctor Who companion.
She stole a very impressive memento when she left Doctor Who
Not wanting to forget her time spent as the time traveling Doctor's companion, Jenna managed to sneak out lots of souvenirs from the set. During an appearance on The Johnathan Ross Show she admitted: "I stole quite a lot actually. I stole a bit of the TARDIS but somebody helped me from the props department. I took a proper Gallifreyan full-on piece under my jumper, but it was in conjunction with the props team, they gave me the wink. I've also got the neon sign of the police box sign in my dining room and it lights up."
She had to fight off stiff competition for her role in Victoria
While Jenna was clearly made for the title role in Victoria and it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the historical figure, there were some other very fine actresses on the shortlist when casting was being made. Lily James, Cara Delevingne, Emilia Clarke and Chloe Moretz were all in the running, but Jenna pipped them to the post.
She changed her name after leaving Emmerdale
When Jenna was first thrown into the limelight after joining Emmerdale, she went by her full name, Jenna-Louise Coleman. However, the actress said that she found it odd when she became more well-known and strangers would call her by her full name. She dropped the Louise part and is now called Jenna Coleman. Apparently, it is only her mum who still calls her Jenna Louise!
She has a hilarious most embarrassing moment
When asked what her most embarrassing moment was during an interview with The Guardian, Jenna revealed happened when buying a sandwich at Leeds train station: "The man said to me: 'Do you want to go for a drink?' and I said, "I am so sorry, but I have got a boyfriend.' and he replied, 'No, it's a meal deal, if you take a sandwich you can get a drink as well.'"
Jenna Coleman's Fact File
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the star...
How old is Jenna Coleman?
Jenna Coleman's age is 38. She was born on April 27, 1986.
Is Jenna Coleman married?
No, Jenna Coleman isn't married but she has a partner, director Jamie Childs, who she is thought to have met on the set of Netflix series The Sandman.
Does Jenna Coleman have children?
Yes, Jenna Coleman and her partner Jamie Childs welcomed their first child into the world in autumn 2024.
Where was Jenna Coleman born?
Jenna Coleman was born in Blackpool, England.
How tall is Jenna Coleman?
Jenna Coleman is just under 5ft 2 inches tall.
Twitter: @Jenna_Coleman_
Instagram: @jenna_coleman_
We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.
