Why Marie-Andrée Leclerc From The Serpent Looks So Familiar
Netflix's The Serpent tells the true story of serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim). Like many who came before him, the con man and murderer didn't commit his crimes alone — and the series chronicles how he was aided and abetted by numerous accomplices, including his girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc, played by Jenna Coleman.
While the series does not make light of Leclerc's role in Sobhraj's crimes, it does show how she, too, in some ways, fell prey to his deadly charisma. Coleman's performance as Leclerc is nuanced, showing the complexities of her journey, and for fans of the series, it may spark an interest in the actress.
At just 34 years old, Jenna Coleman has already cultivated an impressive résumé before she booked the limited series. In her 16 years as an actress, she has won roles in some of film and television's most beloved franchises — and there's a good chance you've seen her before, whether you realize it or not. Let's take a look at why Jenna Coleman seems so familiar.
Jenna Coleman's first role caused controversy
In 2005, Jenna Coleman booked her first professional acting role on the long-running British soap opera Emmerdale (also known as Emmerdale Farm). Her role as Jasmine Thomas was definitely a huge deal at the time, and she considers herself lucky that she got such a big break (via the Sunday Mail).
With her newfound stardom came some controversy, though. Her character, a rebellious teen who eventually became a journalist who investigated local crimes before committing one of her own, raised some eyebrows during her nearly four-year tenure on Emmerdale, due largely in part to her sexual orientation. Jasmine was a lesbian who had a romantic relationship with Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) — and that didn't go over well with some viewers (via Digital Spy).
Despite that, Jenna Coleman's performance was positively received. She earned a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2006 British Soap Awards.
With a bit part, Jenna Coleman got her big screen start in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Jenna Coleman's career has largely thrived on the small screen, but she's still made impressive forays intp film, too. In fact, her first-ever movie role was in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She played Connie, a nurse and Bucky Barnes' (Sebastian Stan) date to the Stark Expo in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. Though it's a small part, Coleman still managed to imbue Connie with a charming, youthful energy and optimism — in the brief time she's on-screen, she seems more interested in watching Howard Stark's presentation than in her date, though, to be fair, she isn't exactly aware that she's in the presence of the future Captain America (Chris Evans).
While it's very unlikely we'll ever see Connie reemerge in the MCU, Coleman still has the rare privilege of being among a legendary pantheon of actors who've appeared in the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.
Jenna Coleman got timey wimey with Doctor Who
There are few better ways to gain global notoriety than by appearing in one of the most famous TV series of all time. Jenna Coleman had buzz surrounding her before she ever appeared as Clara Oswin Oswald on Doctor Who — but she more than earned that attention during her tenure on the long-running BBC series.
As the bubbly, bright companion for both the Eleventh (Matt Smith) and Twelfth (Peter Capaldi) Doctors, Clara, the impossible girl, had a significant part of the series revolve around her character and the mysterious way in which the Doctor kept encountering her throughout his timeline. All told, Coleman appeared in 40 episodes of Doctor Who, from 2012 through 2017.
While many fans would agree that the overall arc of Clara's journey on the series wasn't completely satisfying, Jenna Coleman's performance was still unforgettable, and she remains one of the most compelling Doctor Who companions to date.
As a legendary royal, Jenna Coleman has shined in Victoria
It can't be easy portraying one of the most famous figures in British history — just ask the cast of The Crown. However, Jenna Coleman didn't shy away from that challenge when she took on the role of Queen Victoria in the ITV series Victoria.
The series dramatizes the life of the 19th-century royal and the myriad professional and personal challenges she faced during her reign, which began at the young age of 18. Since 2016, three seasons have been released — and it appears as though a fourth season could be on the way, too (via Radio Times). Over the course of those three seasons, Coleman brought both strength and vulnerability to her performance, and she has earned strong reviews for Victoria, in part because her nuanced portrayal has helped to humanize a figure many have only seen in history books.