Over the past few years, television has been dominated by award-winning police dramas, many of which have been helmed by female leads – Happy Valley, Line of Duty, No Offence and a whole lot of Nordic noir, among others – so it is perhaps unsurprising that the OG of crime procedurals is coming back to our screens. ITV has confirmed new commission Tennison, a six-part prequel to Prime Suspect, set in the 1970s. The series will follow a 22-year-old Jane Tennison as a probationary officer in Hackney, where she will deal with London’s shadiest gangland villains and a sexist force struggling to integrate female officers. But who could play the character that made Helen Mirren an icon? Here are some options.
Emma Watson
She might be too busy in Hollywood to pop back to Britain for an ITV drama, but Watson would be an expert at channelling Tennison’s trademark mix of professional steeliness and personal wreckage. Plus, she shares a name with the most famous detective sidekick of all time, which has to count for something. Right? Right.
Emilia Clarke
Clarke may seem too soft for the role, but we don’t yet know how green young Tennison will be, and in Game of Thrones, Daenerys has gone seamlessly from downtrodden victim to ruthless(-ish) leader of armies and nations. Plus, how to deal with the inevitable 1970s’ misogynistic boss who will do his best to keep her down? Couple of dragons and a hissed “dracarys”, of course.
Faye Marsay
Another Game of Thrones star, though given that roughly 87% of all UK actors can now put that on their CV, it is hard to avoid some crossover. Marsay has delivered scene-stealing performances in Doctor Who and Glue and, as the Waif in GoT, has mastered the poker face Tennison will need. Plus, Marsay did an excellent job of being tipsy in Pride, and we know Jane is extremely fond of a drink.
Maddy Hill
Earlier this year, Hill won a deserved Best Newcomer NTA for her portrayal of Nancy Carter in EastEnders, and she was born in Hackney, so she she already has the borough’s mean streets locked up. Though our character won’t be high-ranking enough to say it yet, it’s worth imagining how she’d handle: “Don’t call me ma’am.” Even in sportswear, it works.
Alexandra Roach
The No Offence star has proved she knows her way around a police procedural, and has already played a notoriously hard famous figure in her youth, in The Iron Lady. In Utopia, she showed herself to be a dab hand at truly creative swearing. It’s not really Tennison’s way, but in a more lawless, Life on Mars-style force, perhaps this could be put to good use.
Who would you like to see as a young Jane Tennison? Let us know in the comments below.
