Clara Oswald actress, Jenna Coleman will star in, and serve as executive producer for, upcoming drama, The War Rooms.
The series, produced by David Parfitt and former Content Media President of Film, Jamie Carmichael, is based on the memoir, The Inner Circle: A View of War at the Top, written by Joan Bright, who ran Winston Churchill’s Whitehall bunker. The Imperial War Museum is also aboard as consultants.
Bright was awarded an OBE in 1946, and is a largely unsung hero of the Second World War. James Bond fans might know Bright – who dated 007 author, Ian Fleming – for reportedly being the inspiration behind Miss Moneypenny.
Jenna, who plays Joan in the show, said:
“Joan Bright was never going to live a conventional life – a young woman who lived her war days under the official secrets act, undercover and underground in the war rooms.
“This story is so compelling not only because of her unique and liberal mind, wryness of spirit and curiosity to live, but because of the opportunity to examine this endlessly fascinating period of time through an intimate and human lens.
“The closeness and proximity of days and nights lived within this small space, the carriers of the truth amidst the oblivion of propaganda above. The beauty and fragility of human connection when living through a time when no one knows what tomorrow will bring. I’m so excited to unearth these hidden lives and at a time where it feels so shockingly relevant right now.”
Producers, David Parfitt and Jamie Carmichael added:
“Jenna is one of the UK’s most loved and lauded actresses, whose career has seen her constantly stretch and redefine herself. As our lead actor and executive producer, she has been instrumental in bringing The War Rooms to life.”
The War Rooms is written by David Chidlow.
We don’t have a date for when it’ll air on TV, but we’re teased that “each season will cover 12-18 months of the war – from the shock of the war’s outbreak to sustaining the fight to the final push for victory and the battle to shape the modern Britain we know”; so there’s a long-term strategy here…
It’s great to see Jenna’s star continuing to rise so high.
