Jenna Coleman has confessed she was once asked to wear a bikini for an audition.
The 32-year-old actress first rose to prominence in British soap Emmerdale before landing a role in cult BBC show Doctor Who, as the Time Lord’s assistant Clara Oswald. Since then, she has achieved leading lady status in critically acclaimed drama Victoria, in which she plays the titular role of British monarch Queen Victoria.
However, in an interview with The Guardian, which discussed whether she had experienced overt sexual harassment in the industry, Jenna denied she had, but recalled an inappropriate request that occurred when she went to try her luck in Hollywood over 10 years ago.
“I was asked to turn up to an audition in a bikini and just said no,” she told the newspaper. “You know, there’s been silly things like that,” she shared when asked about sexism in the entertainment industry.
Jenna is in the middle of filming the third series of the hit ITV drama, scripted by Daisy Goodwin. But when asked about her awareness of equal pay in her roles she said it’s “really hard” because actors rarely share information about salaries.
“It’s really hard for me because obviously the last couple of projects I’ve been doing, I’ve been in a comfortable position where I’ve been able to be strong… But the thing is, nobody talks,” she sighed.
“Nobody really knows and I think that’s why so much time has gone on where things have been allowed to happen.”
Jenna, who is dating co-star Tom Hughes, who plays Victoria’s husband Prince Albert on screen, added: “I feel like it’s a whole can of worms that’s potentially better not to open.”
