Jenna Coleman has confirmed she will be replaced in ‘Victoria’.
The 32-year-old actress knows it is impossible for her to continue playing Queen Victoria – who died at the age of 81 – in the regal drama as the character gets older but she admitted she isn’t looking forward to the day when she has to step down and let someone else take over as the monarch in the next stage of her life.
She admitted: "There’s going to come a point where I have to [to be recast]. The idea I’ll be playing Victoria meeting Abdul is not really possible.
"But it’s going to be a hard thing to give over, especially as she gets older. She’s becoming much more like everything that she’s kind of known for – her impatience and straightness and inability to hide how she feels.
"[Recasting] brings a lot of challenges and it’s hard as an actor – when you’ve taken it so far it’s hard to give it up."
But the actress has some ideas in mind of who could step in to replace her on the show.
She told reporters: "There’s lots of people. Emily Watson would be amazing, so would Imelda Staunton. Helena Bonham Carter would be good, but she’s busy right now.
"Olivia Colman was so good in The Favourite but she’s busy too."
Jenna’s co-star, Tom Hughes, 32, is hopeful he can stay with the show until his character, the queen’s husband Prince Albert, dies at the age of 42.
He said: "I hope I am able to finish the story because I am close to finishing," he said.
"I’m trying to map [Albert’s life] out correctly and be as fair as I can. I’ve put on a bit of weight for this series, I’m holding him differently so Albert feels older.
"I’m trying to age him in the right way, doing as much as I can without cheating him. Those things are important."
‘Victoria’ lead writer Daisy Goodwin has confirmed a recast is likely at some point, but not in the near future.
She said: "I know where the series is going, it’s all there. I think series four is going to be amazing.
"At some point we will have to recast, but hopefully not yet."
Jenna Coleman will be replaced on Victoria
