Jessica Raine was 'desperate' to play unlikeable character
Jessica Raine revealed that she left popular TV series Call the Midwife because she was “desperate” to play an unpleasant character.
The 32-year-old actress, who became a household name as nurse Jenny Lee on the BBC show, jumped at the chance to portray someone “really, really horrible” in new historical drama Wolf Hall.
She told Marie Claire: "I was desperate to play someone not nice. I play Jane Rochford, Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law in 'Wolf Hall' and she is really, really horrible.
"It's written by Peter Straughan so it has a very contemporary, thriller edge."
The miniseries is based on Hilary Mantel's best-selling historical novel of the same name.
Raine said she left Call the Midwife because she was ready for a new challenge. She said: "Leaving Call the Midwife felt like the right decision. You've got to listen to your gut instinct - that's all you've got in this industry.
"I did think about asking for the nurse's uniform when I left but I thought that was a bit kinky."
The broody six-part miniseries also stars Damien Lewis, Mark Gatiss and Charity Wakefield.
It premieres on BBC2 on January 21.
