Since leaving Walford, actress Mia McKenna-Bruce has carved out a very successful acting career
Former EastEnders actress Mia Bruce as Penny Branning(Image: BBC)
Mia McKenna-Bruce rose to fame playing the original Penny Branning, but some fans may not recognise the actress in a popular period drama.
In January 2008, Mia arrived on EastEnders as Penny, the eldest daughter of Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), as part of a tragic backstory involving her dad.
The schoolgirl had been left permanently paralysed after being mowed down by a car alongside her mum, Selina, in a revenge attack against police detective Jack, who was accepting money from a drugs baron in return for tip-offs.
Penny’s spinal cord was severed during the ordeal, leaving her immobile from the waist down and requiring her to use a wheelchair. After spending three months in Albert Square, Penny went on to live permanently with her mum and grandparents in France after some encouragement from her father.
The character returned to Walford 15 years later, with actress Kitty Castledine taking over the role in 2024. The market trader is currently pregnant with her first child, although she is concealing the child’s true paternity from her boyfriend Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota).
What else has Mia McKenna-Bruce starred in?
Tracy Beaker fans will know Mia as Tee Taylor on the show between 2010 and 2018, before landing the role of Tara in the 2023 movie How to Have Sex, which won her a BAFTA Rising Star Award.
She also starred in the Sheridan Smith series Cleaning Up before appearing in The Witcher. In 2020, Mia landed the role of Bree in Get Even. A year later, she played Maya Draper in one episode of the iconic detective series Vera, and her career has continued to grow.
In 2021, she bagged the role of Linda in Last Train to Christmas and starred in the Netflix film Persuasion and the American series The Vampire Academy.
Earlier this year, Mia took on the lead role in Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, an adaptation of the author’s 1929 novel.
The three-episode series revolves around Christie’s lesser-known amateur detective and socialite, Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent, portrayed by Mia, who becomes embroiled in efforts to stop a serial killer after a tragedy in her own household.
The period drama features an impressive ensemble cast, including Sherlock’s Martin Freeman, The Crown’s Helena Bonham Carter, Sex Education’s Edward Bluemel, and Game of Thrones’ Iain Glen.
The Seven Dials Mystery delivered a stunning twist in its finale and left possibilities open for a potential continuation.
Mia’s performance on the murder mystery has been praised by viewers, with one person writing on Rotten Tomatoes: “Classic Christie! McKenna-Bruce puts in a terrific performance, and it’s wonderful to see Bonham Carter in this juicy role.”
A second added: “Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials taps into the nostalgia fans of the genre have, but without feeling like a retread. Yes, it’s Agatha Christie, but through Mia McKenna-Bruce’s performance, it feels familiar and new at the same time.”
A third chimed in: “Overall, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is a successful adaptation and an intriguing murder mystery thanks to its talented cast and excellent cinematography.”
“I don’t usually expect too much from Netflix originals, but I found Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials to be a worthwhile adaptation”, added another.
She also played Jane Andrews in the hit ITV true-crime drama The Lady. The four-part series—from the creators of The Crown—recounts the dramatic real-life story of the former royal dresser to Sarah, Duchess of York, who was convicted of murdering her partner.
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is available to stream on Netflix now.
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