Mia McKenna-Bruce, who rose to fame playing the original Penny Branning in EastEnders, may be unrecognisable to some fans in a popular Netflix 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. The schoolgirl was left permanently paralysed after being hit by a car alongside her mother, Selina, in a revenge attack against police detective Jack, who was accepting money from a drugs baron. Penny's spinal cord was severed, leaving her immobile from the waist down and requiring a wheelchair. After three months in Albert Square, she went to live permanently with her mother and grandparents in France.
The character returned to Walford 15 years later, with actress Kitty Castledine taking over the role in 2024. Penny is currently pregnant with her first child, concealing the true paternity from her boyfriend Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota).
What else has Mia McKenna-Bruce starred in?
Mia played Tee Taylor on Tracy Beaker between 2010 and 2018, and later landed 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, she played Bree in Get Even, and in 2021 she portrayed Maya Draper in an episode of Vera. That same year, she played Linda in Last Train to Christmas and appeared in the Netflix film Persuasion and the American series The Vampire Academy.
Lead role in Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
Earlier this year, Mia took the lead role in Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, an adaptation of the 1929 novel. The three-episode series follows amateur detective and socialite Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent, portrayed by Mia, who becomes involved in stopping a serial killer after a tragedy in her household. The cast includes Martin Freeman, Helena Bonham Carter, Edward Bluemel, and Iain Glen.
The murder mystery has been praised by viewers. One person wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: "Classic Christie! McKenna-Bruce puts in a terrific performance, and it's wonderful to see Bonham Carter in this juicy role." Another 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 said: "Overall, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is a successful adaptation and an intriguing murder mystery thanks to its talented cast and excellent cinematography." Another viewer commented: "I don’t usually expect too much from Netflix originals, but I found Agatha Christie's Seven Dials to be a worthwhile adaptation."
Mia also played Jane Andrews in the ITV true-crime drama The Lady, a four-part series from the creators of The Crown about a former royal dresser convicted of murdering her partner.
Agatha Christie's Seven Dials is available to stream on Netflix now.
