Original Penny Branning Star Transforms: A Journey from EastEnders to ITV
The original star of Penny Branning looks strikingly different from her days on EastEnders, 16 years after her debut, as she embarks on a new acting venture with ITV. Mia McKenna-Bruce, who portrayed Penny Branning, the daughter of the corrupt police officer Jack Branning, first appeared on the iconic soap in 2008.
Fast forward to today, and the talented actress has truly evolved. Recently, she was awarded the prestigious EE Rising Star Award during the BAFTA Film Awards, a testament to her remarkable growth in the industry. Following her role in EastEnders, Mia took on short-lived roles in The Bill and Doctors, but it was her performance as Tee Taylor in Tracy Beaker Returns that marked a significant turning point in her career. She continued to reprise this role in the spin-off series The Dumping Ground.
As she steps into a new chapter, Mia looks nothing like her former self from the soap. Now at 27 years old, she recently posed for a stunning promotional shot showcasing her natural beauty, complete with her flowing brown hair. The exciting news was shared in an ITV announcement, stating: “Mia McKenna-Bruce, Natalie Dormer, and Ed Speleers will lead an all-star cast in ‘The Lady,’ a gripping new 4-part drama series about Jane Andrews, a former royal aide whose rags-to-riches fairy tale crumbled after a murder conviction. Coming soon to ITV.”
Fans expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming series in the comments, and Mia also shared the announcement on her social media platforms. She is undeniably a talented actress, proudly holding her Rising Star trophy at the BAFTA Film Awards last year, where she attended the ceremony with her parents, Angela and Wayne.
Mia has received widespread acclaim for her lead role in the 2023 film How To Have Sex, where her performance has been met with rave reviews. Her journey to stardom wasn’t without challenges, as she overcame significant obstacles to land her breakout role in the film, fueled by a desire to become an actress stemming from her “dramatic” childhood.
Reflecting on her life, Mia faced considerable changes early on when her mother relocated from Chislehurst in South East London to Eltham, while her father, Wayne, often spent time away from home. A close friend noted, “It had a profound impact on the family dynamic.” During this time, Mia was performing in Billy Elliot in the West End, which marked a pivotal chapter in her life. The friend added, “She has navigated through these trying times with incredible strength. She truly is amazing.”
In addition to her acting career, Mia is a devoted mother to her son, Leo, and she occasionally shares glimpses of their life together on social media. However, her journey hasn’t been without its struggles. After leaving the popular CBBC series The Dumping Ground at the age of 19, Mia faced anxiety and panic attacks that left her contemplating leaving acting behind altogether.
She candidly shared her experiences on Charlie Brooks’ Iampro podcast, explaining, “When I left, I was auditioning as an adult, not as a child. I often found myself asked to elaborate on my character’s motivations, and I was taken aback. It was a level of complexity I hadn’t encountered as a kid. As time went on, I began to put immense pressure on myself, which only heightened my anxiety.”
Mia continued, “While the auditions themselves would go well and I genuinely enjoyed the process, I would often leave feeling overwhelmed, leading to panic attacks due to the stress I had created for myself.” Fortunately, she persevered and, in 2021, auditioned for How To Have Sex, a film centered around three teenage girls celebrating the end of their GCSEs in Malia, Crete.
Today, Mia McKenna-Bruce is not just a rising star in the acting world; she is also a proud mother, navigating her career while cherishing the moments with her baby son, Leo.
