Jenna Coleman maintained her sense of professionalism when she was quizzed about her relationship with Prince Harry. Last summer the actress was pictured hanging out with the royal bachelor, leading some to speculate that there was more to their friendship.
Jenna is set to play Harry's great-great-great-great grandmother Queen Victoria in new ITV series Victoria. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, presenter Kate Garraway made reference to their close bond.
Giggling, the host asked: "Talking of passion there have been pictures of you and Prince Harry. I'm assuming you're together... because of research for the royal family? Is that what it was?"
© Photo: Rex"He's a friend of mine," said Jenna Coleman
Clearly taken aback by the question, Jenna politely smiled and replied: "No, he's a friend of mine."
"Is he?" Kate prodded.
"He is, yes," said Jenna.
"See we want him married off," laughed Kate. "Prince Harry married to Clara, Doctor Who's assistant, would be brilliant. That's my dream."
"Magic, that's written your story right there," quipped co-host Ben Shephard.
© Photo: ITVThe actress is set to play Harry's great-great-great-great grandmother Queen Victoria
Jenna, who famously played Doctor Who's assistant Clara Oswald for three years, did not appear too thrilled by the exchange but managed to maintain her composure.
Her fans were quick to praise the actress post-interview, with one commenting on Twitter: "I think she did very well to hold her tongue @Jenna_Coleman_ very sophisticated." "Endlessly beautiful and endlessly professional!" wrote another.
Jenna, 30, and Prince Harry, 31, briefly sparked romance rumours when they were pictured together following a polo match last summer. At the time a source said: "It was a very flirty, very tactile encounter. She was leaning in to him and he had his hand on her knee.
"From their body language, it looked like they were really enjoying each other's company. They were sitting very close, laughing lots and touching each other."
© Photo: Getty ImagesJenna sparked romance rumours with the Prince last summer
The Blackpool-born star will return to screens on Sunday night, playing a young Queen Victoria. Speaking at a London press conference that HELLO! Online attended, Jenna said it was an "absolute gift" to bring the monarch to life, and a gig that was "impossible to turn down".
"The more I read the script, the more it unfolded in front of me and it was impossible to turn down," she said. "I would be crazy to turn it down, it's a gift, an absolute gift to try and bring this to life."
"Funnily when I left Doctor Who the first thing I said was, 'I don't want to do another series for a while,'" she added. "And then Daisy Goodwin (the writer) and Damien Timmer (managing director) took me out for lunch and so it changed. It's been such an adventure. I've loved it."
