Who is Stefanie Martini? Prime Suspect 1973 actress who stars in Helen Mirren’s role of Jane Tennison
PRIME Suspect 1973 has hit our screens in the new prequel series of the hugely popular show made famous by Helen Mirren's portrayal of a tough DCI.
Stefani Martini has been tasked with taking on the famous lead role as she plays the young WPC Jane Tennison. But who is the young star and what's the show about?
Here's what you need to know...
Who is Stefanie Martini and who does she play in Prime Suspect?
Stefanie Martini, 26, is a British actress from Bristol.
Stefanie has been tasked with the enviable job of taking on the role of Jane – the character made famous by Dame Helen Mirren.
The star is still a relatively new actress, having only five credits on IMDb, starting from last year.
She is also playing Lady Ev in the upcoming Wizard of Oz themed show, Emerald City, and played Mary in last year’s TV series Doctor Thorne.
What is Prime Suspect 1973 about?
Prime Suspect 1973 is a prequel to the widely successful Prime Suspect series from the 1990s.
It tells the tale of 22-year-old Jane Tennison, an eager recruit to the police force, during her first days on the beat.
During the series, she is forced to endure flagrant sexism before being thrown in at the deep end with a murder enquiry.
The lead character is the same in both the prequel and the original, although the actress who plays her has naturally changed.
Stefanie isn't daunted by the big shoes she has to fill.
"I see it as an opportunity. If that character wasn't there, I wouldn't have this job. It's interesting, challenging and exciting, but there is a lot of pressure. I've always admire Helen.
"But I just had to learn what I could from her work, then leave it along and do my own thing - otherwise it would have been like doing an impression."
Prime Suspect 1973, Thursday March 9, 9pm, ITV
