Jessica Raine revealed that she left popular TV series Call the Midwife because she was “desperate” to play an unpleasant character.
The 32-year-old actress, who became a household name as nurse Jenny Lee on the BBC show, jumped at the chance to portray someone “really, really horrible” in new historical drama Wolf Hall.
She told Marie Claire: "I was desperate to play someone not nice. I play Jane Rochford, Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law in 'Wolf Hall' and she is really, really horrible.
"It's written by Peter Straughan so it has a very contemporary, thriller edge."
The miniseries is based on Hilary Mantel's best-selling historical novel of the same name.
Raine said she left Call the Midwife because she was ready for a new challenge. She said: "Leaving Call the Midwife felt like the right decision. You've got to listen to your gut instinct - that's all you've got in this industry.
"I did think about asking for the nurse's uniform when I left but I thought that was a bit kinky."
The broody six-part miniseries also stars Damien Lewis, Mark Gatiss and Charity Wakefield.
It premieres on BBC2 on January 21.