Now, to the article itself! Let’s be honest, we have all done it. Sat down to watch a show with great characters and great storylines but have that one question playing over and over in the back of our minds. What if one of the lead parts had been played by someone else? What could have been? So, here are the five roles that I think should have been played by other Actors!
Queen Elizabeth II, The Crown, Series 5 & 6:
Played By: Dame Imelda Staunton
Should’ve Been: Dame Helen Mirren
Don’t get me wrong, Staunton is a phenomenal Actress and did a pleasant job as the late Queen in the final series’ of Netflix’s The Crown. However, I just feel that she wasn’t as suited to the role as Helen Mirren was in The Queen (2006). I always envisioned Mirren as the natural progression from Olivia Coleman and believe her portrayal would have dovetailed well with Claire Foy’s portrayal too. However, it obviously wasn’t meant to be but still a chance missed for Mirren to continue with a role she previously excelled in.
Thirteenth Doctor, Doctor Who, Series 11-13:
Played By: Jodie Whittaker
Should’ve Been: Emerald Fennell
Saltburn writer Emerald Fennell should have been the first female Doctor. Is that a hot take? Well, it shouldn’t be! She would have been incredible. The perfect mix of peculiarity, warmth and humour. Again, no slight on Whittaker but this would have been dynamite! If you saw Fennell in her Call the Midwife days you would absolutely agree! I mean technically it still could happen, right?
Erin Croft, Brassic, Series 1-Present:
Played By: Michelle Keegan
Should’ve Been: Linzey Cocker
Keegan is a fine Actress. However, Linzey Cocker (biased because she is one of my favourites) would have been so suited to this role. White Gold proved that she could be feisty yet warm. I just feel that Cocker’s northern charm mixed with her depth and rawness would have made her perfect for Brassic. The fact she is lesser known than Keegan would have made her more suited to the role too, it would have added to the authenticity of the part with less people associating her with other roles.
Dolly Rawlins, Widows, Series 1-2:
Played By: Ann Mitchell
Should’ve Been: Lynda Bellingham
I love Widows just as a caveat to this! One of the most fantastic show of the 1980s, camp and trailblazing in so many ways. Personally, I just think Ann Mitchell should have played Shirley Miller in the series instead of Dolly Rawlins. Therefore, in the role should have been the late, great Lynda Bellingham. She was a phenomenal actress and could play a fierce, matriarchal figure down to a T! Her role in The Bill as Irene Radford proved just that. She would have played a camp, villainous gangster’s wife wonderfully. P.s. her and the formidable Mitchell would have been a dream team - ugh, what could have been…
Alexis Colby, Dallas, Series 2-9:
Played By: Dame Joan Collins
Should’ve Been: Yootha Joyce
Ok, so this is even more niche than the Widows suggestion, however, I feel very passionately about this one. The original series of Dallas was fantastic and Dame Joan Collins deserved a spot in the cast but I think she would have been even better as Fallon Carrington. The role of Alexis Colby should have gone to Yootha Joyce. A 1970s, underrated, British Pop Culture icon. She had the face of a Hollywood starlet and an acting ability to match. She could be fierce and could have been a diva in the US too. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be with Joyce dying before this classic began filming but yet again, what could have been…
Kevin Brady, Motherland, Series 1-3:
Played By: Paul Ready
Should’ve Been: Karl Pilkington
In terms of casting, I think Motherland got it pretty spot on. However, the character of Kevin is just a little bit wet at times for my liking it almost plays into the stereotype of a stay-home father a bit too much. Therefore, I think Karl Pilkington would have been a much smarter choice. His dry wit would have dovetailed so well with Diane Morgan. I can just picture him at the school gates clutching book bags and reading folders, discussing his sexless marriage and life as a hen-picked hubby. A dynamic I would love to have seen!