If you’ve binged Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, you probably spent a good chunk of time squinting at the screen, wondering how the casting directors managed to find a teenager who looks so much like a young Ruth Gemmell. That's Connie Jenkins-Greig. Honestly, she nailed the "Violet Ledger" vibe so perfectly that most fans basically consider her the definitive origin story for the Bridgerton matriarch.
But here’s the thing: her career didn't start or end with a corset.
While the Netflix machine is her biggest spotlight yet, she’s been grinding in the British acting scene for years. From action thrillers with hitmen to indie shorts about the apocalypse, Connie Jenkins-Greig movies and TV shows are way more diverse than you’d expect from a period-drama darling. She’s not just a "younger version" of someone else; she’s a versatile performer who’s currently taking on some pretty heavy lifting in the UK crime scene.
The Queen Charlotte Breakthrough: Becoming Violet Ledger
Let’s be real. Most people found Connie because of the Bridgerton prequel. In Queen Charlotte, she plays Violet Ledger, the girl who would eventually become the wise, tea-spilling Viscountess we know and love.
What’s interesting about this role is that it wasn't just about looking the part. She had to capture that specific "inquisitive" nature that Lady Violet has in her older years. She’s the daughter of Vivian and Lord Ledger, and we see her right on the cusp of entering the "marriage mart." It’s a subtle performance. She isn’t the lead—that’s India Amarteifio and Arsema Thomas—but she anchors the world of the "old guard" perfectly.
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Since it was a limited series, we likely won't see a Season 2, which is a bummer. But her impact was enough to catapult her into the "rising star" category at the 2024 BAFTAs.
Stepping Into the Mystery: The Jetty and Beyond
If you missed her in The Jetty, you need to catch up. Released on BBC One, this crime drama stars Jenna Coleman as Detective Ember Manning. Connie plays the younger version of Ember.
It’s a gritty role.
The show deals with a fire at a holiday home and a cold case that involves some pretty dark secrets in a lakeside town. Playing the younger version of a powerhouse like Jenna Coleman is a tall order, but Connie brings this raw, vulnerable energy to the flashbacks that makes the whole "Ember Manning" character arc actually click. It’s a world away from the sunny, floral gardens of Bridgerton.
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Notable Film Roles You Might Have Missed
Before she was rubbing shoulders with the Ton, Connie was building a resume in some fairly intense indie projects.
- The Take Down (2017): This is one of her earliest big roles. She plays Amber, the daughter of a hitman who’s being hunted down. It’s an action thriller through and through. If you want to see her doing "high-stakes daughter in peril," this is the one.
- Solitary (2020): A sci-fi film where she plays Isabel. It’s a smaller part, but it showed she could handle the atmospheric, weird side of cinema.
- The Kid Who Would Be King (2019): She has a minor role here, but being part of a Joe Cornish film is a solid badge of honor for any young British actor.
- Love Without Walls (2023): She pops up as a Day Centre Guest in this indie drama about the UK housing crisis. It's a gritty, social-realism piece that’s a far cry from Netflix glam.
The Short Film Circuit: Where the Real Acting Happens
You can tell a lot about an actor by the shorts they pick. Connie has done some heavy-hitting ones.
Persistence of the Past (2021) is a standout. She plays a teenage version of a Jewish woman named Ruth, reflecting on her escape from Nazi Germany. It won the Humanity Award at the New Renaissance Film Festival. Playing a role with that much historical weight requires more than just a pretty face—it requires a certain level of gravitas.
She also did The Dead Collectors, which is a weird, pandemic-themed short set in a parallel universe. It’s dark. It’s moody. It proves she isn't afraid of projects that are a little "out there."
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What’s Next for Connie Jenkins-Greig?
As of 2026, the industry is watching her closely. She’s moved past the "child actor" phase and is firmly in the "prestige TV" era of her career. While there are always rumors about more Bridgerton spin-offs (fans are desperate for a Violet and Edmund prequel), Connie is busy carving out a path that doesn't rely on 18th-century gowns.
Her ability to play "younger versions" of established stars has been a great entry point, but her performance in The Jetty suggests she’s ready to lead her own series soon.
Why You Should Keep an Eye on Her
- Range: She can do Regency romance, action-thrillers, and gritty BBC crime.
- The "Look": She has that classic, expressive face that directors love for close-ups.
- Consistency: She’s been working since 2013 (starting in Mr. Selfridge) and hasn't hit a slump.
If you’re looking to follow her career, your best bet is to check out her work on BBC iPlayer or Netflix. She’s also quite active on Instagram (@conniejenkinsgreig), where she usually shares behind-the-scenes looks at her projects without too much of that "influencer" fluff.
The "next big thing" label gets thrown around a lot, but with her track record, it actually fits. Whether she returns to the Bridgerton universe or sticks with modern noir, she’s definitely staying on our screens for a long time.
Next Step: If you want to see her best work outside of the Bridgerton world, go watch The Jetty on BBC iPlayer or your local streaming service; her performance as young Ember Manning is arguably more impressive than her turn as Violet Ledger.