Miss Austen, the BBC series based on Gill Hornby's best-selling novel, has been enthralling viewers since its debut earlier this month. The show delves into the life and romances of Jane Austen's (portrayed by Patsy Ferran) elder sister Cassandra Austen (Keeley Hawes). Shifting between past and present, Cassandra reflects on her youth and time spent with her cherished sister. The flashback scenes feature a different actress embodying the younger version of the character - introducing rising talent Synnøve Karlsen.
Born in Glasgow and raised in Helensburgh, Norwegian-Scottish actress Synnøve Karlsen later relocated to London with her family. The 28 year old, of Norwegian heritage, honed her acting skills at both the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She left Guildhall after landing the role of Holly McStay in the BBC teen drama Clique. Post-Clique, Karlsen was cast in the period drama Medici and subsequently appeared in Sky's reinterpretation of John Wyndham's sci-fi masterpiece The Midwich Cuckoos, playing the daughter of Hawes' character Dr Susannah Zellaby.
The striking similarity between Hawes and Karlsen in The Midwich Cuckoos may have contributed to the young star's casting in Miss Austen, reports the Express. Karlsen's impressive TV repertoire includes starring roles in Netflix's time-travelling series Bodies, where she shared the screen with Stephen Graham, and Passenger. Her filmography extends to short films like Dead Birds and V, as well as the feature film Black Cab, which also stars Nick Frost giving a chilling performance as a sinister taxi driver.
As per IMDb, Karlsen is set to appear in the upcoming TV series Foundation on Apple TV+, joining a cast that includes Jared Harris, Leah Harvey, Lou Llobell, and Lee Pace. Recently, Karlsen took to Instagram to post some behind-the-scenes shots from the Miss Austen shoot, expressing her gratitude to her fans: "Thanks to everyone who tuned in last night to watch Miss Austen on @bbcone.". She added, "Here's some behind the scenes pics for you all. Thanks to the most wonderful cast and crew for everything during the making of this show. It truly was the most JOYOUS experience.".
