In a stunning revelation on a special panel at Canada's FanExpo convention, "Doctor Who" season 9 actress Jenna Coleman said she could've been a younger version of Alex Kingston's River Song.
"Did you know... that I auditioned for Mels? That's one part I didn't get and my grandmother was so upset..." Coleman said, according to Radio Times.
The 29-year-old was reportedly asked by a fan on how life could have turned out for Melody Pond if she wasn't kidnapped at Demon's Run.
Fans may recall that Mels was an early incarnation of River Song seen in the season 6 episode, "Let's Kill Hitler." Mels grew up with her parents Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill).
"Early on in [the episode], after forcing the Doctor to travel back to 1938 Berlin, she regenerates into the real deal," RT said.
The role "Doctor Who" season 9's Jenna Coleman auditioned for ultimately went to Nina Toussaint-White.
"Thank god you didn't get that! Because then you would have..." Gillan, who was also on the panel, replied before trailing off. RT speculated that the actress may have said something about Coleman not landing the bigger role as Clara Oswald aka "The Impossible Girl."
Then again, "Doctor Who" doesn't really mind bringing back actors for bigger roles. As Blastr pointed out, Freema Agyeman appeared in "Army of Ghosts" as Adeola before she became Martha Jones. Peter Capaldi was Caecilius in "The Fires of Pompeii" and now the Twelfth Doctor.
Even Gillan was cast as a soothsayer in "The Fires of Pompeii" before ultimately starring as Amy Pond.
In the end, Coleman wasn't too bothered she didn't get the part.
"I never thought they would have cast us as childhood best mates because the height difference was too much," she joked.
Jenna Coleman will be back as Clara Oswald when "Doctor Who" season 9 returns on Sept. 19. Meanwhile, Alex Kingston's River Song has been confirmed for the Christmas Special.
