TMI TV Dream Cast: Our Picks for Clary Fray

With production on The Mortal Instruments television show set to get underway this year, that also means that we’ll be meeting the cast that will be portraying the characters of Cassandra Clare’s series on the small screen.

While a hot topic surrounding the show has been casting – most specifically regarding the cast of the movie – it’s almost guaranteed that different actors will be cast in the small screen adaptation. But I’ve seen weirder things so you never know. But I wouldn’t hold out hope for the film’s cast to reprise their roles on the small screen. Television and movies are two different mediums. The same characters can appear on both avenues, just look at DC Comics on TV and in the movies; they are separate universes that share similar characters that are not linked to each other.

So as we wait to learn the identities of the actors who will be portraying our favorite characters on television, we thought we’d start dream casting beginning with our story’s protagonist, Miss Clary Fray.

Here are our top three actresses we’d love to see portray our heroine:

1. Molly Quinn

Back when The Mortal Instruments had been optioned as a film and we waited years for any progress, my choice for Clary was Molly Quinn. And I wasn’t alone. When the only thing fans had to go off of were fan-created videos using actors that they envisioned as the characters, Molly was almost always Clary. Not only does she have the look: a cute redhead who is, shocker, actually around the age of the character, but she’s a great actress to boot. If you haven’t seen Molly in action I highly suggest watching Castle. She slays it. While it’s important for the actress to have the look, it’s even more important that they understand the character and are able to portray that character on screen in a convincing way. In a way that doesn’t feel like we’re watching a television show but like Clary has stepped out of the pages of the book and into the real world. Plus, not only is she a fan of the books, but she even voiced the audiobooks for City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls!

2. Jane Levy

When we’re thinking possible Clary Frays, you immediately picture a redhead. While Lily Collins was amazing as Clary in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, some fans were hoping for an actress with some nice red locks that are a trademark of the character. That’s only one of the reasons why Suburgatory‘s Jane Levy would make an excellent Clary. Like Molly, she’s got the red hair and looks the appropriate age to play a character that — though might be aged up in the show — shouldn’t be older than 17 or so. She’s also a superb actress that has experience ranging from television to movies and from comedy to horror (she was the lead in the Evil Dead remake). With Suburgatory resting in the television graveyard (R.I.P.), I don’t see why Jane wouldn’t be available for the role should it come her way.

3. Skyler Samuels

Skyler Samuels has some previous experience working on a television show adapted from a Young Adult book with ABC Family’s The Nine Lives of Chloe King. Unfortunately Nine Lives didn’t make it on the network (much to my disdain still), but Samuels is one of those actresses that is buzzing with talent and looking for that breakout role and the success that comes with it. Like Molly and Jane, she’s got the looks — the hair (nearly) and the age-appropriate look. Not only is Skyler charismatic but she’s got great emotional range that an actress portraying Clary needs to possess. And clearly she looks better in black.

Head over to Fangirlish to see their hopefuls for the role of Jace.

Who would you like to see cast as Clary in The Mortal Instruments television show?