<P> Set in Hackney, the series depicts a 22 - year - old Jane Tennison (Stefanie Martini) as she begins her career as a WPC with the Metropolitan Police Service in 1973 . At a time when women were beginning to be gradually integrated into the police force, Tennison has to deal with sexism, as well as difficulties in her home life as her family disapprove of her career choice . Under the guidance of DI Len Bradfield (Sam Reid), the naive and inexperienced Tennison assists in investigating the murder of a young runaway, Julie - Ann Collins . Meanwhile, criminal Clifford Bentley (Alun Armstrong) is released from prison and, along with other members of his family, is planning a bank heist . Links to Collins's murder threaten to expose the Bentley family's plans . </P> <Ul> <Li> Stefanie Martini as WPC Jane Tennison </Li> <Li> Sam Reid as DI Len Bradfield </Li> <Li> Blake Harrison as DS Spencer Gibbs </Li> <Li> Alun Armstrong as Clifford Bentley </Li> <Li> Ruth Sheen as Renee Bentley </Li> <Li> Jessica Gunning as WPC Kath Morgan </Li> <Li> Andrew Brooke as Sergeant Harris </Li> </Ul> <Li> Stefanie Martini as WPC Jane Tennison </Li> <Li> Sam Reid as DI Len Bradfield </Li>

Who played jane tennison in prime suspect 1973