This week, Fate: The Winx Saga returned for season 2 on Netflix, reuniting fans with characters including fire fairy Bloom (Abigail Cowen) and water fairy Aisha (Precious Mustapha).
However, viewers familiar with the characters based at the magical boarding school of Alfea will have realised that one looked decidedly different, after being recast in the new episodes.
In season one of the teen drama, Rosalind – the conniving former headmistress of the school who took power back over the academic institution – was played by Lesley Sharp, best-known for starring in productions including Naked, The Full Monty and Rita, Sue and Bob Too.
In the latest episodes, Oscar-nominated actress Miranda Richardson took over the role, who’s previously starred in films such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Young Victoria and Belle.
Several fans were left confused by the recasting, with one tweeting: ‘I really have to get used to the recasting of both Rosalind and Mr Harvey,’ referencing the fact that Daniel Betts also took over the role of Professor Ben Harvey from Alex Macqueen.
‘Did they replace the actress that played Rosalind??’ another befuddled fan asked.
So why could Miranda have brought in to replace Lesley?
Why might Rosalind have been recast in Fate: The Winx Saga season 2?
Just like with many other films and TV shows across the entertainment industry, Fate: The Winx Saga took a while to be released when it finally came out in January 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, having wrapped filming in December 2019.
It took over a year and a half for the second season to then premiere, so it’s been speculated that Lesley might not have been able to return to play Rosalind due to scheduling conflicts.
In the time since filming wrapped on season one of Fate: The Winx Saga, Lesley starred in Channel 4 crime drama Before We Die and narrated BBC One documentary Heaven Made.
Last year, she also took on the lead role in the National Theatre’s production of Philoctetes.
Speaking about Lesley and her Rosalind successor Miranda, Fate: The Winx Saga star Abigail described them both as ‘lovely, lovely actresses and lovely people’.
‘I absolutely enjoyed my time with Lesley, and now absolutely enjoyed my time with Miranda,’ the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star told RadioTimes.com.
‘Miranda had shoes to fill and she did just that and did an incredible job, and was just a joy to work with,’ she continued.
‘She knows her craft and has been doing it for a while, so I felt very fortunate to be able to work with her.’
Fate The Winx Saga is available to watch on Netflix.
