With the recent season of Doctor Who being reduced to 4 TV movie specials, I get to extend my geektitude here and talk about The Doctor.
It was announced last year that this would be the last season that David Tennant would play the iconic role of the Doctor and the search was on to find a new actor to play the 11th incarnation of the Time Lord. The current season has the Doctor in a handful of adventures in which he is struggling with the idea of having a companion. As Tennant passes the keys to the Tardis to the new Doctor, Matt Smith (the youngest actor to take on the role) the question arose who might play his companion.
Twenty-one-year-old [Karen] Gillan will star alongside new Time Lord, Matt Smith, when the smash hit drama returns to BBC One in spring 2010.
With filming due to begin this summer, Gillan beat off dozens of hopefuls to land one of television’s most coveted roles.
Gillan said: “I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor’s new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can’t quite believe I am going to be a part of it.
“Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him – I just can’t wait to get started!”
Gillan is not the first actress in a Whoverse show to play a different role in another episode. She was the Soothsayer in last season’s The Fires of Pompeii. Eve Myles, who plays Gwen Cooper on the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood, first played Gwyneth in the Dickens inspired episode The Unquiet Dead. It is quietly suggested that her character was possibly the ancestor of her current role.
Karen Gillan looks to be an adorable spunky actress who will likely be a good match for the quirky Matt Smith who will add his own flair and flavour to the New Doctor.
The article describes her as: A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too.
Here’s hoping!
