After 54 years, Doctor Who, a two-hearted, time-travelling, gender non-binary alien, is regenerating as a woman. Jodie Whittaker, English star of both stage and screen, has emerged as the thirteenth Doctor in the acclaimed BBC series.
New head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall made the decision to cast the first ever woman in the role, describing Whittaker as "an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role."
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"I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice," Chibnall says. "Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away."
The Doctor that has graced British screens since the 1963 is a figure of boundless energy and humour, racing through time and across alien planets with a childlike grin. The twin necessities of hilarity and dramatic prowess are a must for such a role - traits Whittaker has in spades. Her career is a study in variety, demonstrating her adaptability and charm across genres, in both realms of drama and comedy - not to mention previous stints as an alien-fighter extraordinaire. With her debut as the Doctor set for later this year, Whittaker's suitability for the role has been long in the making – turning the question of the thirteenth Time Lord not into one of who but when.
Born on 3 June 1982 in West Yorkshire, Whittaker made her stage debut in 2005 at Shakespeare's Globe, playing Ampelisca in Peter Oswald's The Storm alongside Mark Rylance. A year later, she would make her screen debut in the 2006 feature film Venus, as Jessie, a pink-tracksuit-wearing and pot-noodle-loving teenager who is taken under the wing of retiree Peter O'Toole. Her performance earned Whittaker nominations for the British Independent Film Awards and the Satellite Awards.
Whittaker's progression on-screen has seen her bring unexpected vibrancy to even the smallest of roles, such as her performance as Beverly the receptionist in St Trinian's and St. Trinians: The Legend of Fritton's Gold. Moving from incense and meditation as the chirpy blonde Beverly in 2007, Whittaker stormed screens in 2011 for a successive streak of eye-catching, compelling performances.
Joe Cornish's Attack The Block saw Whittaker play Sam, an overworked nurse walking home one night only to be mugged by a gang of teenagers. The moment of the mugging soon turns into something far more unusual, when, low and behold, aliens descend upon South London. Sam and gang leader Moses (a young John Boyega) join forces to fight the aliens back from their tower block. The film managed to balance real-world social and political tensions with a vast array of humour and great special effects, transforming it into a science fiction cult classic.
In the same year, Whittaker stole scenes in Channel 4's Black Mirror episode 'The Entire History of You'. As the third and final episode in the science fiction anthology's first season, the episode is set in a dark alternate reality where people record their lives through grains implanted into their eyes. It focuses on the story of Liam (Toby Kebbel) and his wife, Fiona (Whittaker), whom he begins to suspect of infidelity, leading to a paranoid spiral into violence and the nasty meeting of vodka bottle and brain.
But the role that launched Whittaker to widespread critical acclaim came in 2013, portraying Beth Latimer in the ITV drama Broadchurch. The show would span three seasons and capture the imagination of the nation, focusing on the fictional story of the death of Danny Latimer, an 11-year-old boy whose body is discovered on Broadchurch beach, sparking an engrossing murder mystery akin to the likes of Agatha Christie. Broadchurch saw many incredible performances from the likes of Olivia Coleman and former Doctor David Tennant and while it was adapted for US audiences, never reached the same level of commercial success. Whittaker's wrought portrayal of a grieving mother, moving from rage and desperation to determination in the face of intense tragedy, was a pivotal reason for the show's success in both the eyes of the public and amongst critics, demonstrating her consistent authenticity when bringing fiction back to reality.
Stepping out of the realm of science fiction, 2016's Adult Life Skills had a very different focus. Anna (Whittaker) lives in her mum's shed, rapidly nearing her 30th birthday with no idea what she's doing. Set 18 months after the death of Anna's twin brother, Adult life Skills elegantly portrays the pain of loss balanced with the normality and sometimes ridiculousness of everyday life - from musings on the phallic shape of carrots to visions of her deceased brother in snorkelling gear. Anna spends her days making films with her thumbs and generally lamenting the state of her life - giving Whittaker a chance to appropriately flex her funny bone. With an acclaimed breakout script by Rachel Tunnard, Whittaker's performance was both achingly authentic and genuinely hilarious, earning her another nomination in the Best Actress category for the British Independent Film Awards.
Whittaker's acting prowess and her self-described "chameleon" face have allowed her to pass through British streets without much hassle in recent years, as she steps into vastly different roles with ease. This talent for transformation has also led to her rise as one of the most underrated actresses in science fiction roles, laying the foundation for her reign as the new Doctor Who.
In an interview with the BBC, Whittaker expressed her excitement at the chance to transform once again: "To be asked to play the ultimate character, to get to play pretend in the truest form: this is why I wanted to be an actor in the first place. To be able to play someone who is literally reinvented on screen, with all the freedoms that brings - what an unbelievable opportunity. And added to that, to be the first woman in that role."
“I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet," she says, "It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.”
Whittaker's evolution into the "ultimate character" has been a long time in the making. As she takes her place in both time and our television screens, there can be no doubts about her suitability for the role. As a British chameleon of impeccable talent, the next saga in the Whovian universe is sure to be in the hands of a master of transformation.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK