Summary
Ncuti Gatwa (pronounced SHOO-tee GAT-wah) just debuted as the charming new iteration ofDoctor Who’s two-hearted lead, The Doctor, and he’s already gotten himself in trouble. Hey, maybe it’s his way of method acting as the famously rule-defying alien.
Doctor Whofans were treated to a rather unprecedented treat during its newest special, as the eminent long-running Britishseries featured a bigenerationthat allowed the previous Doctor to stick around instead of simply changing into their new form. This was immediately a delight to fans of David Tennant, who had just reached the end of his second tenure in the role (another first for the series). But it also gave newcomer Gatwa a chance to banter with his character’s former self right from the start. Perhaps he got a little too excited at the prospect, prompting a touch of drama behind the scenes.
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In an interview withRadio Times(viaDigital Spy), Gatwa revealed that he managed to break one of the main rules ofDoctor Whoeven before his debut. “The only time I’ve ever gotten in trouble for anything was when I swore while wearing aDoctor Whocostume,” he revealed about his newly-inaugurated time in the role. He explained that showrunner and producer Russell T. Davies called him into his office after the incident to set things straight. According to Gatwa, Davies' policy was clear. “‘Do what you want when you’re out of costume,'” Davies told him, “‘but when you’re in costume, do not let us catch you swearing.'”
Not bad for his first day, right? Well, those familiar with Gatwa’s career beforeDoctor Whomay not find this all that surprising. Aside from his recent role inthe eternally quotableBarbie, the Rwandan-Scottish actor famously starred in Netflix’s raunchy comedy seriesSex Education, which decidedly does not share the family-friendly vibe ofDoctor Who. After making his name in such a project, it’s oddly wholesome in a weird way that simply swearing is what got him a lecture. But he’s fully aware of what he has to look out for now that he’s the face of a much more accessible franchise.
“For the last four years I’ve been co-leading an X-rated show, and so I’m on a constant journey of learning what it is to be a PG role model and the lead of a family show.”
DespiteGatwa’s Doctor maintaining roots in classicDoctor Who, he does look to be making the character his own. As an openly queer actor, he’s bringing that part of his identity to the character as well, helping establishDoctor Whoas a franchise open to all who want to enjoy it. Trans actress Yasmin Finney helped drive home that inclusiveness when she debuted as Rose Noble, the transgender daughter of beloved companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), during the first special of 2023.
It’s frankly heartwarming to see such acceptance in a mainstream series during a time when queer and trans people are facing often violent opposition to their very existence. People like Gatwa and Finney can go a long way in normalizing such portrayals, and that’s one of the best ways to fight against bigotry. Representation matters. Now let’s hope Gatwa keeps the cursing to a minimum, as admittedly fun as that would be. It’s hard to deny that a foul-mouthed Doctor would be particularly relatable to countless fans.
The nextDoctor Whospecial will debut on Christmas Day 2023 on Disney Plus.
