The more eccentric, the better.
One of the most attractive qualities of Doctor Who is the fact that the show constantly changes the actors who play the main roles of the Doctor himself and his companions. While some may find the recasting annoying, as the actors whose characters you liked leave the show forever, others find that this change is what keeps the show interesting.
Besides, every Whovian has their own favorite Doctor. Whether it be the iteration you first saw on TV that made you fall in love with the chaotic universe, or the one that stole your heart while watching. Everyone gets to spend some quality time with their favorites. Former Doctors and their companions are no exception.
Which Doctor Is Karen Gillan ’s Favorite?
Now known for her roles in the Jumanji remake and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Karen Gillan began her career as Amy Pond in Doctor Who. Alongside Arthur Darvill’s Rory Williams and Alex Kingston’s River Song, she got the chance to travel through time and space with the 11th Doctor.
Portrayed by Matt Smith, the 11th Doctor stayed with the show for three series, from series 5 to series 7, when he was replaced by Peter Capaldi ‘s 12th Doctor. Amy, Rory and River had the most screen time in series 5 and 6. And it’s no surprise that Gillan finds this time and Matt Smith’s version of the Doctor the most magical of all.
Speaking to Variety for Matt Smith’s special feature, the actress explained why the 11th Doctor will always be special to her:
“He definitely was feeling pressure, but it never showed in any way. To me, he is the best actor that’s ever played the Doctor, because he has an otherworldly quality. He’s naturally eccentric, and he reels off technical jargon like it’s a shopping list,” she said.
The casting of the 11th Doctor was a controversial decision in 2010. Many people thought Matt Smith was too young to be the Doctor, while others couldn’t stomach the change from fan-favorite David Tennant, no matter who stepped into the Doctor’s shoes.
Series 5 started the whole show from scratch: new showrunner, new Doctor, and new companions – and many weren’t ready for the change. Now, however, the 11th Doctor remains a strong second favorite for the majority of fans, and some are even willing to agree with Gillan and put Matt Smith’s incarnation over the top.
If you want to see how the 15th Doctor, portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa, is handling the pressure, you can tune into the new Doctor Who series on Disney Plus.
