In addition to commemorating its 60th anniversary last November, popular BBC sci-fi series, Doctor Who is making history by appointing its first black LGBTQ actor, Mizero Ncuti Gatwa to play the Doctor.
The return showrunner Russell T. Davies revealed the casting of Sex Education star Gatwa in May 2022.
Gatwa is the most recent in a long line of British actors, most of whom have been white men, to take up the time-honored position.
Jodie Whittaker, who played the 13th Doctor, created history in her own right having become the first female star of the show.
During the Wednesday, November 8, announcement, Gatwa spoke candidly about how surprised he was to be the new face of the series, which has been referred to as a British institution when he spoke with GQ magazine.
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Recounting the fateful day he auditioned in front of Davies, Gatwa remarked, “I almost forgot about [the audition] as soon as I left the room, because there was just no way.
“Because life exists in two distinct forms. I’m a talented actor, but this is a 60-year-old British institution, and I’m a black man, so I never imagined that I would be selected to face the BBC’s core programming.
Gatwa described his “existence as a marginalized person” as “political,” stating that “people make decisions accordingly, and you and the rest of the world are aware of that.”
But in the end, he won over everyone’s hearts with his audition, making him the clear favorite to take over as the 15th Doctor.
“Meritocracy does not exist in my industry. So yes, I thought, “I don’t think I’ll get it,” he said, gesturing to the gifted performers still awaiting their big opportunity.
When I finally did, I was like, ‘Wow. Oh sh**. Oh s**t! How did I get here? And after the initial shock of it all subsided, the decision was obvious. Gatwa only remarked, “I would describe the Doctor as a black man,” in response to a question about what his version of the Doctor may be like.”
Re-entering showrunner Davies also made the obvious choice to cast Gatwa after speaking about his scene-stealing audition in the past.
Gatwa discussed the importance of bringing awareness of the Rwandan diaspora to the screen in October of last year, following the launch of Disney+’s big distribution agreement with Doctor Who.
In his address, Ncuti Gatwa stated, “[The role] is so deeply ingrained in British culture and that, as a Rwandan immigrant to the country, it just feels really powerful.”
“People from underprivileged backgrounds and other marginalized groups find great enjoyment in Doctor Who because the show is centered around friendship, adventure, union, and unity.”
The 31-year-old actor is the first black British actor to play the Time Lord, following in the footsteps of Jo Martin.
The first space-and-time adventure of Ncuti Gatwa debuted on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on December 25, and it’s now available globally on Disney+.