Doctor Who
Summary
While it is true that Jodie Whittaker was the first prescribed female lead ofDoctor Who , two other women have antecedently portray the Doctor in officially certify production of the BBC series . When Whittaker was announce as the 13th incarnation of the Doctor in 2017 , much flourish was made about how no woman had arrogate this role before , but it turns out this was not the character . Over the line of the series ’ 60 - year history , there have actually been two lesser - bang instances of women taking on the office of the iconic extraterrestrial Time Lord know simply as the Doctor .
The dramatis personae of Doctor Who time of year 14 is filled with popular doer and actress to advertize this classic sci - fi drama into the next generation .
Since its 1963 debut , Doctor Whohas been led by 13 actors , including darling like David Tennant and Tom Baker . The transition from one actor to another is possible due tothe Doctor ’s big businessman of regeneration , a function that allows the Time Lord race to modify their appearance and personality following a fateful accidental injury . This means that , theoretically , any actor could portray the Doctor , withSex EducationstarNcuti Gatwa mark to become the first Black Doctorlater this yr . With so many possibilities for the character , there had long been calls for a female wind prior to Whittaker ’s cast in 2017 . However , when looking at all the officialDoctor Whoreleases , two examples of female medico can be witness .
Who Played A Female Doctor Before Jodie Whittaker
The first example comes from a 1999Doctor Whospecial “ The Curse of Fatal Death ” whereJoanna Lumley portrayed a distaff Doctorfor the first clock time in the show ’s account . Released for Comic Relief , the charity special saw many histrion , let in Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Grant , roleplay the Doctor as he cycles through several regenerations before in conclusion turning into Lumley . Having been pursued by their nemesis , the Master , throughout the extra , following Lumley ’s introduction , the two characters become struck with one another and are seen walk forth together . This was the first televisedDoctor Whoscript written by Steven Moffat , who later became the series showrunner from 2010 to 2017 .
The 2d woman to limn the Doctor was Arabella Weirin the 2003 audio recording adventure “ Exile ” , the sixth instalment in theDoctor Who Unboundseries produced by Big Finish Productions . The series presented what - if scenarios and this audio write up depicted the first distaff doc as an soaker , with a irksome spirit , working in the supermarket chemical chain Sainsbury ’s . The episode was written and directed by Nicholas Briggs and understand this distaff medico evading Time Lords from her home planet Gallifrey . Weir would also subsequently appear as Billis in the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas exceptional “ The Doctor , the Widow and the Wardrobe . ”
The Doctor Who Unbound episode “ Exile ” also sport an visual aspect from the future tenth doc , David Tennant , as a Time Lord searching for Weir ’s graphic symbol , two years before he took on the role of the Doctor himself .
Why Jodie Whittaker Still Broke History For Doctor Who
Two other women have previously played the Doctor before , but that is n’t to say that Jodie Whittaker ’s land tenure as a Time Lord was not a historic accomplishment . Neither Joanna Lumley nor Arabella Weir ’s portrayals are purely canyon within theDoctor Whouniverse and , therefore , they are not recognized within the show ’s prescribed continuity . Whittaker was the first straight female Dr. , despite others having played the role before . The appearances of Lumley and Weir were short one - off events , while Whittaker ledDoctor Whofor three series between 2017 and 2022 , and book the pureness of being the first prescribed distaff Doctor .
Jodie Whittaker ’s historic assumption of the role represents the serial moving with the times and embracing these calls .
Doctor Whois the longest - take to the woods sci - fi serial of all time . Over the age , it has seen numberless worker face off against Cybermen and Daleks . The show has seen changes across generations and systematically last out in the public consciousness while many other serial faded from memory . Much like other iconic and re - castable role , such as James Bond , there have been ordered call for the show to address sex inequalities , minority internal representation , and environmental fear . Jodie Whittaker ’s historic assumption of the role represent the serial publication moving with the times and embrace these calls , and now , as the show enters its 7th decade in cosmos , it appears do to carry on this trajectory .
