Jodie Whittaker Calls Doctor Who Role The Defining Moment Of Her Life

So much attention has been paid to all of the hot takes and reactions to Jodie Whittaker’s casting as Doctor Who that few have stopped to ask the question: just what does the Broadchurch actress make of landing such a historic role?

For the first time in the show’s decorated history, Doctor Who series 11 will be headed up by a female Time Lord, though it seems Whittaker herself hasn’t spent much time worrying about the Doctor’s gender – it is an alien, after all. And that’s a train of thought that the actress echoed during a recent interview with Total Film.

Speaking to the outlet, Whittaker stressed that the importance of being the first female star of the show was not lost on her, calling the opportunity “the defining moment” of her life.

“This is the defining moment of my life,” she tells the magazine. “I feel old enough for it. And I feel like I understand how important it is, and I’m so excited that the role models for young children, boys or girls… or teenagers, or adults, come in different forms. There’s nothing unattainable about me. I don’t look like I’ve been carved out of rock. I don’t sound like I’ve had the extraordinary glamour.”

Continuing on, she explained:

“For me, knowing what I thought were my limitations as a person and an actor, because this industry is about, ‘You sound like this, you look like this’… but I’m normal. And that was exciting to [Broadchurch co-star and former Doctor] David [Tennant] — it was a superhero he could play. And now it opens it a little wider, to women as well.”

Finally, Whittaker said that while clinching the role is amazing, it would be even better if it wasn’t something that’s such a big deal and was rather, just accepted.

“It’s amazing to be a milestone, but how wonderful if it wasn’t, if it was just accepted, embraced. I’m not dissing the moment — it’s f**king brilliant — but hopefully when other people grow up, it’s not so much of a surprise.”

Though Doctor Who may be gone at the moment, Whittaker’s No. 13 and her new companions will be back next year to deliver to us season 11. And when they arrive, they’ll bring with them a completely revamped show, one that includes a new TARDIS, new characters, longer episodes and, perhaps most exciting of all, fancy new cameras that will give it a more cinematic feel.