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Now, I don’t actually think having the Doctor regenerate into a woman makes a lot of sense. He’s a man. Why would his body heal itself by turning into a woman? But I still do think there are many, extremely talented women out there who have what it takes to play the iconic role so this list celebrates the possibilities of that alternate timeline where The Doctor is a woman.
In order to add a bit of structure to this list I introduced a couple of constraints to the choices that I could make. For example the actresses had to be from the United Kingdom as every actor to have played the Doctor has been – we need to keep some level of believability, we’re already casting him as a woman, lets not go crazy! Also, they have to be alive. But apart for those limitations the picks could be anyone.
In addition to casting ten women in the role of the Doctor I’ve also picked who will play their version of The Master as well as picking out one companion for each of them. Mainly the companions are male because if you have a female lead you also need a male lead. It’s just tradition. So without further bluster take a look at 10 more actresses who could play the 12th Doctor.
5. Emilia Clarke![]()
Her Companion: Iain GlenSer Jorah returns to the BBC. This might be an interesting partnership if Glenn’s Doctor Who character, Father Octavian is brought back. I always liked him for some reason (it was probably his voice) and seeing his aggressive lifestyle clash with the Doctor would be some interesting drama.
Her Master: Harry LloydHarry Lloyd should be in everything. He should be the Doctor and the Master but we already have a Doctor so his part can be delegated to that of The Doctor’s great nemesis. After three or four episodes playing a sort of dark version of Clarke’s character Daenerys in Game of Thrones he’s already off to a great head start in delivering yet another spine-chilling performance.
Her DoctorFrom khalessi to Time Lord, I see it. A woman with enough natural authority to command a hoard of angry horse-lords has enough authority to be our favorite Saturday night hero. Whilst her Game of Thrones character can be fairly whiny I think it is more down to the writing than personal choices made by Clarke herself. Scenes where we see the political, scheming side of Daenerys demonstrate the intelligence that she could bring to the Doctor role
4. Natalie Dormer![]()
Her Companion: Finn JonesBrother to her Game of Thrones character Margaery, Finn Jones also plays the grandson of third Doctor companion Jo Grant so this could be a fairly interesting relationship. In Game of Thrones the brother and sister are closer than any other like Jo once was to the third Doctor.
Her Master: Lena HeadeyYes, I am right. Lena Heady as the Master would be awesome. She had the uncanny ability to seep evil from every pour of her body and still put in a brilliant performance. The two actresses bat horns most weeks in Game of Thrones and it seems that neither can quite get the upper hand. A very Master/ Doctor-like relationship.
Her Doctor:Power struggles are central to the characters that have made Natalie Dormer famous. Just watch her play the Game of Thrones, in Westeross or in the Court of King Henry VIII. You might be able to identify a surprising similarity between her and the Second Doctor. Each put on a false persona to manipulate those around them into doing what they want. She would make a very devious Doctor indeed…
3. Tamsin Greig![]()
Her Companion: Bill BaileyI chose Bill Bailey because of the ‘Black Books Connection’ of course but also I think the man could easily play the companion to a woman. He is very humble, funny and endearing, he possesses all of the traits needed to make a good companion. How has no one seen it before!?
Her Master: Gina BellmanI think it is tragic that Gina Bellman has fallen to the edge of familiarity in the eyes of the public. She proved her comedy chops in Coupling and went on to reaffirm her brilliance in Jekyll. It is through her performance in Jekyll where we get to see a simple housewife pushed to the very edge of morality. Gina Bellman does ‘dark’ very well, dark and desperate. Two traits perfect for the Master
Her DoctorSomething of a comedy legend, Tamin Greig appears in some of the finest and most successful comedies that have come out in the past twenty years. In keeping with the ‘Petwee Principle’ she would make a good Doctor assuming her encompassing talent for dry humor and endless supply of confidence remain in tact.
2. Maisie Williams![]()
Her Companion: Joe DempsieThe relationship between Gendry (Dempsy) and Arya (Williams) in ‘Thrones is a legendary one in certain back-alleys of the internet where the age-of-consent laws don’t apply so it’s clear they work well together. Besides it would be really nice to get Dempsie back on British television. He’s missed.
Her Master: Chloe Grace MoretzKind of breaking the ‘British rule’ but then the Master has been played by American Eric Robert so she wouldn’t be the first. Chloe Moretz kind of is Williams’ real life parallel. They both acted in uber-violent hyper-real properties. They both stand out in those properties as the best characters (Peter Dinklage withstanding). It would be illogical not to make them face off.
Gods, I make it sound like a dog-fighting ring.
Her DoctorYeah, I just went there! And yeah, this is happening. I went through about every British actress out there, Kira Knightly, Kate Winslett, Emily Blunt and none of them have half the charisma, authority or charm of this one 16 year old (13 pictured). Williams is the most bad-ass character in a show about bad-ass characters. In a world where women are constantly downtrodden and seen as nothing more than pretty little bargaining chips Williams’ Arya is the night and day opposite of that.
The Doctor’s regenerations seem to be getting younger so why not go the whole way? Williams has more than enough talent to pull it off.
1. Emma Thompson![]()
Her Companion: Hugh LaurieHugh Laurie could be the Doctor but he could also be the companion. He’s that good. Hugh Laurie has so well recognized in the eyes of the public that I barely feel he needs an introduction. As an old uni-friend of Thompson’s I feel he would fit right in to the vibe any show whose cast she lead.
Her Master: Jennifer SaundersSame age, same hair colour, same comedy-based past. Who would dream of faulting my in-depth analysis? Jennifer Saunders was detestable as the Fairy Godmother in Shrek, if she could bring the same energy to the Master then Britain would love to loath her for it.
Her DoctorEmma Thompson is a complete legend. Actor, Comedienne, Writer, Oscar, BAfTA and Critic’s Choice award winner If there’s a job in TV or film Emma Thompson can do it better than you. If Emma Thompson had turned around in the final scene of ‘The Name of the Doctor’ it would have been just as awesome a twist. Emma Thompson brings class to even the most mind-numbingly awful properties (Junior starring Arnold Schwarzenegger anyone?) and would do just as much for the already wonderful Doctor Who.
Thompson has proven herself to be massively versatile from portraying another Time-Lord Nanny McPhee to one of the most definitive Elanor Dashwoods on screen, Thompson could effortlessly turn her hand to the greatest part in British Drama.
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