Actress Karen Gillan on the “Crazy Resistance” to a Female Doctor Who (Guest Column)

You can’t grow up in the U.K. and not be aware of Doctor Who.

You’re practically born knowing what a Dalek is. But whenever there have been rumors about Doctor Who being played by a woman, there was resistance. People would write to the BBC and complain. I thought it was crazy: Who says Doctor Who can’t be a woman? So when I watched this season’s premiere with my mom — she’s a huge Whovian, even before I was on the show — it was emotional.

Jodie Whittaker knocked it out of the park.

She has elements of Matt Smith and David Tennant — that manic energy, brain going 100 miles an hour — but she made it her own. And that’s the great thing about the role — it has no limits. It can be played by any race or gender. All you need is a great actor. A great British actor. Or one who can do a convincing British accent.

Karen Gillan stars as Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy/Avengers franchise and played Amy Pond, a Doctor Who companion, from 2008-13.

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This story first appeared in the Dec. 18 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.