Jodie Whittaker

Jodie Whittaker
Jodie Whittaker at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2022
Born
Jodie Auckland Whittaker

(1982-06-17) 17 June 1982 (age 41)
Alma materGuildhall School of Music and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present
Known forThirteenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who
Spouse
Christian Contreras
(m. 2008)
Children2
Signature

Jodie Auckland Whittaker (born 17 June 1982) is an English actress. She is best known as the thirteenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who (2017–2022), Beth Latimer in Broadchurch (2013–2017) and Orla O’Riordan in Time (2023).

She came to prominence in her 2006 feature film debut Venus, for which she received British Independent Film Award and Satellite Award nominations. She was later praised for her roles in the cult science fiction film Attack the Block (2011) and the Black Mirror episode "The Entire History of You" (2011).

On 16 July 2017, the BBC announced that Whittaker would play the thirteenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who. She formally assumed the role from Peter Capaldi in the 2017 Christmas special episode "Twice Upon a Time". Whittaker appeared in her first full series as The Doctor in the eleventh series, which premiered in October 2018. She continued in the role in the twelfth series in 2020 and thirteenth series in 2021. She stepped down after three special episodes in 2022, alongside showrunner Chris Chibnall.

Early life

Jodie Whittaker was born on 17 June 1982 in Skelmanthorpe, West Yorkshire. She is the second child and only daughter of Yvonne (née Auckland) and Adrian Whittaker. She attended Scissett Middle School and Shelley High School before training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2005 with an acting gold medal.

Career

Early career

Whittaker made her professional debut in The Storm at Shakespeare's Globe in 2005. She has since worked in film, television, radio and theatre. In 2007, she stood in at short notice for an unwell Carey Mulligan in the Royal Court's production of The Seagull, and appeared in a fundraising play at the Almeida Theatre.

In Whittaker's first major role, she co-starred as Jessie in the film Venus (2006), receiving British Independent Film Award and Satellite Award nominations. Her radio credits at that time included a 2008 adaptation of Blinded by the Sun by Stephen Poliakoff and playing Lydia Bennett in Unseen Austen, an original drama by Judith French. In 2009, she worked on the films Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World and Perrier's Bounty, as well as the BBC Two drama Royal Wedding and the short film Wish 143, which was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 83rd Academy Awards.

Whittaker at the 2014 British Independent Film Awards

In the early 2010s, Whittaker co-starred in the anthology series Accused (2010) and the adaptation of Sarah Waters's novel The Night Watch, followed by the role of Ffion in the Black Mirror episode "The Entire History of You". In film, she starred in the cult science fiction comedy horror Attack the Block, as well as in projects like The Kid (2010), One Day (2011), Hello Carter (2013) and Good Vibrations (2013). She also returned to the stage in the contemporary staging of the classic Greek tragedy Antigone, playing the title role opposite Christopher Eccleston as Creon.

In 2014, she appeared as Sandra Grimes in the reality-based spy drama miniseries The Assets and as Anna in the BAFTA-nominated short film Emotional Fusebox, later reprising the role in its feature-length version, Adult Life Skills, and earning nominations in the Best Actress category at both the British Independent Film Awards and the National Film Awards. She also took one of the lead roles in the hit ITV crime drama Broadchurch (2013–2017) and the four-part BBC One medical drama Trust Me (2017).

2017–2022: Doctor Who

On 16 July 2017, Whittaker was announced as the Thirteenth Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who; she is the first woman to play the title role. She had previously worked with incoming Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall on Broadchurch. She admitted that she had to "tell a lot of lies" after being cast to keep the information secret and used the codeword "Clooney" when talking about the role. Whittaker kept her mother in "the inner circle" regarding knowledge of the role, as her father, Adrian, "would have the ability to tell the world".

She urged fans not to be afraid of her gender, saying "Doctor Who represents everything that's exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one." Chibnall said that he always wanted a woman for the part and that Whittaker was their first choice.

Whittaker at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con promoting Doctor Who

Reaction to Whittaker's casting was mostly positive, although a "sizeable minority" was unhappy. Some said that a female Doctor would be a good role model for young girls, while others felt the Doctor was only ever meant to be male, or criticised the casting as an exercise in political correctness. Whittaker debuted in the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time".

In November 2018, the BBC confirmed that the twelfth series, Whittaker's second series, began production. Whittaker returned for the thirteenth series, and departed the programme following the series and three associated specials in 2022. She also voiced the Doctor in the 2022 BBC Sounds podcast Doctor Who: Redacted.

2023–present

In February 2023, a press release indicated that Whittaker was filming for a six-part Australian drama series One Night for Paramount+. In April, it was announced that she would star alongside Bella Ramsey and Siobhan Finneran in the second series of the BBC prison drama Time and that filming would start in the spring of 2023 in and around Liverpool. The series premiered on BBC One in October 2023. In August, she joined the main cast of the Netflix limited series Toxic Town, based on the Corby toxic waste case.

Personal life

Whittaker met Christian Contreras, a Belizean-American actor and writer, in drama school, and they married in Arizona in 2008. She gave birth to their daughter in April 2015, and had their second child in 2022. As of 2018 they reside in London.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Venus Jessie
2007 St Trinian's Beverly
2008 Good Anne Hartman
2009 White Wedding Rose
Thrush Ruby's Friend Short film
Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne Bridget Byrne
Roar Eva Short film
Perrier's Bounty Brenda
Wish 143 Maggie Short film
Mr. Dorothy Mitch's Wife
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold Beverly
2010 The Kid Jackie
Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World Noreen Stokes
2011 Attack the Block Samantha Adams
Two Minutes Juliette Short film
One Day Tilly
A Thousand Kisses Deep Mia Selva Also video operator
Hello Carter Susie Short film
2012 Ashes Ruth
Dust Jessica's Mum Short film
Smoke Woman
2013 Hello Carter Jenny
Spike Island Suzanne
Good Vibrations Ruth
2014 Get Santa Alison
Emotional Fusebox Anna Short film
Black Sea Chrissy
2016 Adult Life Skills Anna Also executive producer
2017 Journeyman Emma
2018 Untitled Mary Short film
2019 Rachel Rachel
2022 Type Franny (voice)

Television

Key
Denotes productions that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 The Afternoon Play Sam Episode: "The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds"
Doctors Louise Clancy Episode: "Ignorance Is Bliss"
Dalziel and Pascoe Kirsty Richards Episode: "Fallen Angel"
2007 This Life + 10 Clare Television film
2008 Tess of the D'Urbervilles Izz Huett 3 episodes
Wired Louise Evans 3 episodes
The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall Sophie Television film
Consuming Passion: 100 Years of Mills & Boon Mary Boon
2009 Return to Cranford Peggy Bell 2 episodes
2010 Accused Emma Croft Episode: "Liam's Story"
Royal Wedding Linda Caddock Television film
2011 Marchlands Ruth Bowen 5 episodes
Black Mirror Ffion Episode: "The Entire History of You"
The Night Watch Vivian Pearce Television film
2013–2017 Broadchurch Beth Latimer 24 episodes
2014 The Assets Sandy Grimes 8 episodes
The Smoke Trish Tooley 8 episodes
2017 Trust Me Cath Hardacre / Dr Ally Sutton 4 episodes
2017–2022 Doctor Who Thirteenth Doctor Debut in "Twice Upon a Time", series 1113, 2022 specials
2023 Ready Eddie Go! Narrator (voice) 26 episodes
One Night Tess 6 episodes
Time Orla O'Riordan 3 episodes (Series 2)
Tabby McTat Narrator (voice) Television film
TBA Toxic Town Susan McIntyre 4 episodes

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Notes Ref.
2005 The Storm Ampelisca Shakespeare's Globe
2006 Enemies Nadya Almeida Theatre
2007 A Gaggle of Saints Sue Trafalgar Studios
Awake and Sing! Hennie Berger Almeida Theatre
2012 Antigone Antigone National Theatre
2021 Doctor Who: Time Fracture Thirteenth Doctor Immersive LDN Pre-recorded video

Radio and podcast

Year Title Role Production Notes Ref.
2008 Blinded by the Sun Joanna BBC Radio 4
Unseen Austen Lydia Bennett
2012 Bite Julie
2016 Special Deliveries Narrator Episode: "Second Class, Signed For"
2022 Doctor Who: Redacted Thirteenth Doctor BBC Sounds 5 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role Developer Notes Ref.
2019 Doctor Who: The Runaway Thirteenth Doctor (voice) BBC Media Applications Technologies Virtual reality game
Doctor Who: The Edge of Time Maze Theory
2020 Coding with the Thirteenth Doctor BBC Learning / Tynker
2021 Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins Kaigan Games Cameo role
Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality Maze Theory

Music videos

Year Title Artist Director Ref.
2012 "All of You" (feat. Aruba Red and Plan B) Riz MC Tom McKay and Richard Pengelley

Discography

Year Title Album Notes Ref.
2019 "Yellow" BBC Children in Need: Got It Covered Single (#5 on the Official Big Top 40)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2006 Ian Charleson Awards Enemies Nominated
Royal Television Society Midlands Awards Best Actress The Afternoon Play Won
British Independent Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer Venus Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated
2007 Critics' Circle Film Awards British Newcomer of the Year Nominated
2010 Online Film & Television Association's Television Awards Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries (shared with the cast) Return to Cranford Nominated
2012 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actress Attack the Block Nominated
Black Reel Awards Best Ensemble (shared with the cast) Nominated
2013 Crime Thriller Awards Best Supporting Actress Broadchurch Nominated
2014 Royal Television Society Programme Awards Best Actress Nominated
2016 British Independent Film Awards Best Actress Adult Life Skills Nominated
2017 National Film Awards UK Best Actress Nominated
Best Breakthrough Performance in a Film Nominated
2018 Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Actress Journeyman Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Drama Doctor Who Nominated
Heat's Unmissables Awards Unmissable Actress of the Year Won
2019 National Television Awards Drama Performance Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Actress on Television Nominated
BAFTA Cymru Awards Outstanding Actress Nominated
2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series Nominated
2022 Nominated
DIVA Awards Celebrity Ally of the Year Nominated

This page was last updated at 2024-02-14 15:18 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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