Jodie Whittaker

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Jodie Whittaker
Jodie Whittaker by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Born (1982-06-17) 17 June 1982 (age 39)
Skelmanthorpe, England, UK
EducationGuildhall School of Music and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present
Spouse(s)
Christian Contreras
​
(m. 2008)​
Children1

Jodie Whittaker (born 17 June 1982) is an English actress. 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), the Black Mirror episode "The Entire History of You" (2011), and as grieving mother Beth Latimer in Broadchurch.

On 16 July 2017, the BBC announced that Whittaker would become the thirteenth incarnation of The Doctor[1]​ in the British TV series Doctor Who. She formally assumed the role from Peter Capaldi in the 2017 Christmas special episode "Twice Upon a Time" when Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor regenerated into Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor. 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. Whittaker later announced that she would reprise her role as The Doctor into its thirteenth series.[2] It was announced on 29 July 2021 that she would step down after three special episodes in 2022.[3]

Early life[]

Jodie Whittaker[4] was born on 17 June 1982[4] in Skelmanthorpe, West Yorkshire. She is the second child and only daughter of Adrian Whittaker and Yvonne Whittaker (née Auckland).[5][6][7][8] 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.[9]

Career[]

Early career[]

Whittaker made her professional debut in The Storm at Shakespeare's Globe in 2005.[9] 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 (Venus) in the film Venus. Her radio credits include a 2008 adaptation of Blinded by the Sun by Stephen Poliakoff[10] and Lydia Bennett in Unseen Austen, an original drama by Judith French. In 2009, she worked on the film Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World, the BBC2 drama Royal Wedding,[11] and the short film Wish 143,[12] which was nominated for the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film at the 83rd Academy Awards.[13]

In 2010, Whittaker appeared in the film The Kid and co-starred in BBC's Accused. She appeared in the 2009 Irish comedy crime film Perrier's Bounty. In 2011, she appeared as Viv in the BBC adaptation of Sarah Waters's novel The Night Watch and the cult film Attack the Block. In 2012, she starred in the musical comedy-drama Good Vibrations.

Whittaker appeared in the crime drama Broadchurch, the reality-based spy drama miniseries The Assets, and the four-part BBC One medical drama Trust Me.[14]

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.[15][16][17] She had previously worked with incoming Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall on Broadchurch.[18] 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.[18] 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".[19]

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."[18] Chibnall said that he always wanted a woman for the part and that Whittaker was their first choice.[20]

Reaction to Whittaker's casting was mostly positive, although a "sizeable minority" was unhappy.[21] 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.[22][23] Whittaker debuted in the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time".[24][25]

In November 2018, the BBC confirmed that the twelfth series, Whittaker's second series, began production in November 2018,[26][27] debuting in January 2020.

Personal life[]

Whittaker met American actor and writer Christian Contreras in drama school, and had a "big wedding" in Arizona in 2008.[5] Whittaker gave birth to their daughter in April 2015.[28]

Whittaker is a feminist[29] and lives in London.[1]​

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Venus Jessie[30] Nominated—British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer
Nominated—London Critics Circle Film Award for British Newcomer of the Year
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
2007 St Trinian's Beverly[30][31]
2008 Good Anne Hartman[30]
2009 White Wedding Rose[32]
Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne Bridget Byrne[30]
Roar Eva[32] Short film
Perrier's Bounty Brenda[30]
Wish 143 Maggie[12] Short film
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold Beverly[30][31]
2010 The Kid Jackie[30]
Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World Noreen Stokes[30]
2011 Attack the Block Samantha Adams[31] Nominated—Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble (shared with the cast)
One Day Tilly[30]
A Thousand Kisses Deep Mia Selva[30] Also video operator
2012 Ashes Ruth[33][34]
Dust Jessica's Mum[35] Short film
Smoke [36] Short film
2013 Hello Carter Jenny[30]
Spike Island Suzanne[30]
Good Vibrations Ruth[30]
2014 Get Santa Alison[30]
Emotional Fusebox Anna[30] Short film
Black Sea Chrissy[30]
2016 Adult Life Skills Anna[30] Also executive producer
Nominated—British Independent Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated—National Film Award (UK) for Best Actress[37]
Nominated—National Film Award (UK) for Best Breakthrough Performance in a Film
2017 Journeyman Emma[32] Nominated—Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Actress[38]
2019 Rachel Rachel Short film[39]

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
2006 The Afternoon Play Sam[40] Episode: "The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds"
Won—RTS Television Award for Best Actress
Doctors Louise Clancy[32] Episode: "Ignorance Is Bliss"
Dalziel and Pascoe Kirsty Richards[32] 2 episodes
2007 This Life + 10 Clare[32] Television film
2008 Tess of the D'Urbervilles Izzy Huett[30] Miniseries
Wired Louise Evans[30] Miniseries
The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall Sophie[30] Television film
Consuming Passion Mary Boon[30] Television film
2009 Return to Cranford Peggy Bell Miniseries
2010 Accused Emma Croft[32] Episode: "Liam's Story"
Royal Wedding Linda Caddock[30] Television film
2011 Marchlands Ruth Bowen[32] 5 episodes
Black Mirror Ffion[31] Episode: "The Entire History of You"
The Night Watch Vivian Pearce[30] Television film
2013–2017 Broadchurch Beth Latimer[30][31] 24 episodes
Nominated—Crime Thriller Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—RTS Television Award for Best Actress
2014 The Assets Sandra Grimes[32] 8 episodes
The Smoke Trish Tooley[32] 8 episodes
2017 Trust Me Cath Hardacre/Dr Ally Sutton[32] 4 episodes
2017–present Doctor Who Thirteenth Doctor[31] Debut in "Twice Upon a Time", Series 11, 12, 13
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Series, Drama/Genre
Nominated—National Television Award for Drama Performance
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television
Nominated—BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Actress
Nominated—TV Quick Award for Best Actress
2019 Got it Covered Herself BBC Children in Need special
2019 A Question of Sport at 50 Narrator Documentary
2020 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself Documentary[8]

Stage[]

Year Title Role Notes
2005 The Storm Ampelisca[41] Shakespeare's Globe
2006 Enemies Nadya[32] Almeida Theatre
Nominated—Ian Charleson Award[42]
2007 A Gaggle of Saints Sue[43] Trafalgar Studios
Awake and Sing![32] Hennie Berger Almeida Theatre
2012 Antigone Antigone[32] National Theatre[44]

Radio[]

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Blinded by the Sun [45] BBC Radio 4
Unseen Austen Lydia Bennett[46]

Video games[]

Year Title Role Notes
2019 Doctor Who: The Runaway The Doctor (voice) Virtual Reality game by BBC[47]
2019 Doctor Who: The Edge of Time The Doctor (voice) Virtual Reality game by Maze Theory[48]
2021 Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins The Doctor (voice) Video Game by Maze Theory & Kaigan Games, Cameo Role[48]
2021 Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality The Doctor (voice) Video Game by Maze Theory[48]

Music[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Iley, Chrissy (18 March 2018). "Exclusive interview: Jodie Whittaker on being the first woman to play Doctor Who". The Times. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  2. ^ Collis, Clark (22 January 2020). "Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker will play time traveler for at least one more season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57940451
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Today in Entertainment History". Associated Press. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Gilbert, Gerard (18 June 2011). "Jodie Whittaker: 'I work a lot and no one knows who I am'". The Independent. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  6. ^ Atkinson, Neil (23 June 2009). "Skelmanthorpe actress Jodi Whittaker wows them in Africa". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  7. ^ Watch Jodie Whittaker explain to Hollywood stars on the Graham Norton Show why she is a 'Shat lass', Yorkshire Live, 29 September 2018
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Who do you think you are? Series 17, Episode 1: Jodie Whittaker". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jodie Whittaker: Rise of a venus with her feet on the ground". The Yorkshire Post. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Radio 4 – The Saturday Play". BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  11. ^ Leigh Holmwood (11 September 2009). "New BBC drama set to recall 1981 royal wedding | Media". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b ""Wish 143" Review". The Independent Critic. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Leyland's Tom Bidwell up for an Oscar for Wish 143". BBC. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Dan Sefton's new psychological thriller starring Jodie Whittaker". BBC Media Centre. 26 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker is to replace Peter Capaldi in the Time Lord regeneration game". The Daily Telegraph. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  16. ^ "The next Doctor Who has been announced". The Independent. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Doctor Who's 13th Time Lord to be a woman". BBC. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker becomes 13th Time Lord, urging fans 'not to be scared by my gender'". The Telegraph. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  19. ^ "More heroic?!": Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker on her not-so-epic poster poses & becoming The Doctor, retrieved 2 January 2020
  20. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (16 July 2017). "'Doctor Who': Jodie Whittaker Revealed As 13th Time Lord, First Female In Role". Deadline Hollywood.
  21. ^ "How Jodie Whittaker 'missed' fan reactions to Doctor Who role". BBC News. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Doctor Who: Fans react to Jodie Whittaker casting". BBC News. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  23. ^ Sturgis, India (17 July 2017). "The good, bad and ugly responses to Jodie Whittaker as the new Dr Who". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker is to replace Peter Capaldi in the Time Lord regeneration game". The Telegraph. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  25. ^ "BBC - The Doctors will return at Christmas - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  26. ^ Royce, Jordan. "DOCTOR WHO: BBC Confirm Series 12 to Broadcast in 2019". Starburst Magazine. Starburst Publishing Limited. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  27. ^ Jeffrey, Morgan (7 December 2018). "Jodie Whittaker confirms she'll be back for Doctor Who series 12". DigitalSpy. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  28. ^ Smith, Riess (27 February 2017). "Broadchurch cast: Who is Jodie Whittaker? Life, career, husband and more". Daily Express. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  29. ^ McEwan, Cameron (16 July 2017). "The Thirteenth Doctor interview". doctorwho.tv.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Jodie Whittaker". British Film Institute. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Burt, Kayti. "Doctor Who: 5 Jodie Whittaker Roles to Check Out". Den of Geek. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Jodie Whittaker". Independent Talent. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  33. ^ "Ashes". 19 May 2014.
  34. ^ Pike, Rebecca. "Ashes - Review". Radio Times. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  35. ^ Jake Russell (16 July 2014). "DUST - Short film starring Alan Rickman & Jodie Whittaker" – via YouTube.
  36. ^ A Tentative LGBT Love Story Starring Jodie Whittaker (Queer Short Film) [2012]. YouTube. Tall Tales. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  37. ^ "National Film Awards UK announce 2017 nominations - Camdenmonthly".
  38. ^ "Evening Standard Nomination". Standard.co.uk. 15 December 2017.
  39. ^ "shorts". Fiona Brands. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  40. ^ "The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-sheds (2006)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  41. ^ Oswald, Peter (2005). The Storm Or, the Howler (after Plautus). Oberon Books. p. 6. ISBN 9781849438506.
  42. ^ "Ian Charleson Awards 2006". London theatre tickets. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  43. ^ Spencer, Charles (12 January 2007). "Chilling glimpses of nastiness". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  44. ^ "Antigone: Family versus State". National Theatre. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  45. ^ "Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Characters and Cast". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  46. ^ "Unseen Austen". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  47. ^ "BBC launches Doctor Who VR experience". digitaltveurope.com. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Maze Theory Developing DW: The Edge of Time". Retrieved 22 August 2019.

External links[]

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