Doctor Whowill always be known as one of the most iconic television shows ever made, proving to be a magnetic playground for guest stars over the years. Given the show’s narrative flexibility, with each episode focusing on a different world and time, it makes it easy to accommodate a broad range of talented stars. Whether it’s featuring renowned actors or rising stars, the show is always prepared to give someone else the limelight.
Doctor Who
Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.
However, because there are so many guest appearances, it can be easy to forget which of Hollywood’s amazing actors have graced the series with their presence. Therefore, here are some of the biggest actors who have appeared onDoctor Who, as well as what episodes you may find them in.
Maisie Williams
Maisie Williamsmakes quite a few appearances duringDoctor Who’sninth season. Her first appearance was in the fifth episode, “The Girl Who Died.” Her character is called Ashildr, a young Viking girl who lives in a village that has been conquered by the Mire, one of the deadliest warrior races in the galaxy. Ashildr goes to great lengths to protect her village from them, but ultimately dies in the process. However, the Doctor gives her a fate worse than death, bringing her back from the dead, believing he is doing a good thing. Instead, she is forced to see out the rest of eternity alone, with her role reflecting the consequences of this action in later episodes.
Prior to her appearance onDoctor Who, Williams was already a big household name thanks toher role as Arya Stark onGame of Thrones. Similar to Arya Stark, Ashildr is a natural fighter who also goes through an incredibly transformative journey. However, she’s not vengeful like Arya. While she resents the Doctor for making her immortal, the passing years have made her more patient and grounded. It does well to demonstrate Williams' ability to convey a wide range of complex emotions, making her character easy for audiences to sympathize with.
Michael Gambon
The lateMichael Gambonappeared in a Christmas special ofDoctor Who, alongside the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith. The episode is inspired by Charles Dickens’A Christmas Carol. However, it adds a fun twist to the story with the show’s sci-fi elements. Gambon plays a bitter and wealthy man named Kazran Sardick, who lives on a planet called Sardicktown. After Sardick refuses to help the Doctor rescue a spaceship from a cloud belt, the Doctor decides to try and fix his Scrooge-like attitude. He takes Kazran on a journey through time, helping him to fix parts of his past to improve his present self.
The episode went on to receive copious amounts of critical acclaim, with many critics impressed with how it tackled Dickens' already used-up source material. It was nowhere near a repeat of what had already been done, making the story feel refreshing in many different ways. Additionally, Gambon’s performance also helped the episode massively, enhancing the emotional resonance of the holiday-themed episode. It has since gone on to be regarded as one of the bestDoctor Whospecials of all time.
Diana Rigg
The legendaryDiana Riggmade an appearance in the eleventh episode of the seventh season ofDoctor Who, titled “The Crimson Horror.” The episode transports viewers to 1893 Yorkshire, where the Paternoster Gang is investigating a mysterious string of deaths known as the Crimson Horror. Together with the Doctor and Clara, they discover that this is all part of a sinister plot by Mrs. Gillyflower (Diana Rigg), who seeks to create the perfect society by wiping out all of humanity.
Throughout her lengthy career, Diana Rigg brought an iconic acting prowess to every role she took on. Given her experience in both classic and contemporary projects, Rigg was one of the best choices to appear onDoctor Who. Rigg has a large amount of experience across various genres and characters, helping her performance elevate the episode. While Mrs. Gillyflower wasn’t her first role as an antagonist, it is easily one of her best, as she brings a chilling atmosphere to the episode that helps the plot progress effortlessly.
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minoguestarred in another Christmas special ofDoctor Who, “Voyage of the Damned,” which aired during David Tennant’s run as the tenth doctor. In the episode, Minogue plays Astrid Peth, a spirited and resourceful waitress aboard the Titanic. However, it’s not the Titanic that most viewers will be familiar with. Instead, the Titanic featured in this episode is a starliner headed for Earth, where a vengeful alien business person aims to seek revenge on his coworkers. Astrid joins the Doctor as his companion, helping to save the day even if it means sacrificing herself in the process.
Minogue’s appearance as Astrid helped to add a layer of intrigue to the episode. At the time, she was one of the biggest pop stars in the world, so it helped to introduce a new audience to the show. Additionally, her pop roots helped her to make Astrid one of the Doctor’s most charismatic companions yet, using her star power to make a truly captivating character. Her appearance really demonstratesDoctor Who’sability to integrate diverse talents into its narrative, without taking away its sci-fi setting.
Related:Doctor Who: The Best Seasons of the Nu-Who Era, Ranked
Simon Pegg
During Christopher Eccleson’s run as the ninth Doctor,Simon Peggappeared as the Editor in the episode, “The Long Game.” The Editor is one of the most smug antagonists to appear onDoctor Who, though he’s not the main villain of the episode. It’s revealed that the Editor is working for the Jagrafess, who resides on the ceiling of Floor 500. Together, the pair uses the press to control the rest of humanity, serving as a satire on the media industry.
Simon Pegg has always been outspoken about his love for the sci-fi genre, and, in particular,Doctor Who. At the time of this episode’s release, Pegg was finally becoming a household name thanks tothe release ofShaun of the Dead. Because of this, the Editor is a different role than what viewers were used to at the time. Rather than playing a comedic character, Pegg had to demonstrate his versatility and prove he could play a menacing villain. He has spoken openly about his appearance on the show, expressing how honored he felt to receive the part, having grown up withDoctor Who.
Olivia Colman
Olivia Colmanappears in Matt Smith’s first full episode asDoctor Who’seleventh Doctor. After the TARDIS explosion results in cracks in the space-time continuum, a shape-shifting alien known as Prisoner Zero escapes from Atraxi prison. It’s revealed that Prisoner Zero had then spent twelve years hiding in Amy Pond’s home, who would later become the eleventh Doctor’s new companion. Olivia Colman plays one of Patient Zero’s hosts, as the Doctor attempts to hunt it down and return it to prison.
Although Colman was a huge rising star at the time of her appearance, her role in the show is incredibly brief compared to other guest appearances. This is something that then-showrunner Steven Moffat has expressed regret over, believing that they could have used Colman a lot more than they did to create a truly compelling villain. It can be easy to forget this appearance, but Colman proves that she’s able to still deliver compelling performances regardless of length, which is what contributed towards her becoming one of the most successful actors of today.
Daniel Kaluuya
Oscar-winning actor,Daniel Kaluuya, appeared in a special episode ofDoctor Who, “Planet of the Dead.” In the episode, the tenth Doctor becomes stranded on a desert planet called San Helios after a bus accidentally transports him and several passengers there. The group must attempt to return the bus to London, all while a group of stingray-like aliens pose a threat to Earth. Kaluuya plays Barclay, who was on the bus at the time, going to visit a love interest. Because of his knowledge of mechanics, he’s able to help the bus return safely to Earth, leading the Doctor to recommend him for a position at UNIT.
Kaluuya’s appearance inDoctor Whohappened long before his major breakthroughs. Prior to his role as Barclay, Kaluuya was known for playing Posh Kenneth on the iconic British TV show,Skins. However, he didn’t have a main role, often appearing briefly in various episodes for comedic relief. It’s shocking to look back on the episode knowing that Kaluuya went on to become one of the best actors working in Hollywood today, with his performance showing his true abilities at the earliest point in his career.
Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulliganappeared in possibly one of the bestDoctor Whoepisodes of all time, “Blink.” The episode featuresthe absolutely terrifying Weeping Angels, which have continued to give fans nightmares since the episode’s release. Mulligan takes on the role of Sally Sparrow, who has to prevent the Weeping Angels from taking over the TARDIS while the Doctor is stuck in 1969. It’s one of the rare episodes where the Doctor takes more of a backseat, with Sally becoming the main character of the episode.
Yet, despite the Doctor’s limited appearances, Mulligan and Tennant manage to have fantastic chemistry. This helped to add more tension to the episode, which ultimately made a majority of the scares a lot more effective. What makes Mulligan’s performance so incredible, though, is that she is able to balance so many different parts of Sally perfectly. Even though she is incredibly vulnerable, she never fails to demonstrate how resourceful and intelligent she is. Her appearance was so good that it earned her the Constellation Award for Best Female Performance in a Science Fiction Television Episode.
Related:Doctor Who: Here’s Why David Tennant Remains the Best Doctor
Andrew Garfield
Prior tohis breakout role as Peter Parker inThe Amazing Spider-Manmovies,Andrew Garfieldmade two appearances onDoctor Who. The beloved actor appeared in the episodes “Daleks in Manhattan” and “Evolution of the Daleks,” where he played a character called Frank. Growing up during the Great Depression, Frank moved to New York in an attempt to make a living for himself. However, he becomes stuck in the middle of a plan by the Daleks, which leads to him eventually meeting the tenth Doctor and Martha.
Despite the fact that Garfield had incredibly small acting credits at the time, you can truly see his full potential in these twoDoctor Whoepisodes. He was able to act as a hero for the first time, which while may not have been extensive as his role as Spider-Man, still likely could have shaped how he approached the role. Although Garfield has gone on to much bigger projects since, he has always expressed his gratitude forDoctor Who, gushing over being cast in such a prestigious show so early in his career.
Bill Nighy
InDoctor Who’s2010 Christmas Special, “Vincent and the Doctor,“Bill Nighyappears in an uncredited cameo. The episode tastefully explored van Gogh’s life in the lead-up to his tragic suicide, with the eleventh Doctor. While it contains much of the otherworldly excitement expected in aDoctor Whoepisode, it features an incredibly human scene at the end of the episode. The Doctor and Amy take Vincent to an art museum in the future, where Nighy’s character, Dr. Henry Black, expresses that he believes that Vincent van Gogh was one of the finest painters to have ever lived. Van Gogh died believing his work would never amount to anything, making it a truly heartwarming and compassionate episode.
Interestingly, Bill Nighy had actually been offered the role of the Doctor by Russell T Davies in 2003 to play the ninth Doctor. However, he turned the role down, believing that it would come with too much baggage. However, the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, has shared that he believes that Henry Black might be a future reincarnation of the doctor, which makes the scene feel even more powerful. Not only does Nighy deliver his lines gracefully, but he blends into the scene so perfectly that you wouldn’t even know he was there, instead focusing on Vincent’s happiness.
