Doctor Who and the sound of the iconic blue police box, known as the TARDIS, are nothing short of a legacy. Having aired the first episode back in 1963, the Time Lord is one of the most desired roles for actors in the UK and, to be honest, the world. Similar to what happens with the James Bond franchise, whenever the actor that is playing the Doctor announces their final season, everyone stops to see who will be the next one to take on his shoes. And, or course, maybe answer the question: Will he finally be ginger?

Ncuti Gatwa is a 30-year-old actor who is somewhat new to the game. Nevertheless, he was able to get the role of the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker stepped down after playing the role since 2017 and – to the utter surprise of fans – David Tennant (who is considered by many as the best Doctor in history) appeared as the Doctor again. It’s one of his most cherished roles again, and there are no shortage of theories why Tennant is back in the role. But Gatwa’s fans can rest assured that the actor will be the next Doctor in 2023.

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Since Gatwa is not incredibly well-known, here is a bit more about his career and why him taking the role is an important statement, as well as what he is planning to do next.

Ncuti Gatwa’s Career Before Playing the 15th Doctor

     Netflix

Ncuti Gatwa was born in Rwanda and was only two years old when he moved with his family to Scotland to escape a genocide that happened in the country in 1994. He moved to London when he was 21 to pursue his career as an actor. His first credit as an actor was in one episode of the miniseries Bob Servant, back in 2014. Since then, he has been a part of a few projects, and some were able to place him in the spotlight he deserves.

The actor has been in a couple of movies, varying in genres, such as Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans is a comedic narrative set in the Roman Empire of the infamous Emperor, Nero. He also worked on a romantic feature film, The Last Letter from Your Lover. Gatwa has not only been on movie and television sets, but he has also tread across the theater stage. The actor was a part of a Bollywood version of one of Shakespeare’s most well-known works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He performed the role of Demetrius at the Shakespeare Globe in London. Gatwa also was a part of the cast of the videogame GRID Legends.

Nevertheless, it was a comedic and dramatic series by Netflix that placed the actor in the spotlight. In Sex Education, Gatwa plays the ever-so cheerful Eric and instantly won the audience with his charisma and funny lines. Gatwa is not only fun but can give depth to his character that leads to various emotional moments (especially regarding his sexuality as he is a proud gay man who doesn’t want to hide who he is) – creating someone the audience does not only love but is eager to watch. He received a nomination for Best Male Performance in Comedy at the British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs).

Doctor Who and Breaking Taboos

     BBC Studios

It was a surprise when Gatwa, mostly because of his short resumé, was able to snatch one of the most prestigious roles in the UK. He will be the first Doctor that was born in Africa, as well as the first Black actor (apart from a small appearance of Jo Martin as a Traveler Doctor) to play the role of the alien that travels in the TARDIS. All of this sadly made fans lash out at his casting as simply “woke” marketing, without ever seeing him appear as the Doctor.

It is important to remember how much backlash Idris Elba got when it was announced he was one of the strongest contenders for another role that is deeply cherished in England: James Bond. Also, how much sexism Jodie Whittaker had to endure when she was announced as the one stepping in after Peter Capaldi played the Doctor. The actress had pictures of photoshoots where she was in lingerie published all over tabloids and newspapers, mocking who the next Doctor was going to be. Even the now beloved David Tennant received backlash online when his Doctor Who casting news was announced.

Therefore, Gatwa is not only a win in general for the UK and representation, but this particular type of role has been known for creating a lot of fuss once an actor is announced. Gatwa getting this role furthers the conversation of diversity in iconic roles and why different types of actors should get the chance to play them.

What’s Next for Ncuti Gatwa

     Warner Bros.

Being in one of the longest-running television shows in history is not enough for Gatwa. The actor already has two projects lined up, one of which is bound to receive a lot of attention, good or bad. Gatwa will be a part of the cast of Greta Gerwig’s next movie, Barbie. He will work alongside Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie, as well as fellow Sex Education co-star Emma Mackey. But that is not all: the actor will also be a part of a new, $200 million Apple TV+ miniseries called Masters of Air. This is a very different narrative than the others he has done so far, as it is based on the actions of the Eight Air Force of the US during the Second World War.

It is safe to say that Ncuti Gatwa has impressed many on television, and will continue to do so in his next roles. It is refreshing to see actors who are new to the industry getting the opportunities they deserve, and there is no doubt this is only the beginning of a very nice career for him.