Ncuti Gatwa thought there was "no way" 'Doctor Who' bosses would cast a Black lead.
Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who
The 'Sex Education' actor is set to make his debut as the 15th Time Lord during the show's 60th anniversary celebrations later this year and he admitted he wasn't nervous when he was auditioning for the role because he didn't expect to get the part.
He recalled to Britain's Vogue magazine: “I was just like, ‘There’s no way I’ll get this'.
“‘It’s a British institution and there’s no way they’ll cast a Black man.’ So, I just had fun.”
The 30-year-old actor admitted he didn't keep the news of his casting as secret as producers wanted him to, so he felt lucky it was never made public until the official announcement.
He recalled: “I felt numb.
"And keeping it a secret until the announcement was very difficult. I’d often get a little tipsy in Soho House, make a new best friend in the bathroom, tell them and run off. Thankfully, it never got out.”
When the news did break, Ncuti was "really surprised" by the response from fans.
He admitted: "I was geared up for a lot of hate. But the response was so positive, and that was overwhelming."
The actor praised returning showrunner Russell T. Davies' vision for the series and revealed bosses are trying to make progress in every aspect of the show, even down to his costumes, which unlike previous incantations of the Doctor, will change each episode.
He said: “Months after getting the role, I went to see the producers and get the scripts, and they asked me my thoughts on the show’s costumes.
“I was talking about Ralph Lauren’s collaboration with Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, two historically Black colleges, which is really preppy. They were like, ‘Cool, but it’s quite traditional.’
"I guess I was thinking about catering to the audience that already watches 'Doctor Who', but they’re like, ‘Let’s push it forward.’
"They’re really keen on progress, and it doesn’t always feel like that in the landscape of British television.”
Tagged in Russell T Davies Ncuti Gatwa