An assistant director on the 1960s ‘Doctor Who’ movies has revealed Peter Cushing was “pedantic” and “kept himself to himself”.
Screen icon Peter Cushing who starred in the 1960s Doctor Who films
Screen legend Cushing played the lead role in the two films, ’Dr. Who and the Daleks’ and ‘Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D’, which were based on the BBC TV show, however, the Hammer Horror icon's portrayal of the Time Lord is not considered canon.
Now, Anthony Waye, who worked with Cushing on the sci-fi movies, has opened up about what he was like on set, revealing that the late 'Star Wars' actor - who passed away in August 1994 aged 81 - was a total professional but did not socialise with the cast and crew.
Speaking to SFX magazine, Waye said: “He was always on time and knew his words. He was meticulous in where he placed his props and that sort of thing. He was friendly - he would speak with you - but he kept himself to himself. If he’d finished several takes, he’d go back to his room. He was a little pedantic, but that’s how he played the Doctor.”
The two films were released in the mid-1960s - in 1965 and 1966 - overlapping with William Hartnell’s time in the TARDIS as the First Doctor in the TV series from 1963 until 1966.
Waye also spoke about the difficulties of working with Daleks, admitting bringing the alien villains to life was extremely difficult back then - especially for the people inside the pepper pot armour trying to steer the wheels.
He explained: "You always had to have a flat surface for them to travel on. So you had to cheat a little bit, now and again, to get them on different levels. And for the poor people inside, it was enormous work to push them around … I think most of them were dancers, and pretty fit people, but it was pretty hot and sticky in there - especially when we had action sequences.”
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