Charity Wakefield Q&A
Tell us about your character Lucy
I play Lucy Fletcher who in her own way is living a little bit of a double life in that she’s a very successful working mother, she’s a journalist and she’s also been left by her husband so she’s in a difficult position with a very young child. But she’s quite an interesting character in that she’s got lots of different facets – I think a little light turns on when she’s at work and she’s quite hard-nosed and that’s fun to play. In this episode, she’s the eye for the audience in a way because even though she feels like she’s in control at the beginning she’s the one that’s the least in the know about what these other worlds and superpowers are. She’s discovering everything as the audience are discovering it so I felt it was my job to really be in the moment with that which is such a fun thing to do when the things that are happening are so extraordinary.
What superpower would you have?
How did the role of Lucy come about?
This role felt like a very early Christmas gift to me because it’s one of those amazing opportunities you get as an actor where you’re just offered something seemingly out of the blue (or out of outer space in fact with this job). I read the script and just absolutely jumped at the chance – it was so fun, so full of energy and vitality and a great opportunity to play a character in Doctor Who that isn’t completely concealed by an alien outfit. It’s really fun to play an American.
What was your reaction when you first read the script?
When I first read the script I was really surprised that there was such a huge superhero theme. Firstly I didn’t even think you could do that on other TV shows – that you could connect yourself to those amazing huge films that have already been so popular that have their own world so that was really exciting. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do that, and do it in a way that is really different in the world of Doctor Who. It was fascinating to read how Steven was bringing those two worlds together. It’s just so charming – the storyline of Grant and seeing him grow up and seeing the Doctor’s relationship with him – that’s one of the things that’s so special about Doctor Who is the way that he’s able to jump back and forth in time and he (the Doctor) has these different strands and different relationships with people and watching them grow and coming back to them later in life – it’s really lovely to see that as a character. It’s so exciting!
What can audiences look forward to in this Christmas Special?
In this Christmas Special, you’re going to see New York City, you’re going to see aliens, you’re going to see superheroes, and you’re going to see love, romance, rejection, fear, trepidation, excitement, the Doctor, Nardole……
Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio
The Doctor returns on Christmas day with Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio, airing at 5:45 pm on BBC One and 8/9c on BBC America.
The special is written by Steven Moffat, Executive Produced by Brian Minchin, Produced by Peter Bennett and Directed by Ed Bazalgette (Poldark). It was shot in Cardiff at BBC Wales Roath Lock Studios.
Pre-order your copy of this year’s special on Amazon.
