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Gillian Anderson hears a "Who"Friday night before Dollhouse came on, I was pondering the fact that I had actually turned down an invitation so that I could stay home and watch the show. I was able to think of only one other show that ever caused me to clear Friday nights on a regular basis — The X-Files.
The X-Files is a part of sci-fi history now (please, no more movies), but the show was responsible for introducing a number of wonderful things to the small screen. Not the least of which was Agent Scully, a.k.a. Gillian Anderson.
At the time, Anderson was 25 and known as an off-Broadway stage actress. In fact, The X-Files pilot was only the second time she had been in front of a TV camera. Although she had sworn never to do television when she moved to L.A., she couldn’t pass up the chance to play a strong, independent, intelligent woman lead character like Scully.
Now The Telegraph reports that we may get to see Anderson in another sci-fi role as the nemesis of the new Doctor Who, Matt Smith. (Potential spoiler ahead.) Producers want Anderson for the part of the Rani, a gorgeous-but-evil scientific genius and renegade Time Lady. The role was played by a campy Kate O’Mara in the '80s version of Doctor Who.
Although the Rani appeared in only two arcs of the previous series, Who fans will remember that, in the final episode of Season 3, a woman’s hand recovered the Master’s signet ring from the ashes of his funeral pyre. Was it the hand of the Rani?
That’s what writer Russell Davies called it, but then he said he was just joking. And while currently, Anderson’s role is scheduled for a single special episode, what if the Rani became the Master — with Gillian Anderson playing the part? That’s television worth staying home for, to be sure.
Lest you think I just mentioned Dollhouse to shamelessly plug the show, here’s the connection: Currently, Anderson, who lives in London, is in preparations to star with former Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston on stage. The production? A Doll’s House. (OK, it’s a stretch, but still kind of cool.) What do you think of Gillian Anderson as the Rani? Is she a good fit for Doctor Who? Would you like to see the Rani become a major character? Submitted by on April 28, 2009 - 4:00pm. |
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i love doctor who
I stopped watching
I stopped watching Doctor Who when they brought Catherine Tate in :| its bad enough they got her in the first place, but the fact that they thought she was a suitable replacement for Martha (Freema Agyeman)? Russel Davies must of hit his head on his desk or something. Martha was awseome! I even preffered her to *gasp* Rose! Freema's a brilliant actress :) I loved her in Law and Order UK on ITV, but it made me realise how much I missed her on Doctor Who :(
So yeah, I'm glad Catherine Tate's gone now :) I may start watching again for a bit if Gillian Anderson is in it for a while, but I really don't like the look of the new doctor, DAvid Tennant was too brilliant ! And although I like Michelle Ryan, I'm a bit gutted that the rumours that Cassie (Hannah something?) from Skins (series 1-2) was meant to be the doctors new leading lady turned out to be false :( Ohwell, I'll give the new series a try but I'm not convinced so far!
Anyway, I'll stop now because I already sound like a major geek 8-) yay-uh!!
http://gangstapirateyo.blogspot.com/
WHAT?!?!?! liking
WHAT?!?!?!
liking martha and hating catherine tate? martha was awful. she always acted like she knew more than the doctor. and the dynamic between catherine tate and david tennant is hilarious! plus she's not drooling all over him all the time. you really missed out by skipping season four. especially since martha was around for almost half of it.
agreed about the new doctor though. long live david tennant!!
I agree with you so much.
Completely agree
I LOVE Catherine Tate. I loved how funny she was, I loved how she matched David Tennant's energy.
I didn't dislike Martha, but Donna is my absolute favorite.
what!
SERIOUSLY? did you think
SERIOUSLY? did you think about it at all. Tate is most famous for playing a grating character on her own show. she then did an episode in Doctor Who playing a similar character, she was only ever supposed to be in one episode. she was supposed to be grating but entertaining in a small dose. Its was really really obvious once they announced she was coming back that they were going to have her character go on a complete personality journey and become pretty beloved, of course they wouldn't be stupid enough to have a PURPOSELY grating character for an entire season. her character arch is most obvious in the last episode when she loses her memory and goes back to annoying simple Donna.
Sorry, I don't know why that made me so mad except.. well if you actually watched a few episodes with Tate in then okay, thats your opinion, but if you are silly enough to assume that they're going to keep a purposely grating character annoying for an entire series without watching and then diss RTD for doing so when she was an amazing character.. thats just.. really irritating.
Donna was awesome, brilliant dynamic, not all lovely dovey. she loved it when she made fun of his skinniness. SOOO many ppl thought she would be irritating. I told them to give her a chance and most ppl were surprised and liked her, or loved her even.. she did a brilliant job, turning her support around like that with a grating reputation to throw off and doubts before she started. SOoo much better than Martha who wasn't amazingly wel receieved (just a little boring, didn't have the bond Rose had and Donna was a breath of fresh air). Very glad they did the memory storyline because they did a similar one with Martha which although good was not touching in the way I had always wished (always wanted a storyline where one of them lost their memory). Donna's was touching and sad but unfortunetly was in such an overly jam packed episode that it didn't seem such a big deal. i'd like it to centre on an episode
I love David Tennant to bits, my favourite person perhaps, but the ninth doctor was the best from all the doctos I've seen. Tennant was good enough that I didn't miss Eccelston though, I hope Smith is good also.
Don't know X-files but she seems to be pretty worshipped around her so I am glad
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LOL Great post there; you totally expressed exactly what it is that makes Donna such a great character. Again, great job.
I honestly tried to like
I honestly tried to like Donna, and I did watch a few episodes at the start but just never grew to like her. I've never been a fan of Catherine Tate to be honest, which is probably why. I remember seeing the last episode she was in, and thinking, hmm, no I still don't like her :|
So I didn't just assume she'd be the same, I did watch a couple with her in, and just never liked her :| Just like some people didn't like Martha. Each to their own and all that :)
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OMG?!
Well that settles it.... I wasn't going to watch the next series as Mr.Tennant is no longer The Doctor... but NOW!?! AWESOMENESS!!!! :D
:)
I'm going to miss David Tennant something wicked, because he has been the most incredible Doctor (and I grew up with the original series!), but I know that I will continue watching the series nonetheless, even with Matt Smith, even though it will be bittersweet.
But with Michelle Ryan as the new companion, and the possibility of Gillian Anderson playing the Doctor's nemesis? That seriously rocks!!! (particularly with Michelle Ryan ... I was never really that much of a fan of Catherine Tate ... particularly not after Rose and Martha ... mmmm, Martha).
Sarah
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Michelle Ryan
;)
mmm i know, martha...
oh i liked michelle ryan on the easter special of DW it was nice too.
i wonder who will be the new companions.
its gonna suck a little bit, new doctor AND companions? ratings might go down...
Wow!
Gillian Anderson
We'll see.
I don't believe DW casting rumors until the BBC reports them on the DW newsfeed. Especially since I first read this story from "The Daily Express".
If it's true, it could be pretty cool, though. If anyone can write a decent new-era Rani, it's Steven Moffet. He writes awesome, kick-ass female characters.
Dr. Who?
I, too, am quite saddened to see David Tennant go, but I'm hopeful. I remember being a little bummed when I heard that Eccleston was leaving, because I quite liked him, but Tennant quickly made a believer out of me. The strangest thing to me about Smith as the Doctor is his age. Such a young body for the new Doctor! Still, here's to Smith making believers of us all.
I would LOVE to see Anderson on Who! (You know what I mean.) I do hope it becomes a recurring role.
So.. Rose, Martha, or Donna? Hands down, Donna Noble! I was a little skeptical about Catherine Tate in this role at first, but she totally won me over and became my favorite companion of the new series. Like the poster above mentioned, it's all about her dynamic with the Doctor. I miss her!
Great if it happens!
I'd love to see Gillian Anderson do it. However, I remain to be convinced by this kid Matt Smith! Not been a particular fan of his other work, however, the regenerations are always traumatic for fans (Still remember losing Tom Baker!)
Michelle Ryan looked great, but the girl has limited acting skills and not much screen charisma. She also NOT going to be a companion by the looks of it.
I loved Catherine Tate as Donna. A fan of her comedy, I wasn't sure how well she'd work on the show, but Donna was a real breath of fresh air after the swooning Rose and Martha. David Tennant is such a good doctor, it will be hard to follow him. Adding Gillian Anderson will bring in yet more sci fi fans (although most UK X Files fans probably like Doctor Who too.)
Gillian is into being a serious stage actress here in the UK. Can she camp it up a bit for Who???
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a program that I only watch if I'm too lazy to pick up the remote control in order to change the channel. My eyes will be watching it but my brain won't really be picking anything up.
If Gillian Anderson is gonna be on Doctor Who though I will one of the most fully alert and upright fans of the show. (as was one of the biggest fans of X Files and Scully like ever)!!!
Wow.
I would just like to say how much I really really really like that last picture.
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I love Gillian Anderson!
I love Gillian Anderson! I've had a crush on her since I was a young one.. But on Dr. Who -- that's a good show. :)
-Rachel
http://www.kissthegirl09.webs.com
I was just thinking about her
Weird. I'm watching Fringe and I'm thinking about how it's trying to be like X-Files, but it's not as cool and it doesn't have Gillian Anderson, I mean, the main chick is hot, but she's no Gillian Anderson so I'm kinda miffed right now and missing Gillian Anderson and then I'm bored so I go to afterellen and then I see Gillian Anderson. So I think this is a sign, that she should do Doctor Who and I should start watching Doctor Who.
PS- I love the Dollshouse/ Doll's House reference.
"If a bullet should go through my head let that bullet go through every closet door.” -Harvey Milk
Gillian not being on TV
Gillian not being on TV enough should be a CRIME!
I will watch Dr. Who now just because of her. Never heard of Dr Who before tbh, the name sounds like something you'd see on PBS while flipping thru channels.
O M Freakin G
O M Freakin G...
If this would happen I'd be so happy. Possibly more happy than I was when Kylie was on Doctor Who. It might even make up for the new Doctor. (Though, in all honesty, I'm fickle - I thought I'd hate David Tennant, but now I love him)
Gillian Anderson's accent
It was odd at first seeing Anderson on British talk shows because she now has a British accent. Though American, she spent most of her childhood here and so had a British accent when the family moved back to the US. She apparently had to relearn an American accent - which she did because she wanted to fit in - but now that she lives over here the British accent has returned. I don't think this is put on either, I think she's genuinely and naturally reverted to it. In fact she may be one of those rare people who have two accents they can switch between with ease, much as some eople who are bilingual can slip from one language to the other without much thought or effort. Someone else who does this is John Barrowman. See a clip on TV of him talking with his family and he has a Scottish accent.
Incredible! (spoiler-ish ... other casting mentioned...)
This is great news, in my opinion. I never believed Davies was joking -- I think he was testing out his idea. See if it flew with the hardcore fans...Not sure if Anderson's going to be in the fourth special or something for the new Doc to battle, but either way, I am psyched! (It hasn't been "confirmed" yet so I am still fingers crossed...)
And Clara, I am with you! When I read that Donna was coming back, I had mixed feelings. Now, after watching the character transform during the season, I totally love Catherine Tate. She was an amazing companion, and it was refreshing to see a strong woman get stronger and without falling in love with the Doctor. I mean, I did like Rose, then I liked Martha, but Donna really took it beyond the moony, swoony crush-type dynamic. And since she and Wilf will be in one of the specials, I can't wait to see what they do.
And since we haven't gotten **ANY** of the specials yet in America, I am totally jonesing for some new Who.
The accent thing is funny too. Just caught her on an airing of Graham Norton and had totally forgotten ... John Barrowman's shouldn't have surprised me but it did!
Fanderson
Why, yes, I would very much like to see Gillian on Dr. Who, thank you! She is a perfect fit for any sci-fi show (obviously), and would play a great villain with steely cold precision.
By the way, linster, we no longer have to stay home to watch t.v. shows at the scheduled time (Tivo/timeshifting/internet). Perhaps someone is just playing hard to get...?
Yeah, yeah
GA
Oh!I so remember the days
?
Ah, Scully... you sure are missed... *sigh*
Ah, Scully... you sure are missed... *sigh*
Never seen Dr. Who but this might be the right time to start doing so!
OMG she's gorgeous!!
I've never seen her with long hair, but that pix of her is GORGEOUS. I've always focused on her impossibly sexy lips, but she's a complete knock out in that pix. And I'd watch anything she made.
I'm a Sagittarius -- part ass, part dude with a loaded weapon. What's not to love? I'm pissed that Cupid got the falling in love arrow, we get the snarky, the-truth-is-gonna-hurt-arrow
Sorry to burst your bubbles...
...But, Gillian will NOT be appearing in the new "Doctor Who" series next year.
This comes from her official web site:
www.gilliananderson.ws
It would've been so cool if it were true though...Sigh.