Who, exactly, is Coleman?
- Publication: The Fresno Bee
- Date: 2013-03-30
- Author: Rick Bentley
- Page: 8B
- Language: English
New episodes of famed time-travel series try hard to preserve secrecy
By Rick Bentley Fresno Bee
British actress Jenna-Louise Coleman faced a lot of pressure becoming the 57th "Doctor Who" traveling companion. It wasn't just that she was joining one of the biggest — and longest-running — sci-fi franchises; it was all the secrecy and mystery surrounding the role.
"When I went in to audition, I was reading for three and four different characters. I didn't have a clue as to what was going on, and they couldn't explain it to me. I finally began to piece together their plan," Coleman said. "It's all so secretive because there's always so much speculation about what's going to happen on the show."
Hints to that plan have been revealed in a couple of past episodes and will become fully formed when new episodes begin airing Saturday night on BBC America (available on digital cable and satellite services). Coleman plays a character similar to the one she had in the Season 7 opener, "Asylum of the Daleks," and in the Christmas episode, "The Snowmen." Both characters died, but the Doctor (Matt Smith) has found a third version.
Even series lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat talks in cryptic terms when discussing Coleman's character.
"You've sort of met her, but you sort of haven't. The same shed-load of attitude you saw before, the same rapid-fire banter with the Doctor, but this time she's living in modern London with no memory of the Time Lord," Moffat said. "It's all new for the Doctor. This time, the greatest mystery in the universe is standing right next to him."
There's a reason for the secrecy: Fans are rabid to discover spoilers.
The audition process was a covert affair. Coleman was told she was reading for a production called "Men on Waves," an anagram for "Women Seven," a reference to the role being in the show's seventh season.
Everyone who auditioned was taken to separate rooms, so no one would know who was a finalist for the part.
She had been so busy working, Coleman hadn't seen the new "Doctor Who" series. She watched the first episode of the sixth season before her audition, but she didn't want to watch more because she wants to learn about the world as she goes on the journey. Coleman didn't even want to see the set for the Tardis — the Doctor's time-traveling vehicle — until her first scene.
WHEN TO WATCH
What: "Doctor Who"
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: BBC America
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Bentley, Rick (2013-03-30). Who, exactly, is Coleman?. The Fresno Bee p. 8B.
- MLA 7th ed.: Bentley, Rick. "Who, exactly, is Coleman?." The Fresno Bee [add city] 2013-03-30, 8B. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Bentley, Rick. "Who, exactly, is Coleman?." The Fresno Bee, edition, sec., 2013-03-30
- Turabian: Bentley, Rick. "Who, exactly, is Coleman?." The Fresno Bee, 2013-03-30, section, 8B edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Who, exactly, is Coleman? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who,_exactly,_is_Coleman%3F | work=The Fresno Bee | pages=8B | date=2013-03-30 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 November 2024 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Who, exactly, is Coleman? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who,_exactly,_is_Coleman%3F | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=25 November 2024}}</ref>
- Title: Coleman joins 'Doctor Who'
- Publication: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Date: 2013-03-30
