Jodie Whittaker hopes her casting as the first female Doctor Who will inspire girls everywhere.
The BBC One sci-fi show was changed forever when the 36-year-old actress was chosen to play the Thirteenth Doctor, taking over control of the TARDIS from Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi.
Jodie’s first series kicks off this autumn and she wants girls to watch it and realise that they can be heroes too.
In an interview with the new issue of Radio Times magazine, she said: "Now it isn’t just attainable for half of the population. The other half can be the Doctor as well. Girls will no longer just think, ‘Oh, I could be a companion.’ Being the first female Doctor and showing children that their heroes in shows don’t always look the same is a huge honour for me."
Jodie’s 12 predecessors were all men and she feels completely unburdened to play the role how she wants because as the first woman in the role there is no one to compare her too, and she certainly isn’t going to worry about what critics might be out there.
She said: "The pressure is less for me because I can only do this my way. All the rules are out the window! That’s what makes it so fun.
"As long as most people are happy, I’m all right with that."
And new showrunner Chris Chibnall – who has taken over control from Steven Moffat – has admitted he always wanted to switch the Doctor’s gender when he got the job because it was time for the series to change.
He said: "I felt the time was right for a female Doctor – I felt the audience were ready for it, the world was ready for it. I think if we hadn’t done it, we would have been behind the world – and ‘Doctor Who’ has to be out front leading the world, showcasing all the amazing things out there. So it was never a question in my mind. It was time."
Chibnall previously worked with Jodie on his crime drama ‘Broadchurch’ casting her as Beth Latimer, the mother of murdered schoolboy Danny Latimer, in the ITV programme.
Jodie Whittaker wants to inspire girls with Doctor Who role
