Quick Facts
Biography
Jodie Auckland Whittaker (born 3 June 1982) is an English actress. She first came to prominence for her 2006 feature film debut Venus, for which she received British Independent Film Award and Satellite Award nominations. She was later praised for her roles in the cult science fiction film Attack the Block (2011), the Black Mirror episode "The Entire History of You" (2011), and as grieving mother Beth Latimer in Chris Chibnall's acclaimed TV series Broadchurch (2013–2017).
On 16 July 2017, BBC announced that Whittaker would become the thirteenth (and the first female) incarnation of The Doctor in the British TV series Doctor Who, taking over the role in the 2017 Christmas special episode "The Doctors". Her arrival in the series will coincide with Chibnall's, who will become Doctor Who's new executive producer.
Early life
Whittaker was born in Skelmanthorpe. She initially attended Shelley College, West Yorkshire, before training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2005 with the gold medal for acting.
Career
Whittaker made her professional debut in The Storm at Shakespeare's Globe in 2005. She has since worked in film, television, radio and theatre. In 2007, she stood in at short notice for an unwell Carey Mulligan in the Royal Court's production of The Seagull, and appeared in a fundraising play at the Almeida Theatre.
In Whittaker's first major role, she co-starred as Jessie / Venus in the film Venus. Her radio credits include a 2008 adaptation of Blinded by the Sun by Stephen Poliakoff and Lydia Bennett in Unseen Austen, an original drama by Judith French. In 2009, she worked on the film Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World, the BBC2 drama Royal Wedding, and the short film Wish 143, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film at the 83rd Academy Awards.
In 2010, Whittaker appeared in the film The Kid and co-starred in BBC's Accused. She appeared in the 2009 Irish comedy crime film Perrier's Bounty. In 2011, she appeared as Viv in the BBC adaptation of Sarah Waters's novel The Night Watch and the cult film Attack the Block. In 2012, she starred in the musical comedy-drama Good Vibrations.
From March to April 2013, Whittaker starred in the ITV detective drama Broadchurch; she subsequently reprised the role for two additional series, until the show's conclusion in 2017. In January 2014, she starred in the reality-based spy drama miniseries The Assets on ABC.
On 16 July 2017, Whittaker was announced as the thirteenth incarnation of The Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who; she will be the first woman in the history of the franchise to play the title role.
Personal life
Whittaker has been married to American actor Christian Contreras since 2008. Her nephew played Leo Goskirk in Emmerdale before his death at the age of three in 2014.
The media reported in January 2015 that Whittaker was pregnant with her first child; she gave birth in April 2015.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Venus | Jessie | Nominated—ALFS Award for British Newcomer of the Year Nominated—British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer (On Screen) Nominated—London Critics Circle Film Award for British Newcomer of the Year Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical |
| 2007 | St Trinian's | Beverly | |
| 2008 | Good | Anne Hartman | |
| 2009 | Mr. Dorothy | Mitch's Wife (voice) | Short film |
| 2009 | White Wedding | Rose | |
| 2009 | Swansong: Story of Occi Byrne | Bridget Byrne | |
| 2009 | Roar | Eva | Short film |
| 2009 | Perrier's Bounty | Brenda | |
| 2009 | Wish 143 | Maggie | Short film |
| 2009 | St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold | Beverly | |
| 2010 | The Kid | Jackie | |
| 2010 | Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World | Noreen Stokes | |
| 2011 | Hello Carter | Susie | Short film |
| 2011 | Two Minutes | Juliette | Short film Also sound editor |
| 2011 | Attack the Block | Samantha Adams | Nominated—Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2011 | One Day | Tilly | |
| 2011 | A Thousand Kisses Deep | Mia Selva | Also video operator |
| 2012 | Smoke | Short film | |
| 2012 | Good Vibrations | Ruth | |
| 2012 | Ashes | Ruth | |
| 2012 | Dust | Jessica's Mum | Short film |
| 2013 | Spike Island | Suzanne | |
| 2013 | Hello Carter | Jenny | |
| 2014 | Get Santa | Alison | |
| 2014 | Emotional Fusebox | Anna | Short film |
| 2014 | Black Sea | Chrissy | |
| 2015 | Adult Life Skills | Anna | Also executive producer Nominated—British Independent Film Award for Best Actress |
| 2017 | Journeyman | Completed |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Afternoon Play | Sam | Episode: "The Last Will and Testament of Billy Two-Sheds" |
| 2006 | Doctors | Louise Clancy | Episode: "Ignorance Is Bliss" |
| 2006 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Kirsty Richards | Episode: "Fallen Angel" |
| 2007 | This Life + 10 | Clare | Television film |
| 2008 | Tess of the D'Urbervilles | Izzy Huett | Miniseries |
| 2008 | Wired | Louise Evans | Miniseries |
| 2008 | The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall | Sophie | Television film |
| 2008 | Consuming Passion | Mary Boon | Television film |
| 2009 | Return to Cranford | Peggy Bell | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Svengali | Ellie the Barmaid | Television film |
| 2010 | Accused | Emma Croft | Episode: "Liam's Story" |
| 2010 | Royal Wedding | Linda Caddock | Television film |
| 2011 | Marchlands | Ruth Bowen | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | Black Mirror | Ffion | Episode: "The Entire History of You" |
| 2011 | The Night Watch | Vivian Pearce | Television film |
| 2013–2017 | Broadchurch | Beth Latimer | 24 episodes Nominated—Crime Thriller Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—RTS Television Award for Best Actress |
| 2014 | The Assets | Sandra Grimes | 8 episodes |
| 2014 | The Smoke | Trish Tooley | 8 episodes |
| 2017 | Trust Me | Cath Hardacre | |
| 2017 | Doctor Who | The Doctor | The Thirteenth Doctor; premiere appearance "The Doctors" |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Storm, TheThe Storm | Ampelisca | Shakespeare's Globe |
| 2006 | Enemies | Nadya | Almeida Theatre |
| 2007 | Gaggle of Saints, AA Gaggle of Saints | Sue | Trafalgar Studios |
| 2007 | Awake and Sing! | Hennie Berger | Almeida Theatre |
| 2012 | Antigone | Antigone | National Theatre |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Blinded by the Sun | Joanna | BBC Radio 4 |
| 2008 | Unseen Austen | Lydia Bennett | BBC Radio 4 |