Black Girl Nerds had the esteemed privilege of speaking with Ncuti Gatwa via Zoom. Gatwa is well known for Sex Education, Barbie, and now playing the Fifteenth Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction series, Doctor Who.
What excited you about this Christmas Special? Especially because it’s a more official reveal for you, which is huge!
Yes it is! It’s my first full episode. Full reins on the TARDIS. “Exciting” is a word I’d use. “Daunting” is a word that would be higher up on my list of adjectives to describe my time. However, I think I was just excited to get going, if I’m honest with you. It had been so long from getting cast, to then getting announced. There was a lot of stuff I had to finish first before getting into the TARDIS.
The production of Doctor Who started before I even joined. When I joined, they told me, “We were calling it Doctor Where [laughs] for a while, because where is Ncuti?” So I was just raring to go, I was raring to get started. There’s a combination of my excitement to get started and [showrunner and head writer Russell T. Davies’] writing as to why the episode just hits the ground running.
I guess I was mostly excited about pointing my sonic screwdriver at something. I’m like, “Get me to the job where I can do that!”
Like, “Let me do the things you said I could do!”
Yes! That! I’m ready to do them now! Really excited for [the Christmas special].
Can you share, as much as you’re able to, about the foundling narrative, the adoption narrative that you as the Doctor and Ruby Sunday [the Doctor’s Companion, played by Millie Gibson] share?
Yes. So, the Doctor was adopted, as we know already. [The Fifteenth Doctor] has just arrived onto the scene, throwing some shakes in a club. But also, the Doctor’s senses are kind of spiked up at the moment, and he knows there’s something special about this girl.
Bad luck follows her. The universe has clocked her for a reason, so he already knows there’s something special. He discovers her history and finds out she was adopted, she was a foundling as well, and that is so intriguing to the Doctor. It becomes a driving point for the rest of the series. There’s a mystery behind Ruby Sunday. There’s a mystery behind her that involves her birth that the Doctor really wants to figure out.
I really appreciate you really thinking through how much you can share.
[Laughs.] You can see the turmoil in my head! [Laughs.] But yeah, they connect over that, they connect over their shared history. And there’s something about Ruby’s that intrigues the Doctor exponentially.
What was it like working on stunts for the Christmas Special?
Oh so cool! I love the stunt work. I fight ‘til my dying breath. I was able to do most of my own stunts. There was only one that I’ve not been allowed to do. And, in my opinion, it was the least dangerous. But, oh gosh! Running on rooftops, attached to wires…
The least dangerous is most liable for some reason?
It was a logistical reason that just went way over my head. I couldn’t figure out what the issue was, but there we are. Probably needed to keep me in one piece. But, yes, quite a stunt heavy episode, actually. All the roof work, flying down from the goblins with Ruby and [a baby named] Lulu Bell, and just all the stuff involving the goblin ship and the ropes.
I love it. I love that stuff. I love being as physical as possible. I love bringing a bit of athleticism in everything that I do. And any time I can just show off my body, or what my body can do, I’m ready to do it!
What other prep work led you into becoming the Doctor?
Just watching the show as much as possible. I started with Christopher Eccleston [the Ninth Doctor] when I got the audition. I started with Christopher Eccleston’s era just before [Peter Capaldi’s, the Twelfth Doctor] era, and would just watch them all. I selected a couple of DVDs from each of the classic Doctor Who eras, and watched some of those.
I would just try to get a sense of what each actor brought individually. They’re all so identifiable as the Doctor, but they’re all so unique. What is it that they’ve all done that’s different and the same? I realized that it’s all in the writing, and they’re just bringing themselves. You don’t have to try and be quirky when you’re playing an alien with two hearts and can time travel on their own. It’s there in the text for you.
So just trying to do as much script work as possible and watching the show as much as possible.
How do you bring yourself into the Doctor? You mentioned everyone else; how about you?
Sometimes I feel like, my typical work, my drama school stuff, all my tech analysis stuff, all its beats and intentions and units, breaking them down, fine. But to bring myself in, sometimes I feel like the role has been written specifically for me.
For me, I can’t finish one train of thought before another one jumps into my head. I can’t finish a sentence before I start another one. That was how the Doctor was written. And I was like, “This is the first time where I’ve had a character [with] words just flowing out of my mouth.” I’m able to make sense of this script really well. Because his thoughts are just everywhere. And, I guess, so are mine.
I don’t know, I just try to embrace the air sign in me. I try to embrace the Libra Sun, Gemini Moon. Just [physically leans in with eyes closed, head tilted up] leaning into the air sign. All over the place and just embrace that. So that’s how I brought myself into the role. [Laughs.]
Thank you for taking that big leap into that.
**This interview has been edited for time and clarity.
Black Girl Nerds had the esteemed privilege of speaking with Ncuti Gatwa via Zoom. Gatwa is well known for Sex Education, Barbie, and now playing the Fifteenth Doctor in the long-running BBC science fiction series, Doctor Who.
What excited you about this Christmas Special? Especially because it’s a more official reveal for you, which is huge!
Yes it is! It’s my first full episode. Full reins on the TARDIS. “Exciting” is a word I’d use. “Daunting” is a word that would be higher up on my list of adjectives to describe my time. However, I think I was just excited to get going, if I’m honest with you. It had been so long from getting cast, to then getting announced. There was a lot of stuff I had to finish first before getting into the TARDIS.
The production of Doctor Who started before I even joined. When I joined, they told me, “We were calling it Doctor Where [laughs] for a while, because where is Ncuti?” So I was just raring to go, I was raring to get started. There’s a combination of my excitement to get started and [showrunner and head writer Russell T. Davies’] writing as to why the episode just hits the ground running.
I guess I was mostly excited about pointing my sonic screwdriver at something. I’m like, “Get me to the job where I can do that!”
Like, “Let me do the things you said I could do!”
Yes! That! I’m ready to do them now! Really excited for [the Christmas special].
Can you share, as much as you’re able to, about the foundling narrative, the adoption narrative that you as the Doctor and Ruby Sunday [the Doctor’s Companion, played by Millie Gibson] share?
Yes. So, the Doctor was adopted, as we know already. [The Fifteenth Doctor] has just arrived onto the scene, throwing some shakes in a club. But also, the Doctor’s senses are kind of spiked up at the moment, and he knows there’s something special about this girl.
Bad luck follows her. The universe has clocked her for a reason, so he already knows there’s something special. He discovers her history and finds out she was adopted, she was a foundling as well, and that is so intriguing to the Doctor. It becomes a driving point for the rest of the series. There’s a mystery behind Ruby Sunday. There’s a mystery behind her that involves her birth that the Doctor really wants to figure out.
I really appreciate you really thinking through how much you can share.
[Laughs.] You can see the turmoil in my head! [Laughs.] But yeah, they connect over that, they connect over their shared history. And there’s something about Ruby’s that intrigues the Doctor exponentially.
What was it like working on stunts for the Christmas Special?
Oh so cool! I love the stunt work. I fight ‘til my dying breath. I was able to do most of my own stunts. There was only one that I’ve not been allowed to do. And, in my opinion, it was the least dangerous. But, oh gosh! Running on rooftops, attached to wires…
The least dangerous is most liable for some reason?
It was a logistical reason that just went way over my head. I couldn’t figure out what the issue was, but there we are. Probably needed to keep me in one piece. But, yes, quite a stunt heavy episode, actually. All the roof work, flying down from the goblins with Ruby and [a baby named] Lulu Bell, and just all the stuff involving the goblin ship and the ropes.
I love it. I love that stuff. I love being as physical as possible. I love bringing a bit of athleticism in everything that I do. And any time I can just show off my body, or what my body can do, I’m ready to do it!
What other prep work led you into becoming the Doctor?
Just watching the show as much as possible. I started with Christopher Eccleston [the Ninth Doctor] when I got the audition. I started with Christopher Eccleston’s era just before [Peter Capaldi’s, the Twelfth Doctor] era, and would just watch them all. I selected a couple of DVDs from each of the classic Doctor Who eras, and watched some of those.
I would just try to get a sense of what each actor brought individually. They’re all so identifiable as the Doctor, but they’re all so unique. What is it that they’ve all done that’s different and the same? I realized that it’s all in the writing, and they’re just bringing themselves. You don’t have to try and be quirky when you’re playing an alien with two hearts and can time travel on their own. It’s there in the text for you.
So just trying to do as much script work as possible and watching the show as much as possible.
How do you bring yourself into the Doctor? You mentioned everyone else; how about you?
Sometimes I feel like, my typical work, my drama school stuff, all my tech analysis stuff, all its beats and intentions and units, breaking them down, fine. But to bring myself in, sometimes I feel like the role has been written specifically for me.
For me, I can’t finish one train of thought before another one jumps into my head. I can’t finish a sentence before I start another one. That was how the Doctor was written. And I was like, “This is the first time where I’ve had a character [with] words just flowing out of my mouth.” I’m able to make sense of this script really well. Because his thoughts are just everywhere. And, I guess, so are mine.
I don’t know, I just try to embrace the air sign in me. I try to embrace the Libra Sun, Gemini Moon. Just [physically leans in with eyes closed, head tilted up] leaning into the air sign. All over the place and just embrace that. So that’s how I brought myself into the role. [Laughs.]
Thank you for taking that big leap into that.
**This interview has been edited for time and clarity.
‘Tis the season! Christmas is right around the corner, and some of us may still be scrambling for that last-minute holiday gift. But no worries–you don’t have to come empty handed. Here is a healthy twist on that beat-the-clock holiday gift. How about a wellness gift for the mind, body, and soul.
What’s the one gift we all want but can’t really buy?
GOOD HEALTH!
Now, although we can’t box that up, all is not lost. There is still time to buy that special someone a gift and make it meaningful. Make your gift count by giving the gift that keeps on giving. Many times we want to be healthy, eat healthy, and live healthy, but when it comes to the bottom line and bills, often those healthy items fall last on our shopping list to buy. So, this is where your wellness gift can make the difference.
Here are five holiday gifts with a healthy twist.
Gym Bag With a Water Bottle and/or Weight Gloves
(Photo: Pexels)
These are vital gym basics to get started. Get your friends and family organized with a stylish gym bag. The gloves provide hand protection for lifting weights–and they look stylish. You can drop a little note in the water bottle, reminding them to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Yoga Mat With Resistance Bands
(Photo: John Giustina/Getty Images)
This is the perfect mobile or stationary exercise station. Resistance bands fit easily into any purse or backpack, so it’s great for those that travel often. Add a note with exercise examples.
Essential Oils or Scented Candles
(Photo: Pexels)
Aromatherapy in the form of essential oils can be used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. You can smell it, rub on the skin, and even ingest some (but check with your doctor first).
Here are some favorites:
Lavender: Helps you get better sleep and manage stress
Grapefruit: Reduces the appetite
Sweet Orange: Helps with anxiety
Tea Tree: Wards off and fights infections
Peppermint: Puts a stop to headaches
Cedar wood: Helps prevent hair loss and skin irritation
Rosemary: Better focus at work
Ginger: Relieves nausea
Mix-and-Match Neck Pillow or Gel Cooling Eye Mask, Paired With Earplugs
(Photo: Pexels)
Sleeping less than six hours per night can lead to long-term health consequences. It’s important to keep ourselves energized, so give the gift that promotes rest for good health.This gift can help them get better sleep and helps to create a restful and comfortable sleep environment.
One-Month Gym Pass
(Photo: Pexels)
One major barrier to getting to the gym is how expensive it can be at times, so this is a great way to introduce someone to the gym. There are tons of holiday specials right now, so you have a lot of options to get a great price. Even if they don’t stick to the gym, they can use it for what it’s worth, and hopefully build in the healthy lifestyle of exercise.
Gear friends and family up for those 2024 New Year’s health resolutions, with any of these cool gifts.
It is a common practice in Hollywood to turn book series into movies or TV shows. However, the adaptations often fail to capture the true essence of the original literature, and as a result, fans feel let down. However, in the case of the popular book series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, it seems that Disney and 20th Century Fox have come close to creating a TV series that truly captures the excitement of the books.
After being expelled from yet another boarding school, Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) finds himself in serious trouble. His feisty mother, Sally (Virginia Kull), struggles to tell him that his father is actually a Greek god and that Percy himself is a demigod, also known as a half-blood. Initially, Percy is skeptical and cannot believe what he is hearing.
However, his disbelief is shattered when he discovers that his best friend, Grover (Aryan Simhardi), is a satyr who needs to take Percy and his mother to the safety of Camp Half-Blood. While en route, they are attacked by a minotaur, and unfortunately, Percy’s mother does not survive the attack and make it to the camp.
Upon arriving at the camp, Percy is immediately taken to Hermes’ cabin by the camp mentors: the wise Chiron (Glynn Turman) and the unserious Dionysus (Jason Mantzoukas). There, he meets Luke Castellan (Charlie Bushnell), the son of Hermes, who is tasked with training him. Percy learns about the rules that demigods must follow, while also being scrutinized by the other campers. He also meets Annabeth Chase (Leah Jeffries), who is analytical and hesitant about him and is only interested in him as a means to finally get on a quest.
Eventually, Percy is claimed by his father, Poseidon, and embarks on a journey across America to return Zeus’ powerful weapon known as the master bolt and prevent an all-out war between Zeus and Poseidon. With the help of his friends Annabeth and Grover, Percy’s journey will bring him closer to discovering where he belongs and what his destiny holds.
The TV adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians may have made some changes to the storyline, but once you get past those differences, you’ll discover a world full of wonder and beauty. The realm of the demigods is a fascinating place. As Percy embarks on his quest, viewers are introduced to a plethora of fascinating characters, creatures, and locales.
As an avid fan of the Percy Jackson book series, I have been eagerly anticipating the release of the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series ever since series author and show creator Rick Riordan announced it. Despite some initial concerns about the casting choices, the actors ultimately do justice to their characters’ names and bring them to life on screen.
While the show takes a few episodes to hit its stride, the young actors eventually find their footing and deliver performances that are both witty and endearing. They capture the essence of their book counterparts, showcasing the characters’ signature traits of humor, sarcasm, and compassion.
Following a lackluster film adaptation in 2010, Percy‘s TV adaptation offers viewers a rich and immersive experience that is sure to delight both fans of the books and newcomers alike. The world of Percy Jackson is full of adventure, humor, and heart, and the series does an admirable job of bringing that world to life. It’s not an exact page-to-screen adaptation, but it comes close. Changes have been made to the plot, but they make sense within the context of the TV series, and the scriptwriters have managed to stay true to the spirit of the books.
As the story unfolds, viewers are treated to a world that is both familiar and new. The TV series takes some creative liberties with the source material, but they are done in a way that enhances the story rather than detracts from it. The sets and costumes are also impressive, bringing the world of Percy Jackson to life in a visually stunning way.
In conclusion, I decided to approach the TV series with an open mind and enjoy the thrill of waiting for each episode to come out. I’m excited to see how Disney combines animation and live-action to bring this beloved series to life. If you’re a fan of the books, you’ll appreciate the effort that has gone into creating this TV adaptation, and if you’re new to the world of Percy Jackson, you’re in for a treat.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will be available to stream on Disney+ starting on December 20, 2023. Don’t miss out on the chance to witness the magic of this epic retelling of Greek mythology.
