Most widely known for her starring role as the mother of murdered Danny Latimer in Broadchurch, Yorkshire-born actress Jodie Whittaker has become the first female to take the lead role in Doctor Who.
Adept at performing as a wide-ranging number of characters, the 35-year-old has portrayed Anne Hathaway’s best friend in One Day, an abused lover in the time-travel film Harmony and as Rupert Everett’s dappy blonde secretary in both St Trinian’s films.
Born in June 1982 in Huddersfield, Whittaker dreamed of becoming an actress as a teenager. After leaving school at 16, she completed a Btec in performing arts before attending Guildhall School of Music and Drama – where she was joined by Hayley Atwell and Michelle Dockery.
She also met her husband, American actor Christian Contreras, at Guildhall. They married in 2008 and welcomed their first child in 2015.
A keen footballer and squash player as a youngster, Whittaker is a huge cricket fan and her father was formerly president of Huddersfield Cricket League.
She left drama school in 2005 for a part in Storm at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, and subsequently won her first film role in Venus (2006) alongside Peter O’Toole.
Meet the Thirteenth Doctor #DoctorWho #Doctor13 pic.twitter.com/txHGz9tJEe
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) July 16, 2017
She starred in St Trinian’s with close friend Gemma Arterton and in Good alongside Lord Of The Rings star Viggo Mortensen followed before landing the role of Beth Latimer in Broadchurch.
Not one to flaunt her fame, Whittaker has previously spoken of her happiness of having a “chameleon face” as it means she is rarely recognised in the street. However, after taking on one of TV’s biggest roles, the 13th incarnation of the Time Lord should be prepared for that all to change.
The actress has most recently finished shooting Paddy Considine’s Journeyman, as well as new BBC drama series Trust Me.
