As “Doctor Who” gears up for its highly anticipated new season this May, Millie Gibson is set to shine in the spotlight. The beloved sci-fi series is set to reach global audiences like never before, thanks to Disney‘s worldwide distribution, complementing its traditional UK broadcast on the BBC. This season promises to be an exciting one for Millie, as her character will confront a horde of monsters and journey through diverse time periods, highlighting the dynamic evolution of her role.
In an exclusive interview for DSCENE Magazine, our Editor, Anastasija Pavic, sits down with Millie Gibson, the latest companion to join the expansive universe of “Doctor Who.” Since her debut last December as Ruby Sunday, Millie has quickly become a favorite among viewers. Her first episode, a Christmas special where she daringly rescued her on-screen sister from the clutches of musically gifted, baby-eating Goblins, was watched by over 4.7 million households, marking a memorable start to her journey aboard the iconic Tardis.
INTERVIEWS
This interview explores Millie’s experiences on the show, exploring how she has navigated her role and the impact it has had on her career. With the new season set to showcase her character’s growth and the challenges she faces, Millie discusses what fans can expect and how she prepares for the complex scenarios her character encounters.
Can you share with us a memorable moment that helped shape your approach to acting?
There are so many. I’m still learning and adapting to new ways to improve the way I approach certain scenes or characters. Growing up in the TV industry and working with so many brilliant actors and actresses, you gain a lot of understanding of how to create new techniques and depth to a role. From a very early age, I was always pinpointing humor in shows I watched and how to portray that myself, or impersonating accents I heard, then showing them off to friends at school. Little things like that just shape you and mold your approach to acting.
It’s just nice to keep people close and build relationships with everyone around you because you never know who you might meet again in the future. Having a friendly face makes a new job easier.
As a young actress, what have you found to be the most surprising aspect of working in the television industry?
That’s such a good question. It sounds cliché, but I’ve learned how small the industry is. For example, I’m currently working with a producer who was on one of my first TV jobs (Butterfly). So, seeing her again was surreal and comforting, as she’s known me since I was 12. It’s just nice to keep people close and build relationships with everyone around you because you never know who you might meet again in the future. Having a friendly face makes a new job easier.
“Doctor Who” has a massive global fanbase. How has your interaction with the fans been since joining the cast?
Incredible. The show is nothing without the fans, so having such a committed fan base over the span of 60 years is pretty special. And the ‘Whovians,’ as you call them, are so dedicated in the best way. Whenever we’re on location, they never fail to stop by just to watch and support. They don’t even know Ruby Sunday all too well, but they’ll defend her like a best friend already, and there’s something really beautiful and pure about that.
What is one of the funniest things that happened on the set of ‘Doctor Who’?
There are too many to count, as every day is filled with laughter with Ncuti and me, especially when delirium sets in during a long shooting day. But there’s one memory I have in particular when we were on wires during ‘The Church on Ruby Road,’ hanging on a ladder of the goblin ship, and we were just totally hysterical. We get up to mischief when we’re on the ground, so imagine us on hanging wires.
How has portraying Ruby Sunday’s search for her identity shaped your understanding of her character development?
I remember when I got the audition scene. She was described in the brief as ‘charismatic,’ ‘positive,’ and ‘cheeky.’ So, I made a mind map delving into exaggerating and piecing together those traits while incorporating the glimpses of personality I got in the scene given to me. Usually, those are the only things you have to go off to understand the character you’re auditioning for. Luckily for me, Russell’s writing is so visual and imaginative that it gave me more than enough room to understand her persona and then trial and error my take on it.
There was one day where I was hysterically crying over a tennis ball for almost 3 hours because that was the eyeline for the monster we were facing. And I kind of just went home and thought, my job is mad sometimes.
What aspects of your own personality did you incorporate into portraying Ruby Sunday?
“Doctor Who” often involves complex storylines and a lot of special effects. What has been the most challenging aspect of working on the series?
What I’ve always loved about Doctor who is the nostalgic, man-made element of all the monsters, for example both the bogeyman and the goblin king were made by our brilliant millennial special effect team so that gave me and Ncuti something to react and bounce off of. However that can’t always be the case, there was one day where I was hysterically crying over a tennis ball for almost 3 hours because that was the eyeline for the monster we were facing. And I kind of just went home and thought, my job is mad sometimes.
Could you share any insights into how your character might evolve in the upcoming season?
I love Ruby, and I love playing and exploring her growth. Playing her at my own age is so refreshing because I’m experiencing everything for the first time, just like Ruby is. So, I’m very excited to see her progression and the different journeys and adventures Russell has her face. But what better way to do it than with another companion holding her hand along the way.
I love Ruby, and I love playing and exploring her growth. Playing her at my own age is so refreshing because I’m experiencing everything for the first time, just like Ruby is.
With your career taking off at such a young age, how do you balance professional commitments with personal time?
It was much harder for me when I was first starting out, especially in secondary school. You know how it can be, feeling left out with friends and not being able to go to certain plans or parties because I had an audition or a long day in the shooting schedule. When you’re in that bubble, you just feel like it’s the most important place to be a part of. I often spent weekends when filming Doctor Who back in Manchester because that’s where a lot of my social circles are, and I always look forward to spending time with those I love.
Looking ahead, are there particular types of roles or projects you’re eager to explore in the future?
My answer for this changes every day because there are so many things I want to challenge myself with. I really enjoy comedy; a series like ‘Fleabag’ is something I’d really want to delve into and explore. I’m looking for roles that make me feel fulfilled and rewarded.
New ‘Doctor Who’ episodes premiere midnight on BBC iPlayer Saturdays, and on BBC One the same day. Outside the UK, catch them Fridays at 7.00pm ET on Disney+.
Keep up with Millie Gibson on Instagram – @milliegibbo
