Millie Gibson on Her Character’s Can-Do Attitude in Doctor Who

In our recent conversation with Millie Gibson, we spoke about the effervescence she brings to the screen as companion Ruby Sunday in the most recent season of Doctor Who on Disney+. Having moved from Manchester to Cardiff by herself at eighteen years old for the role, Gibson connected to her character's constant challenge throughout the series:  adapting to changes at the drop of a hat.  Millie found that as the Doctor’s first Gen Z companion, Ruby brings empathy and humor to each situation they find themselves in across time, encouraging him to look beyond just solving the problem at hand.

A Whovian herself, Gibson’s favorite Doctor Who episodes growing up were the time travel episodes, so she was excited to work with Costume Designer Pam Downe on creating Ruby’s look in every era.  She remembered the “iconic” jackets of other companions through the years, and especially wanted a distinctive jacket for Ruby. She credits the crew as whole in helping her develop her character and dive into the world, noting that their coordination behind the camera was “a dance sequence in itself.”  Gibson's experience on the British soap opera Coronation Street gave her the tools she needed to approach the demands of such a multi-faceted and fast paced production, though she says the fans still kept them on their toes: The Whovians are always one step ahead with a new theory.

Watch the full conversation below.

The Time Lord known as the Doctor travels through space and time with his companions, having incredible adventures and facing dangerous enemies.