Hollywood actor reveals they were rejected to play Doctor Who

A Hollywood actor was rejected from playing Doctor Who despite lobbying for years.

Whoopi Goldberg, 69, boasts a stunning resume of films, from The Colour Purple to Sister Act and Ghost.

But despite receiving two Oscar nominations, it appears that playing the role of the Time Lord is much more exclusive.

Speaking in a recent interview, the Hollywood star – who now co-hosts daytime talk show The View – revealed she was ignored by BBC bosses because she was an American.

‘I wanted to be Doctor Who,’ she told The Sun on Sunday.

‘But Doctor Who is particular.

‘There was a very specific reason because it’s created, specifically, for the English telling, from the very beginning.’

The actor continued: ‘I understand because there are certain things that you all just would never have here.

‘And I get it, but man oh man, I love me some Doctor Who.

‘I love Tom Baker as Who and his scarf.”

Earlier this year, Ncuti Gatwa quit the role of the Doctor after he regenerated at the end of the season two finale, The Reality War, transforming into Billie Piper.

This came despite Billie telling HELLO! back in 2009: ‘I don’t think the Doctor should be a woman,’ likening it to James Bond.

She added: ‘Forgive me, I know it’s not a feminist thing to say, but it’s like saying, ‘Let’s make James Bond a woman’. It’s a man’s role.’

Eight years later, she showed her stance had changed, however, in the same year Jodie was cast.

She told the BBC: ‘I think it would be great [to have a female Doctor] given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely.’

With rumours circulating for who could be a potential Doctor Who in the future, one man who has thrown his hat into the ring is Danny Dyer.

Asked by Metro recently, he said: ‘‘It’s such an iconic thing to do,’ he said. ‘It’s almost – not on the same level – like James Bond. It’s a character that’s loved by so many.

‘Again, it gives you an opportunity with Doctor Who, because of the nature of the work, to bring something left-field, something a bit mental, a bit stylised, which I love. I love the idea of it.’

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