The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary is now slightly over two weeks off. Ahead of the milestone event, the BBC have released more information and production images and have posted interviews with some of the cast and creatives of the 75 minute 3D special.
Joanna Page spoke to the BBC about her role as Queen Elizabeth I and filming romantic scenes with the Tenth Doctor on top of a freezing cold Welsh mountain.
INTERVIEW WITH JOANNA PAGE- QUEEN ELIZABETH I
Welsh actress Joanna Page takes on the role of Queen
Elizabeth I and talks here about playing the monarch with an accent and filming
romantic scenes on top of a mountain in Neath.
Question: What’s it like being part of the 50th, one of
the biggest years on the show?
Joanna Page: It’s amazing being part of the 50th
anniversary. I just remember getting an email asking if I’d play Queen
Elizabeth I, which in itself I couldn’t believe because she’s so iconic, even
in the history of Doctor Who. I’ve always wanted to be in Doctor Who and now to
be in it and playing Queen Elizabeth I is absolutely fantastic, so exciting.
Q: And what did you do when you first found out about the
news?
JP: When I first found out about the news I phoned my mum and my
dad and obviously, told my husband and then I sat down and read the script,
because I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I just couldn’t believe that
they had sent it to me as it was like gold dust. There were all these rumours
in the papers about what’s happening, and so and so is coming back and I just
thought I’m actually going to know what happens. I’ve never done a job where
you have to keep a secret before and it’s been really difficult, but also
really exciting because you know and no one else does.
Q: You’re playing royalty; can we expect a Queen Elizabeth
with a Welsh twang?
JP: Well it’s very funny being one of the most well-known
Welsh people and having to stand up and say, ‘How dare you, I’m the Queen of
England’. That did make me laugh, but no, I’m playing her with an English
accent. But John Hurt said she actually wouldn't have had a very English
accent, because there were so many different influences.
Q: What was it like working Matt, David, Billie and Jenna?
JP: It was quite scary working with Matt, David, Billie and
Jenna because they’re iconic and they’re these major characters that I’ve
watched and are part of Doctor Who history. It’s really funny acting with them
because you look at them and they’re almost like cartoon characters because you
see them so much and you’ve watched them and you believe them.
It’s just been fascinating and working with the two Doctors
is brilliant because it’s the same character, but seeing how the two boys just
play them completely differently and how they work off each other it’s really
funny. After reading the script and then hearing it all in the read through it
just all came to life and I thought, ‘Wow this is going to be fantastic’.
Q: There’s a little bit of romance between Queen Elizabeth
and the Tenth Doctor. What was is it like filming those scenes?
JP: Filming the romantic scenes were quite difficult because
my first day was on top of a mountain in Neath. It was absolutely freezing, it
was blowing a gale and David, the Tenth Doctor and I, are having a picnic. So
I’m lying across him and he probably couldn’t breathe, because I’ve just got
this massive costume on, and he’s feeding me grapes as I’m just desperately
shivering. You’ve got to try and play it romantic and relaxed, when actually
you’re freezing cold. I think our lips were turning blue and I stopped feeling
my hands. The next day, because it had been so cold with the wind my hands were
bright red and all blistered because they were so chapped. So everyone is
probably jealous, thinking she gets to kiss the Tenth Doctor and it’s all
romantic, but it’s not; my lips were numb and my hands were chapped.
Q: Where will you be watching the episode?
JP: I’m going to be watching the episode in my living room.
My husband has been asking for ages if we can buy a 3D TV and I said no, but
now after putting on the glasses myself, it’s fantastic so I’ve said we have to
get a 3D TV. So we’ll be watching it in the living room with all of my family
round and then I’ll probably go to the cinema and watch it as well.
Look out for the trailer for The Day Of The Doctor on BBC One and BBC America on
Saturday 9th November shortly before 8pm GMT
Comments
Post a Comment