How many of the various ‘Doctor Who’ portrayers will compete at this year’s Emmys?
Following his December debut as the 15th iteration of the shapeshifting “Doctor Who” protagonist, Ncuti Gatwa is in the running for this year’s Best Drama Actor Emmy. As it happens, he is set to be joined on the nominations ballot by three actors who preceded him in the role of the Doctor, all of whom (like him) are seeking their very first Primetime Emmy notices.
Challenging Gatwa for inclusion in the 2024 drama lead lineup is Peter Capaldi, who played the 12th Doctor from 2014 to 2017. He currently stars on the new Apple TV+ series “Criminal Record” as Daniel Hegarty, a veteran police chief who clashes with a younger sergeant prying into a supposedly solved murder case.
Gatwa is concurrently eligible for a Best TV Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actor nomination for Apple TV+’s “Masters of the Air,” on which he portrays real-life World War II Air Force officer Robert Daniels. This means he could also directly compete against Christopher Eccleston, who played the ninth Doctor (the first 21st century version of the character) in 2005. Having won an International Emmy for the British anthology series “Accused” (2011), Eccleston is now seeking a primetime bid for his work as Alaska police captain Ted Connelly on HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country.”
Rounding out this quartet of hopefuls is David Tennant, who made history last November as the first actor to embody two official versions of the Doctor. Prior to starring as the 14th Doctor in three 60th anniversary specials and then passing the torch to Gatwa, he played the 10th Doctor from 2005 to 2010 in 47 episodes (a 21st century record). He is now looking to land a Best Comedy Actor mention for his second season portrayal of Earthbound demon Crowley on Prime Video’s “Good Omens.”
Tennant, who won a 2013 Daytime Emmy for his voice work as the droid Huyang on the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” could also be recognized at this year’s creative arts ceremony for reprising that role on the live action continuation “Ahsoka.” This would make him the second actor nominated for voicing a droid on a Disney+ “Star Wars” series, after Taika Waititi (“The Mandalorian,” 2020).
To date, the only Doctor portrayer ever nominated for a Primetime Emmy is Matt Smith, who held the role from 2010 to 2013. He was recognized in 2018 for his performance as Prince Philip on season two of “The Crown” but lost to Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”).
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