10 Doctor Who Actors That Later Became Big Hollywood Stars

A surprising number of big Hollywood actors made their names on the iconic British sci-fi show Doctor Who. Since its initial release in 1963, Doctor Who has been a staple of British television, introducing numerous generations of new performers to the public. From Tom Baker to David Tennant, Doctor Who has been the making of many an actor. It is not uncommon, however, for British actors to trek across the pond in order to further their careers, swapping UK TV for major Hollywood movies. Many of these stars used Doctor Who as a stepping stone on that very journey.

Doctor Who has seen a huge array of guest stars over the show’s run, including both new names and established stars. Following their Doctor Who appearances, several greener actors saw significant boosts in their careers because of the show’s dedicated fan base and popularity worldwide. Whether playing an official regeneration of the Doctor or one-off villain, Doctor Who has provided the starting point for a string of Hollywood darlings.

Related: Doctor Who Season 14: Release Date Prediction, New Cast & Everything We Know

10 Karen Gillan – Amy Pond

Karen Gillan’s breakthrough role was as Amy Pond in Doctor Who, the first companion to Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor. After three seasons of playing Amy, Karen Gillan left Doctor Who alongside co-star Arthur Darvill in 2012, before heading directly for Hollywood. Her first appearance was as Kaylie in the 2013 horror film Oculus, which allowed her to break into the United States. Gillan’s most notable role is as Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having starred in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and all three films from the Guardians of the Galaxy series.

9 Brett Goldstein – Astos

English actor Brett Goldstein spent much of the 2000s and 2010s appearing in small British indie movies and playing minor characters in UK TV comedies, but his talents were exposed to a wider audience thanks to a key role in Doctor Who season 11’s “The Tsuranga Conundrum.” Goldstein portrayed Astos, an inquisitive nurse and a one-time ally of the Doctor’s against the mighty Pting, in the 2018 Doctor Who episode. By 2020, the actor had become a household name both in his native country and the United States thanks to a main role as Roy Kent in Ted Lasso. Stardom beckoned, and Brett Goldstein now plays Hercules in the MCU.

8 Matt Smith – The Eleventh Doctor

Matt Smith’s performance as the Eleventh Doctor provided a high-profile breakthrough for his acting career. After playing the floppy-haired, bow-tie wearing Time Lord for three seasons, Smith’s career rocketed into Hollywood. His most notable roles include Prince Phillip in the first two seasons of The Crown, the embodiment of Skynet in Terminator Genisys, the dancing villain of Morbius, and Jack in Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho. Most recently, Smith was cast as the royal Daemon Targaryen in the Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon. Matt Smith’s post-Doctor Who success arguably outdoes all of his timey-wimey predecessors.

7 Andrew Garfield – Frank

Andrew Garfield starred as a supporting character in Doctor Who season 3’s two-part Dalek story very early in his career, marking one of the first instances Garfield displayed his American accent onscreen. Four years after playing Hooverville resident Frank in Doctor Who, Garfield was cast as Peter Parker in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man, which kept him swinging around Hollywood for several years. Other notable credits include Hacksaw Ridge and The Social Network. More recently, Garfield reprized his role as Peter Parker for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which saw his version of the character cross paths with his predecessor, Tobey Maguire, and his successor, Tom Holland.

6 James Corden – Craig

Before his Hollywood success, British actor James Corden starred as Craig in Doctor Who. His initial appearance came during the season 5 episode “The Lodger,” but the comedian returned in season 6 episode “Closing Time.” US audiences will be most familiar with Corden as the host of The Late Late Show, which started airing in 2015 and came to an end in 2023 following the announcement that Corden was stepping down. Other than hosting, James Corden has starred as Bustopher in Cats, and also appeared in the 2021 adaptation of Cinderella.

5 Simon Pegg – The Editor

Simon Pegg starred in the Doctor Who season 1 episode “The Long Game” as the evil Editor, human counterpart of the Mighty Jagrafess, responsible for the running of Satellite 5. The comedian’s career was already blooming in the UK at this time, but following the success of films Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, Pegg later became a more prominent star in the United States. Since his lone Doctor Who credit, Pegg has most notably portrayed the roles of Scotty in the Star Trek film series and Benji in the Mission: Impossible series.

4 Carey Mulligan – Sally Sparrow

One of Carey Mulligan’s earliest roles was as Sally Sparrow in the Doctor Who season 3 episode “Blink,” widely regarded as one of the best Doctor-lite episodes in the entire show. Mulligan’s Hollywood breakthrough came from her leading role as Jenny in 2009’s An Education, which saw her earn an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Following this, Carey Mulligan’s career soared in Hollywood, resulting in her playing Daisy in The Great Gatsby and Cassie in Promising Young Woman. Despite the character’s popularity, Mulligan’s subsequent fame meant Sally Sparrow never returned to Doctor Who.

3 Felicity Jones – Robina Redmond

Felicity Jones guest starred in Doctor Who‘s season 4 episode “The Unicorn and the Wasp” as the nefarious thief Robina Redmond. Jones had been acting since 1996, and started her career at just 12 years old. Following her 2008 appearance on Doctor Who, Jones starred opposite Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Felicia Hardy. More prominent roles followed with Jyn Erso in the Star Wars standalone film Rogue One, and Jane Hawking in The Theory of Everything, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

2 Daniel Kaluuya – Barclay

Daniel Kaluuya’s early career saw him feature in the 2009 Doctor Who Easter special “Planet of the Dead” opposite David Tennant and Michelle Ryan. Following his appearance, Kaluuya also starred in an acclaimed early episode of the dystopian Black Mirror. Upon Black Mirror‘s release on Netflix in the United States, Kaluuya’s performance caught the attention of director Jordan Peele (via Essence), which led to his culturally impactful performances in Get Out and Nope. Significant roles in Black Panther, Queen & Slim. and Judas and the Black Messiah soon followed. Kaluuya has written and directed dystopian film The Kitchen, which is scheduled to be released on Netflix in late 2023.

1 Gemma Chan – Mia Bennett

One of Gemma Chan’s earliest performances was as geologist Mia Bennett in the Doctor Who special “The Waters of Mars.” Chan is another actor who saw later success in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is one of precious few to play more than one character in the superhero franchise, appearing as both Cersei in Eternals and Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. Chan has garnered further fame for her roles as Astrid in Crazy Rich Asians, Anita in Humans, and Amy in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

Sources: Essence