November 06, 2013
Starring once more as Clara, companion to the Eleventh Doctor, Jenna Coleman talks about coming face-to-face with more than one Doctor at once...
What is it like starring in the 50th special?
It’s fantastic. I feel really spoilt to be honest and lucky to be in the show in the first place, but also to have come in at this time. Whilst we were filming it felt very celebratory and special. Working with David, Billie and John, I feel really pleased to be part of the whole thing.
What was it like working with David and Billie, was there any competiveness between the different Doctors and companions?
I think there’s a competitiveness in them that kind of brings out the best in the Doctor. You see it on set that they are so totally different Doctors, but they just complement each other. They make fun of each other mercilessly.
What were your thoughts when you first heard about John Hurt’s character? So not only do we have David back, we also have John Hurt starring as the Doctor, which is massively exciting. And again the three of them complement each other totally, and it utterly works. It’s great to see all of them together.
There are some big stunts in this episode. What was it like filming in the TARDIS dangling from a crane in front of crowds in Trafalgar Square?
It’s one of the major stunts that we did and one of the big opening sequences at the beginning of the episode. We actually filmed it in a couple of stages including at St. Athens airfield where me and Matt were in the TARDIS being swung from side to side. Then in the second half, we were actually lowered down into Trafalgar Square. I think it will be quite an iconic image, it certainly felt like that on the day.
Although I didn’t get to the do the really high stunt in Trafalgar Square, which I was devastated about and was kind of stood around begging people to go up, but I got to do the end of it. I am quite scared of rollercoasters, but when you’ve got a camera pointing at you and loads of crew then you kind of just tend to be really brave. That’s one of the thrills of the show.
What differences did you find filming in 3D compared to 2D?
Loads of differences. Well for a start the cameras are massive, so you kind of can’t miss them and they’re really heavy for the poor camera operators. The framing is quite different and when the Doctor points you can kind of really react to it. I just think the show lends itself so well and there are so many moments in it that will work really well in 3D. On the first day I saw Matt in the TARDIS in 3D and it felt like the world was coming right out at you.
The Day of the Doctor interviews
- Matt Smith on stunts, "acting royalty" and working with David Tennant
- David Tennant: Billie is one of my "favourite people"
- Steven Moffat: Having two Doctors was "eye twisting" on set
- Joanna Page on cold mountains and kissing David Tennant
- More from Steven Moffat: "I do like staying up late for event telly"
