Companion Piece

[caption id="attachment_1128" align="aligncenter" width="211" caption="Karen Gillan prepares to embark on her journey through Time and Space onboard the TARDIS in "Doctor Who." Photo copyright of BBCtv."][/caption] SINCE the early Sixties, the enigmatic Time Lord known only as "The Doctor" has relied on one or more of his travelling companions to help him save the universe from such extraterrestrial threats as the Daleks, Cybermen and Zygons. Scottish-born actress Karen Gillan will be doing just the same when her character joins a newly-regenerated Doctor (played by Matt Smith) in a new season of Doctor Who, which is slated for broadcast in 2010. According to a news report last week on the official BBC UK website -- Gillian has already appeared in the drama, having played a Soothsayer in The Fires of Pompeii in the last run [of the series]. "I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion - I just can't wait to get started," she said. "The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be part of it. Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him." [caption id="attachment_1130" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Gillan in her role of a Soothsayer in "The Fires of Pompeii." Photo copyright of BBCtv."][/caption] The news report continued with comments by Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, who said, "She [Karen] brings 'energy and excitement' to the role. When she auditioned alongside Matt we knew we had something special." Doctor Who writer and executive producer Steven Moffat went on to say that they saw some amazing actresses, "but when Gillan walked through the door, the game was up." Gillan, a native of Inverness, Scotland, became enamored of acting at an early age thanks to her involvement in various school productions and youth theatre groups. She studied acting at Edinburgh's Telford College, and then continued her training at the Italia Conti Drama School in London. The actress made her professional debut in an episode of the Scottish TV drama Rebus and went on to appear in such other shows as Stacked and The Kevin Bishop Show as well as James Nesbitt's upcoming feature film Outcast. As noted above, all photos copyright of BBCtv, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any form. Thanks!