I'm a girl! Yes!
I read a fascinating blog post by nightsky (ellipticcurve on LJ) about the costuming trend for femme!Doctors and what it might mean. I was a big fan of the femme!Doctor costumes I saw at the last few cons I went to, especially this latest Gallifrey, but couldn't really articulate why I loved them aside from the beauty of many of the costumes, the playfulness, and perhaps the chance for women to play the Doctor without having to disguise themselves as men. Nightsky explores how the femme costumes play with concepts, looks at some history, and concludes with some great points about how femme costumes can be a way for women to assert our belonging in geekdom without sacrificing femininity to act like one of the boys. Plus, there are nifty costume pictures!
Prior to me seeing this blog post but strangely related, my father and I got into a discussion of women we think would be good in the role of the Doctor. After mentioning Emma Thompson, his initial top choice was Holly Hunter (with the point that if the Doctor was switching genders, a Georgia accent was not that big a stretch). I really haven't seen Hunter in enough stuff to comment on that casting choice. My list of fantasy casting for a female Doctor, without regard for the likelihood that said actresses would actually be willing to take the role, is as follows:
4. Kate Winslet: Because she is just generally awesome and should be in everything. She's got great presence and acting range. I bet she could do a great Oncoming Storm mode.
3. Sigourney Weaver: This is a bit off the wall, since she is (a) American, and (b) mostly known for blow-'em-up action movies, but I think it would actually be amazing. She can do the serious acting in addition to the blowing up of aliens. Galaxy Quest shows that she can also do comedy. Also, I think it would be great stereotype-busting to have the first female Doctor be tough as nails. She's older than any of the previous actors were when they took the role (yes, even Hartnell), but she's fit and gorgeous for her age. (Realistically, I'd want a British actress as the Doctor, but I still kinda like this idea.)
2. Catherine Tate: This was a rumor prior to the casting of Matt Smith, though probably a rumor based utterly on fannish wishful thinking. Sure, it would need some crazy sci-fi explanations for why the Doctor regenerated to look like Donna, but it would be brilliant enough to be worth it. DoctorDonna FTW! Raise your hand if you can come up with a reason why the Doctor could end up looking like Donna (or Donna could end up AS the Doctor) that makes as much sense as some of the stuff the show gives us. I bet everyone has her/his hand up now. Also, ginger!
And my number 1 choice for a woman Doctor is...
Helena Bonham Carter. She has a wonderful, very Doctor-ish quirky energy. She's hilarious but also capable of the serious acting when need be. A little bit of madness is definitely an asset in the role. She's old enough for gravitas but still gorgeous and charismatic. Her idiosyncratic goth/bohemian style could translate into a really cool Doctor costume. After hearing this list, my dad shifted Helena Bonham Carter to the top of his.
What about you, flist? What women would you cast as the Doctor? Assume no budget constraints.
Also on the subject of Teh Wimmins, flickr user caseface123 posted a neat photography project where she asked people of various ages and genders to make a sign about what feminism means to them and then shot their photographs with the signs. Some are positive, some are negative, all are fascinating for what they say about people. My favorite is below the cut:
You go, awesome older lady.
Prior to me seeing this blog post but strangely related, my father and I got into a discussion of women we think would be good in the role of the Doctor. After mentioning Emma Thompson, his initial top choice was Holly Hunter (with the point that if the Doctor was switching genders, a Georgia accent was not that big a stretch). I really haven't seen Hunter in enough stuff to comment on that casting choice. My list of fantasy casting for a female Doctor, without regard for the likelihood that said actresses would actually be willing to take the role, is as follows:
4. Kate Winslet: Because she is just generally awesome and should be in everything. She's got great presence and acting range. I bet she could do a great Oncoming Storm mode.
3. Sigourney Weaver: This is a bit off the wall, since she is (a) American, and (b) mostly known for blow-'em-up action movies, but I think it would actually be amazing. She can do the serious acting in addition to the blowing up of aliens. Galaxy Quest shows that she can also do comedy. Also, I think it would be great stereotype-busting to have the first female Doctor be tough as nails. She's older than any of the previous actors were when they took the role (yes, even Hartnell), but she's fit and gorgeous for her age. (Realistically, I'd want a British actress as the Doctor, but I still kinda like this idea.)
2. Catherine Tate: This was a rumor prior to the casting of Matt Smith, though probably a rumor based utterly on fannish wishful thinking. Sure, it would need some crazy sci-fi explanations for why the Doctor regenerated to look like Donna, but it would be brilliant enough to be worth it. DoctorDonna FTW! Raise your hand if you can come up with a reason why the Doctor could end up looking like Donna (or Donna could end up AS the Doctor) that makes as much sense as some of the stuff the show gives us. I bet everyone has her/his hand up now. Also, ginger!
And my number 1 choice for a woman Doctor is...
Helena Bonham Carter. She has a wonderful, very Doctor-ish quirky energy. She's hilarious but also capable of the serious acting when need be. A little bit of madness is definitely an asset in the role. She's old enough for gravitas but still gorgeous and charismatic. Her idiosyncratic goth/bohemian style could translate into a really cool Doctor costume. After hearing this list, my dad shifted Helena Bonham Carter to the top of his.
What about you, flist? What women would you cast as the Doctor? Assume no budget constraints.
Also on the subject of Teh Wimmins, flickr user caseface123 posted a neat photography project where she asked people of various ages and genders to make a sign about what feminism means to them and then shot their photographs with the signs. Some are positive, some are negative, all are fascinating for what they say about people. My favorite is below the cut:
You go, awesome older lady.