{"id":52858,"date":"2024-06-07T12:32:08","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T10:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2052206"},"modified":"2024-06-07T13:30:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T11:30:55","slug":"jonathan-groff-on-joining-the-doctor-who-universe-ncuti-gatwa-is-all-heart-and-soul","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/jonathan-groff-on-joining-the-doctor-who-universe-ncuti-gatwa-is-all-heart-and-soul\/","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan Groff on joining the Doctor Who universe: \u2018Ncuti Gatwa is all heart and soul\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Frozen and Mindhunter star takes on a key role in this week’s episode, Rogue. <\/p>

By Huw Fullerton\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 07 June 2024 at 10:32 AM<\/p>

\n\n

American stage and screen actor Jonathan Groff made his name as the star of Hamilton, Frozen, Mindhunter and Glee \u2014 but now he\u2019s about to enter a different universe (or Whoniverse) as a mysterious character called Rogue in Doctor Who<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In a break from the Regency dancefloor, Radio Times<\/strong> and other press caught up with Groff during filming of the new episode to find out why he chose Who as his first foray into British TV.<\/p>\n

Jonathan, what made you switch from Broadway to south Wales? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI was familiar with Russell T Davies\u2019s work from Queer as Folk and It\u2019s a Sin<\/a>. I\u2019m still crying about It\u2019s a Sin years after watching it. Russell has meant a lot to me as a gay actor through the years. So, when he wrote me a letter to invite me on the show, that drew me into it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I read the script, I hadn\u2019t yet seen an episode of Doctor Who and I had never shot anything in the UK. But the script really grabbed me. I was quite breathless reading it. I\u2019ve been getting an education on Doctor Who ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n

Were you aware of what a big deal Doctor Who was before you got the part?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen they announced the casting of this episode, my phone was blowing up with people reaching out to me from all over the world, telling me, \u2018Oh my God, you\u2019re in Doctor Who. I\u2019m freaking out\u2019 \u2013 almost more than anything. So I am now starting to comprehend the epic-ness of the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jonathan\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jonathan Groff, Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC Studios\/Bad Wolf<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Have you been told, then, that there\u2019s a possibility that there\u2019ll be merchandise with your face on it, and possibly an action figure of you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, God, I haven\u2019t been told that. Are you telling me that now? Is that going to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019re probably going to be a doll.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be so cool!\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of your homework, you watched six specific episodes from the show\u2019s 60-year history, including the very first one from 1963. Which were the others? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you! But even in that first episode in 1963, there was something that felt alternative or queer about it to me. When they go inside, and the Doctor says to them \u2013 you know, they can\u2019t understand how something so small that they walk into is so expansive. And he sort of explains that it takes time to understand things that you don\u2019t immediately know.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat idea that you can look at things from different angles, and what you expect things to be always are not. It felt beautifully \u2018other\u2019, even from that first episode, which kind of made me a little emotional, watching it. And I was surprised in the other five episodes how much I was crying. I thought it was a sci-fi show, which of course it is, but I didn\u2019t anticipate how human and moving it also is.\u201d<\/p>

How are you enjoying the Jane Austen trousers? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFor this particular episode, we\u2019re in a kind of Regency period, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m dressed this way. I played George III in Hamilton on Broadway but had never done this sort of period-drama dress before. It feels like I\u2019m living my Carey Mulligan fantasy right now!\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of dancing in this episode. How are you finding it? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to be a dancer. When I first moved to New York, I\u2019d go to the dance calls for musicals and get cut immediately. I\u2019m more of a singer. But dancing brings me so much joy.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack [Murphy, series choreographer] started teaching me the dance about a week ago. In our first session, I got emotional dancing, because doing this kind of period dance, is more about the interpersonal interaction than it is about executing moves. That\u2019s the whole thing with Regency, isn\u2019t it? It\u2019s that repressed excitement!<\/p>\n

\u201cThe articulation of the choreography, for me, is quite intimate, and quite confronting, because it\u2019s not for show, it\u2019s for communication.\u201d<\/p>\n