Doctor Who: 10 Actors Who Could Play The Next Companion
4. Holliday Grainger
Holliday Grainger is perhaps best known for playing Lucretia Borgia in The Borgias, and Robin Ellacott in BBC’s Strike series - both deeply cunning and inquisitive characters.
In Strike, Grainger plays a private investigator that could easily be picked up and dropped into Doctor Who with no edits required. Robin is the kind of character who notices details others miss, asks the right questions, and has the toughness to face danger head on. Opposite Tom Burke, she’s the beating heart of a heroic duo, often picking up the charm while Strike’s titular character is busy brooding. This show has that Doctor/Companion dynamic in spades and is about the best audition tape you could get for a TARDIS duo.
The Borgias sees Grainger play a slightly more manipulative character, having evolved from a somewhat naive young girl to someone who will do whatever it takes to see her family remain on top. It’s this versatility that makes Grainger one of Britain’s most underrated actors, and Doctor Who feels like the perfect fit. She’d be a safe but strong choice for the show, with the quintessential companion energy, giving us an insightful and intelligent sidekick who isn’t afraid to challenge the Doctor - if you’re looking for a Clara Oswald type, you couldn’t do much better.
The vision: An investigative journalist (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it) who feels more like the Doctor’s equal than his assistant, paired with a conflicted and cerebral Doctor like Capaldi, who she can anchor when needed.