Doctor Who: 10 Best Companion Performances In NuWho

The character of Clara came under a lot of criticism during Series 7, with many feeling that the character hadn't been especially well defined by the writing. Coleman's acting wasn't immune from this either, with many feeling she could have tied the character together more, or feeling that she was playing individual scenes rather than a cohesive character. A lot of this vanished away in the Series 8 opener, when Coleman came out all guns blazing.

She does a great job of handling Clara's distress over the Doctor's regeneration, especially since it's a bit of an awkward emotional transition for her character, who knows all about regeneration thanks to seeing all of his faces in his time stream. However, her upset and confusion is believable due to how Coleman manages them. Fans also get to see her comic timing in display, working well in tandem with Dan Starkey's Sontaran Strax.

However, it's in the moments where Clara finds her inner strength that Coleman really shines. The speech where Clara tears into Madame Vastra shows the character as a force to be reckoned with, but it's when Clara is standing up to Half-Face Man that really stands out. Coleman plays Clara as utterly terrified and yet still willing to stand up to the inhuman creature she's facing, a performance that won the character a legion of new fans.