Heartstopper's Yasmin Finney Joins Doctor Who Cast: 'I Cannot Wait To Begin This Journey'
The actress, who shot to fame as Elle in Netflix’s hit LGBTQ+ coming-of-age drama, is set to play the character of Rose in the new era of the BBC series.
Yasmin is filming scenes that are due to air in 2023 to coincide with the show’s 60 anniversary.
Yasmin’s casting also follows the announcement that Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa is set to take over from Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor for the next series.
Yasmin and Russell had teased her casting on Monday afternoon, as she posted a series of symbols on her Instagram page that have denoted impending Doctor Who announcements over the last few weeks, with Russell commenting: “Doctor Who’s own Heartstopper.”
Speaking of joining Doctor Who, Yasmin said: “If anyone would have told 8 year old Yasmin that one day she’d be part of this iconic show, I would have never in a million years believed them.
“This show has a place in so many people’s hearts, so to be seen as a trans actress by the legend himself Russell, has not only made my year, it’s made my life.
“I cannot wait to begin this journey and for you all to see how Rose blossoms. Get Ready.”
Russell added: “Life on Doctor Who gets brighter and wilder, how can there be another Rose? You’ll find out in 2023, but it’s an absolute joy to welcome Yasmin to the Doctor Who set.
“We all fell in love with her in Heartstopper, one of those shows which changes the world - and now Yasmin can change the Whoniverse!”
A Doctor Who character called Rose was previously played by Billie Piper, who served as a companion to Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant’s versions of The Doctor.
Russell previously teased that the 60th anniversary episode could be a “missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback”, perhaps going some way as to helping answer the mystery about Yasmin’s character.
He also made a brief return in the special 2013 episode The Day Of The Doctor, in which he shared the screen with his successor, Matt Smith.
