Adolescence’s Erin Doherty talks Doctor Who speculation – and whether she’d return for a second run of Netflix hit

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Initially known for her roles as Princess Anne in The Crown and a hopeful influencer in Chloe, Emma Corrin achieved widespread recognition and critical acclaim. She won an Emmy Award and received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as a social worker in the popular Netflix series Adolescence.

Erin Doherty is back on screen in the second series of Disney+’s historical drama, A Thousand Blows, playing a London thief named Mary. She stars alongside Stephen Graham, who plays a bareknuckle boxer called Sugar. Despite her success, Doherty has chosen to take extended breaks from work – and what are her thoughts on becoming a viral sensation online?

You received an Emmy for your work on ‘Adolescence,’ but your acceptance speech included some strong language – you told the audience they were “all stunning,” using a profanity that required censorship. What was the reaction like at home after that happened?

I accidentally swore, even though I was trying not to! I was so excited to FaceTime my sister and show her the award I’d won. We were both yelling with joy, but then my mum pointed out that I’d actually used a swear word. If I ever win another award, I’ll be sure to thank my mum – and apologize for my language!

Did you expect Adolescence to be such a huge hit?

I expected the show to be another great performance by Stephen Graham – he consistently creates wonderful television that hasn’t quite caught on in the US. He’s very focused on British culture and telling stories that resonate with working-class people. I only worked on it for three weeks, and it was a fantastic experience, but I didn’t realize at the time how impactful it would be for my career.

Your CV isn’t that long: are you choosy about the roles that you pick?

As a movie lover, I have a pretty simple rule: if a project doesn’t genuinely excite me, I just can’t bring myself to do it. I’m not the type to just say ‘yes’ to anything. Honestly, I’d rather be unemployed for a while – it can be a little frightening, sure – than work on something I don’t truly care about. I’ve come to really embrace that. It’s amazing, really, how fortunate I am to have downtime between projects to wait for something that really sparks my passion.

The pauses between characters are really helpful for building anticipation. I often people-watch on the Tube or in cafes, collecting little moments and ideas that I can draw on later – it’s like creating a mental collection of possibilities.

Have any of the roles you have played changed you?

Playing Mary in ‘A Thousand Blows’ was amazing. Honestly, getting to really be someone so driven and determined felt incredibly powerful. It was so cool to get inside her head and think about things from her perspective – always figuring out what she wanted and how to achieve it. It’s definitely stayed with me! I still try to be considerate, and sometimes I think, ‘Oh, I could have said that more gently,’ but spending time as these strong women and letting go of any need to be ‘proper’… it really does change you a little.

Are you aware that the “Mary walk” has become a TikTok meme, with people copying it?

I just found out about this! It started because the costumes are so bulky – they feel like dragging curtains around – and walking on cobblestones makes it even harder. That struggling movement seemed perfect for the character Mary. It’s strange it’s become a TikTok trend, but if Mary is resonating with people, that’s wonderful.

Now that you’re 33, the types of roles you’re offered as an actress might start to shift—you could begin being cast as mothers rather than younger, trendsetting characters. How do you feel about potentially taking on those kinds of roles?

It used to be that women my age weren’t really seen or heard anymore, so I’m thankful to be working in an industry that’s starting to realize women become more captivating as they get older and have stories worth telling. I’d love to play a mother at this point in my career.

There are rumors that you’re going to be the next Doctor Who, and people are also saying a new season of Adolescence is in the works. Is there any truth to either of those stories?

I’ve seen the rumors about Doctor Who, and I do enjoy sci-fi and fantasy, but I can assure you we haven’t talked about it. I also haven’t heard anything regarding a potential return to Adolescence, but I’d definitely be open to it.

Is there another role or genre you’d love to try?

I recently rewatched Avatar and it really sparked my interest in that kind of filmmaking. Seeing a clip of Kate Winslet performing in a motion-capture suit – just with a metal frame around her – was incredible. I’m really attracted to projects that push me outside my comfort zone and feel a little scary.

You’re well-known for playing Princess Anne in The Crown. Several of your fellow actors have mentioned that working on the show altered how they felt about the royal family. Did it have a similar effect on you?

I never grew up particularly interested in the royal family, and that actually worked to my advantage. It meant I didn’t approach the job with excessive respect – I simply saw it as playing a role, much like an actor portraying a character.

After hearing you play posh, are people surprised to hear you speak in your Crawley accent?

People are pretty accustomed to it now, but when I was working on The Crown, you could see the shock on people’s faces when I’d greet them with a casual ‘Hello, how are you?’ – and honestly, I take that as a good thing!

Authors

Emma Cox

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2025-12-29 20:44