Doctor Who’s Arthur Darvill on why he, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan would “jump at the chance” to return

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Arthur Darvill, the actor who played Rory Williams on Doctor Who, says he deliberately acted as if he was having a mild panic attack during his audition. He believes this surprisingly helped him land the role.

He remembers feeling that Rory acted as the audience’s perspective, constantly asking questions and observing everything as an outsider.

I thought it was hilarious how, in a show that’s already completely chaotic, one character was the only one to stop and question the sudden appearance of aliens, pointing out how scary the whole situation actually was.

In a recent interview with TopMob’s Doctor Who Insiders, Arthur Darvill reflected on his role as Rory Williams, who traveled with Amy Pond (played by Karen Gillan) as a companion to the Doctor.

He appeared on the show with Matt Smith’s Doctor from 2010 to 2012. Interestingly, the two actors were already friends – they’d previously acted together in a stage production called Swimming with Sharks – which made the audition process much easier for him.

I had a nice visit with Matt, and then we got a car – it was important he didn’t have to rely on others for rides! On the way back to London, he excitedly told me he thought I’d gotten the job and that things were looking good.

I was incredibly excited! He showed me the TARDIS set, and I suddenly realized I was getting my hopes up too high.

Darvill got the job, but the real work was about to start. He, along with co-stars Smith and Gillan, and showrunner Steven Moffat, were tasked with taking the popular BBC sci-fi show in a new direction. With David Tennant and previous showrunner Russell T Davies both leaving, everyone was eager to see what changes they would make.

Darvill remembers being shielded from a lot of the pressure. He admits he was naturally quite anxious at the time, but found it helpful to channel that into his performance. Mostly, though, he says they all had a lot of fun working on the project.

They didn’t need to worry after all. The first episode, “The Eleventh Hour,” was a hit with both critics and viewers.

Darvill recalls a memorable screening of an early version of the episode without any music or special effects. Because music is so crucial to Doctor Who, seeing it stripped down – just the basic visuals of Prisoner Zero and other elements – was a unique experience. He, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and the producers – Piers Wenger, Beth Willis, and Steven Moffat – watched it together in a flat.

I still avoid watching myself in anything – it’s pretty upsetting, honestly. It doesn’t help me at all, and just makes me really aware of my own flaws. Seeing a finished edit was the first time it truly hit me: ‘Wow, this is actually happening.’ The opening music started, and I instantly got goosebumps. It made it real – this was going to be on TV, and people would be watching it.

It was a scary experience, but ultimately worth it. I believe that’s a reflection of the incredible work done by Steven, Piers, Beth, and the entire team. The script was fantastic, and Karen and Matt delivered truly exceptional performances. We all put our hearts into it and had a lot of fun doing so.

You know, I rarely rewatch episodes, but this one? I’ve come back to it multiple times. Honestly, I think it’s a truly exceptional piece of TV. It masterfully blends fairytale elements with a deeply moving and beautiful emotional core. It really stuck with me.

The episode does a fantastic job of introducing a lot of characters and settings, effectively restarting the show with a blend of seriousness, humor, and impressive scope. Matt instantly captured the essence of his quirky alien character, portraying someone who felt both youthful and ancient simultaneously.

Darvill described a strong connection with Smith and Gillan, saying they shared an intense experience that he believes will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Whenever we filmed scenes where we stepped out of the TARDIS – whether it was in a field or a village – we’d actually be standing inside a small, dark box for a surprisingly long time. Looking back at those moments, it’s clear we mostly just tried to make each other laugh to pass the time, which wasn’t very professional!

Looking back, it’s funny to think Arthur Darvill initially thought his role was fairly small. He genuinely believed he didn’t know the big picture, but I recently learned that Steven Moffat actually did fill him in on everything! Apparently, Darvill just…forgot. It’s a testament to the show’s complexity, and maybe just a good memory lapse, but it’s wild to think he went through filming unaware of the full impact his character would have.

I was talking to him recently and told him, ‘Honestly, you didn’t explain anything!’ He insisted he had, saying he’d gone over everything with us. But honestly, the best part was how clearly they signaled my return whenever my character died – it was so well done! It really made the experience smooth.

Throughout the series, Rory’s part expanded, and a standout moment was the ‘Last Centurion’ story arc, where he spent nearly two thousand years protecting his wife, Amy.

He described that storyline as incredible. He particularly praised the scripts, especially those by Steven, noting how they consistently delivered a compelling overarching narrative. He said reading them always felt fresh and surprising, blending genuine emotional depth with captivating entertainment.

I was so excited to film those scenes. The role was a dream come true, offering so much to work with. The two episodes felt huge in scope – it honestly felt like we were making an Indiana Jones movie, like something Steven Spielberg would direct!

Regarding the surprising reveal that River Song, played by Alex Kingston, was actually the daughter of Amy and Rory…

We were all at dinner, trying to figure out a surprise, and I finally guessed it. I turned to Alex and asked, ‘Are you our daughter?’ She just looked at me with a playful smile and said, ‘Hello, daddy!’ It was a really joyful moment.

Plus, the trio got the chance to work with incredible guest stars.

Darvill was surprised to see Olivia Colman in the show, remembering her small role in ‘The Eleventh Hour’ while being a big fan of hers. He also enjoyed working with Mark Williams, who played his father, as he’d been watching Williams on ‘The Fast Show’ since he was a child.

Toby Jones is a remarkably talented actor, and that particular episode was really unusual. I’ve collaborated with him since then, and he brought the same level of commitment and precision to that role as he does to all his work.

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Doctor Who is strongest when the actors fully commit to their roles and treat the situations with seriousness. Humor arises naturally from those scenarios, and Toby is exceptional at achieving that balance. He’s incredibly talented at being both witty and embracing the show’s playful side without making it feel ridiculous.

Many fans remember Darvill’s time on the show most fondly for the emotional scene where his character, Rory, and Karen Gillan‘s Amy were stranded in the past by the Weeping Angels.

Honestly, this film really got to me. It’s a beautiful, chaotic, and deeply emotional ride – incredibly dramatic, too. I don’t usually watch things with friends, but I did for this one, and we were all surprisingly moved. It just had that effect on everyone in the room.

It’s difficult to disconnect my personal feelings about finishing the show from what you see on screen, because those scenes were filmed while we were aware we were leaving. They weren’t the absolute last things we shot, but we knew it was our ending, and that definitely affected how we approached them.

I’m relieved they didn’t dwell on it or drag it out. It was quick and decisive – like a quick, clean break – and I think that made for really effective storytelling.

With many former stars recently reappearing in Doctor Who, fans are wondering: might we see a particular three of them team up again?

We still have a lot of fun and joke around with each other, like playfully suggesting we might return sometime. I really like the thought of us coming back to do this even when we’re much older. I imagine we’ll keep doing it for as long as we can.

We were all really enjoying it, and when we finished, we agreed we shouldn’t return – it was so good we didn’t want to risk spoiling it. But now that we’ve all moved on to other projects…

Looking back can be tricky, but when I do, I realize that experience was incredibly important and a lot of fun – probably the most fun any of us have had doing something like that. I wouldn’t want to dismiss the possibility of doing it again. However, it’s out of our control. If the chance arose, I think we’d all be eager to participate.

The most recent Doctor Who episode surprised viewers when Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor transformed into Billie Piper. It’s currently unclear if Piper will be the next Doctor, but it seems likely the show will soon be looking for a new companion.

As for any advice he has for taking on the role of a companion?

“Just enjoy it,” he says.

I often find myself thinking about this because it’s such a wild concept. It feels like something straight out of science fiction, with incredibly intricate details, a complete internal logic, and a dedicated fanbase. Plus, it’s a very particular style of British TV.

It’s truly unique – I haven’t seen anything else quite like it. It successfully blends science fiction with the fun, accessible feel of a Saturday night TV show. On paper, the concept shouldn’t work, but it does, and it does it exceptionally well.

Being on the show is a unique experience, so I just try to enjoy every moment. Each episode has a completely different script, and there’s really nothing else quite like it.

Being a companion often means simply saying ‘Doctor’ and being present in the background, and that’s perfectly okay. However, when you do get involved, it’s incredibly exciting, rewarding, and demanding work. You need to approach it with the same dedication as any professional job, fully committing to the experience – and it’s a lot of fun while doing it!

It’s easy for actors to focus on the negatives, but ultimately, it’s a wonderful opportunity.

Stay tuned for more from TopMob’s Doctor Who insiders! Sign up now so you don’t miss any updates. You can currently watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer.

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Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-03-29 11:07