Jodie Whittaker on forgiving Suranne Jones, keeping Doctor Who secrets and the role she would have loved to play

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Since finishing her run as the Doctor in Doctor Who three years ago, Jodie Whittaker has taken on challenging roles in several impactful projects. These include the intense Australian drama One Night, the highly praised prison series Time by Jimmy McGovern, and the true-story miniseries Toxic Town.

Jodie’s newest acting job allows her to balance dramatic and comedic moments. She’s joining forces with Suranne Jones to portray Sam and Bert, two longtime friends and ex-partners in crime, in ITV’s Frauds. Together, they plan one final scheme to make some money.

Shot on location in Tenerife, standing in for mainland Spain, the story starts when Bert gets out of prison. He and Sam had been involved in a crime together, and she’s both happy and cautious about reconnecting with him. Jodie, who worked on the series, describes their relationship as “toxic”. Sam becomes especially uneasy when Bert tries to manipulate her into pulling off a risky heist.

Jodie explains that playing Sam was a unique experience for her. “It was a great challenge to portray Sam’s hidden anger, especially given the complex history between the characters and those brief, revealing moments. It felt like she was constantly trying to control both Bert and herself.”

I’m accustomed to portraying a wide range of characters, but often I find myself playing people who readily express their feelings. Sam is quite different; he keeps his emotions guarded and doesn’t show them easily.”

Sam’s role requires a lot of physical activity. In the very first episode, Jodie and Suranne’s characters playfully fight in a bull ring, with Suranne using a shirt as if it were a bullfighter’s cape, bringing it near Jodie’s face. “We often ended up kicking or bumping into each other, and there were a few moments where things got a little too close for comfort,” Jodie says with a laugh, “but it’s all good, and I quickly forgave her!”

There was this incredible action sequence where my character, Sam, and Bert have a fight *in* a swimming pool – it happens after I find out she’s betrayed me. Honestly, that scene was a huge reason I signed on to do the movie. It’s just not something you see very often. You rarely see women, especially at our age, having *that* kind of physical, aggressive reaction to each other. But it’s a totally natural response – as normal as, say, breaking down and needing a hug. We just usually only show the crying and comforting parts, you know?

What really resonated with me about Frauds is its exploration of fear, the dynamic between the two female characters, and how it reveals the hidden sides of ourselves that we don’t often see portrayed on television. It highlights the multifaceted nature of people, showing the parts of us that remain unseen.

Honestly, when we finally started filming the action sequences, I was incredibly hyped! Of course, after being on set for four hours straight, you start to think, ‘Oh boy!’ But they were genuinely a lot of fun. What I really appreciate about a good stunt scene is the intricate choreography. It’s so rewarding because it transforms into this almost rhythmical dance between the performers. Once you nail that foundation, you can layer on all the drama, tension, and even the humor. And that’s something I loved about every single scene in this movie. There was always a playful shift in tone – you’d think you knew where it was going, and then it would subtly change into something completely unexpected.

While filming Frauds, Jodie Whittaker secretly went back to Cardiff to film a cameo as the Thirteenth Doctor. These scenes appeared in the finale of Doctor Who’s fifteenth series, which aired in May. This episode was Ncuti Gatwa’s last regular appearance playing the Fifteenth Doctor.

“Suranne and the team working on Frauds weren’t aware I was filming a scene because I was using a fake name,” she said. “They just knew some extra footage was being shot for an existing project. But it wasn’t a continuation of something old; it was a completely new day of filming.”

There was a great deal of secrecy surrounding it, as Doctor Who always keeps things very confidential. Luckily for me, Frauds allowed me to film it, and I was able to arrive on set without any leaks to the press.”

Jodie admits that her time on Doctor Who has meant she is “brilliant at keeping secrets”.

I really appreciated how much of a secret it was kept, because I get why it’s so upsetting when you dedicate six to ten months to a project, and then someone deliberately leaks a spoiler. It’s frustrating after putting in so much hard work.”

I wasn’t bothered much by the secrecy, but it really impacted the art department, the writers, and all the creative people involved. And especially the fans – the Whovians, who are the most dedicated and amazing fans you could ask for. They enjoy Doctor Who because it’s unpredictable and full of surprises, so leaks are really annoying. I completely understood why everything was kept so quiet, and I actually appreciate rules! If I’m told ‘don’t tell anyone,’ I won’t. I’m very good at keeping secrets. That’s why I think I made a good Doctor – I never let anything slip.”

Jodie played the Thirteenth Doctor from 2017 to 2022, and it’s obvious how much the role means to her. “I love Doctor Whomore than words can say,” she explains. “We filmed for longer periods than any other job I’ve had, and I even moved to Wales for it, so it wasn’t just work – it was the people and the whole experience.”

She also fondly remembers earlier roles, most notably as Samantha, a trainee nurse, in Attack The Block, the popular sci-fi comedy horror film written and directed by Joe Cornish. In the movie, she acted with John Boyega, playing characters who fought off aliens invading a public housing complex in south London.

“Making Attack The Block was a really joyful experience for me,” she recalls. “Growing up, I was a big fan of classic monster movies from the 80s, and exciting adventure films from the 90s. Being a part of a project like that – our own take on those films – was something I absolutely loved.”

Ever since the movie came out in 2011, viewers have been hoping for a follow-up, and Jodie says she’s among them. “People have been discussing a sequel for years, and honestly, I don’t know any more now than I did when it was just a rumour. I would definitely be up for doing it. I’d pretty much take any job again. If I was asked to return to Black Mirror, I’d say yes immediately. I haven’t had a work experience I wouldn’t want to repeat, and with Attack the Block, that conversation always seems to come up. So, fingers crossed that continues. Maybe I should even send Joe Cornish an audition tape – I’m sure I could make another appearance. I might even send him a strongly worded email!”

Jodie, originally from West Yorkshire, was 29 years old when she landed a role in Attack The Block, and only 23 when she first appeared in a feature film, Venus. Her co-star in Venus, Peter O’Toole, received an Oscar nomination – his eighth – at the age of 74. Reflecting on the experience, she considers the role to be “such a gift” and says it significantly influenced her approach to acting ever since.

She recalls it being one of his final performances, marking the end of an absolutely remarkable and inspiring career. He was a true legend among British and Irish actors, and a genuinely lovely person – a joy to be around. I had just graduated from drama school, and working with talents like Vanessa Redgrave, Peter O’Toole, Richard Griffiths, Leslie Phillips, and director Roger Michell was like attending a masterclass.”

This really demonstrates that people can continue to deliver outstanding performances even in their seventies, and I think that’s a truly wonderful thing. It’s inspiring!

She shares, “I always wished I could have played Eleven on Stranger Things.” She adds with a smile, “It would have been amazing to be a kid who shaved their head!”

After watching the first season, I remember thinking, ‘Wow, being Millie Bobby Brown right now would be amazing-what a fantastic role!’ The initial season of that show was truly incredible. It paid tribute to all the things I love, and that part, specifically, was just outstanding. If I could have played a character like that as a child, with a shaved head, I would have jumped at the chance, but I never really had a shot at the role. So, there’s absolutely no jealousy towards Millie Bobby Brown,” she said with a laugh.

“Maybe if I had tried a little bit of sellotape to make me look a bit younger?”

Frauds premieres on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday 5th October.

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2025-10-05 09:36