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The special memento Doctor Who's Matt Smith gave his successor Peter Capaldi as a regeneration gift
Matt Smith wanted to make sure Peter Capaldi felt welcomed into the world of Doctor Who
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Being a Time Lord can be a lonely experience. While each Doctor gets their own companion, it isn’t the same as having someone by your side who has been in your shoes. After all, being the lead actor in Doctor Who can be an overwhelming experience, since you’re the face of the entire production, and everything falls on you.
During a spotlight panel at CCXP, Matt Smith, who played the Eleventh Doctor, spoke about what it was like stepping into the role, and how the support of his predecessor was essential.
“I was very lucky that I had the wonderful David Tennant to come after, and he was just really kind and nice. But it’s nerve-wracking. You’ve never done it before, you get to Cardiff, there you are, you’re on the Tardis, you’ve never done any of it.”
According to Smith, the experience is overwhelming because all eyes are on you.
“Everyone is watching you. It’s a bit like this, because everyone goes, ‘Oh, let’s have a look at the new Doctor.’ And you’ve got to do this scene, and it’s so important.”
As a result, Smith felt some sympathy for Peter Capaldi, the actor who succeeded him as the Doctor.
“When I regenerated into Peter, I tried to make him feel as comfortable as possible. I gave him my watch actually. I gave him the Eleventh Doctor’s watch as a sort of passing on.”
It’s a sweet way to pass the torch. I hope the regeneration gifts are a tradition that continues whenever a new Doctor joins the series.
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