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17 Marvel and DC stars who have also played 'Doctor Who' characters

17 Marvel and DC stars who have also played 'Doctor Who' characters
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in "Doctor Who."BBC
  • There are several Marvel and DC actors who have also appeared in the hit sci-fi show "Doctor Who."
  • "Spider-Man" star Andrew Garfield appeared on two episodes of the series long before making it big.

"Thor: The Dark World" star Christopher Eccleston played the titular doctor for one season of "Doctor Who."

"Thor: The Dark World" star Christopher Eccleston played the titular doctor for one season of "Doctor Who."
On the left: Christopher Eccleston as Malekith in "Thor: The Dark World." On the right: Eccleston in "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios; BBC

Eccleston portrayed the 9th Doctor in BBC's revival of "Doctor Who," the beloved sci-fi series about a traveling Time Lord.

In 2013, the actor looked unrecognizable in his role as Malekith, a dark elf and main villain of "Thor 2" who planned to spread darkness over the Nine Realms.

Playing the 10th Doctor is one of David Tennant's most popular roles to date, but he has also portrayed a Marvel villain.

Playing the 10th Doctor is one of David Tennant
On the left: David Tennant as Kilgrave in "Jessica Jones." On the right: Tennant as the Doctor in "Doctor Who."      Myles Aronowitz/Netflix; BBC

Years after starring as the Doctor for three seasons, Tennant played the antagonist named Kilgrave in Netflix's "Jessica Jones."

Kilgrave had the ability to control people's minds and therefore manipulate their behavior.

"Loki" star Gugu Mbatha-Raw had a recurring role in season three of the "Doctor Who" revival.

"Loki" star Gugu Mbatha-Raw had a recurring role in season three of the "Doctor Who" revival.
On the left: Gugu Mbatha-Raw in "Loki." On the right: Mbatha-Raw in "Doctor Who."      Disney+; BBC

Mbatha-Raw, who played Ravonna Renslayer in Marvel's "Loki," starred as Tish Jones in "Doctor Who."

Andrew Garfield recently made a glorious return as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Prior to playing the Marvel web-slinger, he appeared in two episodes of "Doctor Who."

Andrew Garfield recently made a glorious return as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Prior to playing the Marvel web-slinger, he appeared in two episodes of "Doctor Who."
On the left: Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in "Spider-Man: No Way Home." On the right: Garfield in "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures; BBC

In two episodes that aired in 2007, Garfield portrayed a man from Tennessee who hitchhiked his way to New York.

There, in the 1930s during the Great Depression, he met Tennant's character and helped him.

Before starring as Felicia Hardy in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," Felicity Jones portrayed a socialite in an episode of "Doctor Who."

Before starring as Felicia Hardy in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," Felicity Jones portrayed a socialite in an episode of "Doctor Who."
On the left: Felicity Jones in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." On the right: Jones in "Doctor Who."      Columbia Pictures; BBC

Jones' "Doctor Who" character, Robina Redmond, appeared in an episode that centered on a murder mystery that took place at a 1920s dinner party.

Jones' "TASM 2" character played a minor role in the film, but Marvel fans know that in the comics, Felicia is also known as Black Cat.

Daniel Kaluuya appeared in a 2009 episode of "Doctor Who" nearly a decade before he starred as W'Kabi in Marvel's "Black Panther."

Daniel Kaluuya appeared in a 2009 episode of "Doctor Who" nearly a decade before he starred as W
On the left: Daniel Kaluuya in "Black Panther." On the right: Kaluuya in "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios;

Kaluuya played Barclay, a passenger on a London bus that ended up in the desert in the "Doctor Who" special titled "Planet of the Dead."

In 2018's "Black Panther," Kaluuya starred as a member of the Tribal Council and friend of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman).

Gemma Chan is now known for her two roles in the MCU, but prior to that, she appeared in a 2009 holiday special of "Doctor Who" alongside Tennant.

Gemma Chan is now known for her two roles in the MCU, but prior to that, she appeared in a 2009 holiday special of "Doctor Who" alongside Tennant.
From left: Gemma Chan in "Captain Marvel," "Eternals," and "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios; Marvel Studios; BBC

She played Mia Bennett in the "Doctor Who" episode titled "The Water of Mars."

Then Chan portrayed a Starforce member named Minn-Erva in 2019's "Captain Marvel." Two years later, she starred as Sersi in ChloƩ Zhao's "Eternals."

Her character is an immortal who's empathetic toward humans and can manipulate inanimate matter.

Matt Smith, who stars as the antagonist of Marvel and Sony's "Morbius," portrayed the 11th Doctor.

Matt Smith, who stars as the antagonist of Marvel and Sony
On the left: Matt Smith in "Morbius." On the right: Smith in "Doctor Who."      Jay Maidment/Sony Pictures; BBC

Smith took over the role of the Doctor in 2010, following Tennant's exit. He portrayed the 11th Doctor for three seasons.

Smith now plays Milo in "Morbius," which stars Jared Leto as the titular biochemist-turned-antihero.

The British actor told Digital Spy that his "Doctor Who" costar Karen Gillan, who plays Nebula in the MCU, convinced him to take on a role in "Morbius."

"I phoned Karen and said, 'What's it like? Have you had a nice time?' and she's like, 'Yeah, go for it, do it,'" Smith said. "So I did. Good old Kaz. I mean, she's a seasoned pro."

Karen Gillan starred as Amy Pond in "Doctor Who" shortly before her MCU debut.

Karen Gillan starred as Amy Pond in "Doctor Who" shortly before her MCU debut.
On the left: Karen Gillan as Nebula in "Avengers: Endgame." On the right: Gillan as Amy Pond in "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios;

Gillan portrayed the companion to Smith's character on "Doctor Who."

In 2014, the actress made her first appearance as the Marvel character Nebula in "Guardians of the Galaxy."

She's since reprised the role in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Avengers: Endgame." Gillan is set to return as Nebula in "Thor 4: Love and Thunder" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

Olivia Colman, who will soon make her Marvel debut in "Secret Invasion," guest-starred on season five of the "Doctor Who" revival.

Olivia Colman, who will soon make her Marvel debut in "Secret Invasion," guest-starred on season five of the "Doctor Who" revival.
On the left: Olivia Colman in 2022. On the right: Colman in an episode of "Doctor Who."      Evan Agostini/Invision/AP; BBC

She played a mother who turned out to be the host of a shapeshifting alien prisoner in the season-five premiere of "Doctor Who."

Little is known about Disney+ and Marvel's new show called "Secret Invasion," but it will center on the shape-shifting alien race known as Skrulls.

Toby Jones' decades-long acting career has included roles in the MCU and "Doctor Who."

Toby Jones
On the left: Toby Jones in "Captain America: The First Avenger." On the right: Jones in "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios; BBC

Jones made his first appearance in the MCU as Dr. Arnim Zola in 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger."

A year prior, he guest-starred as a villain named the Dream Lord in season five, episode seven of "Doctor Who" titled "Amy's Choice."

"X-Men" star Ian McKellen didn't physically appear in "Doctor Who," but he did voice work for a season-seven episode.

"X-Men" star Ian McKellen didn
On the left: Ian McKellen as Magneto in "X-Men: The Last Stand." On the right: The Great Intelligence, voiced by McKellen, in "Doctor Who."      20th Century Fox; BBC

McKellen, known for his role as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto in the "X-Men" films, voiced the Great Intelligence in the "Doctor Who" episode titled "The Snowmen."

Years before appearing in "Loki," Richard E. Grant guest-starred in "Doctor Who."

Years before appearing in "Loki," Richard E. Grant guest-starred in "Doctor Who."
On the left: Richard E. Grant in "Loki." On the right: Grant in "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios/Disney+; BBC

In the 2012 Christmas special titled "The Snowmen," Grant played an antagonist named Dr. Simeon.

Prior to that, he played an iteration of the 10th Doctor in a sketch called "Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death" and voiced a version of the 9th Doctor in the animated miniseries "Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka."

In season one of "Loki," Grant starred as Classic Loki, a variant of Tom Hiddleston's titular character.

Peter Capaldi played the Thinker in the 2021 DC movie "The Suicide Squad." Prior to that, he portrayed the 12th Doctor.2008, 2013-2017, 2022

Peter Capaldi played the Thinker in the 2021 DC movie "The Suicide Squad." Prior to that, he portrayed the 12th Doctor.2008, 2013-2017, 2022
On the left: Peter Capaldi as the Thinker in "The Suicide Squad." On the right: Capaldi as The Doctor in "Doctor Who."      Warner Bros.; BBC

Capaldi starred as the 12th Doctor for three seasons.

In "The Suicide Squad," his character was vital in getting the Suicide Squad to a mysterious research facility in Jotunheim. The Thinker was ultimately killed by a giant creature named Starro.

Zawe Ashton appeared in season eight of "Doctor Who" back in 2014. Next, she'll star as the villain of the upcoming "Captain Marvel" sequel.

Zawe Ashton appeared in season eight of "Doctor Who" back in 2014. Next, she
On the left: Zawe Ashton in March 2022. On the right: Ashton in "Doctor Who."      Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP; BBC

In "Doctor Who," she portrayed a lieutenant from the Combined Galactic Resistance, named Journey Blue.

Ashton will reportedly play an undisclosed antagonist in "The Marvels," which will star Brie Larson as Captain Marvel. The movie is set for release on February 17, 2023.

Three years before her first MCU appearance as Shuri in "Black Panther," Letitia Wright guest-starred in an episode of "Doctor Who."

Three years before her first MCU appearance as Shuri in "Black Panther," Letitia Wright guest-starred in an episode of "Doctor Who."
On the left: Letitia Wright as Shuri in "Black Panther." On the right: Wright in "Doctor Who."      Marvel Studios; BBC

Wright played a character named Anahson in a 2015 episode of "Doctor Who" titled "Face the Raven."

Alan Cumming is no stranger to appearing in franchises.

Alan Cumming is no stranger to appearing in franchises.
On the left: Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in "X2: X-Men United." On the right: Cumming as King James in "Doctor Who."      20th Century Fox; BBC

In 2003, he starred as the Marvel character Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in "X2: X-Men United," who had the ability to teleport.

Then in 2018, Cumming played King James in a season 11 episode of the "Doctor Who" revival.

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