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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Nicola Methven

Doctor Who casts its first trans actress to play Billie Piper's iconic Rose

Doctor Who will have its first trans actress after Yasmin Finney was cast as Rose, formerly played by Billie Piper.

The 18-year-old, star of Netflix ’s hit teen drama Heartstopper, will film scenes to air in 2023.

Russell T Davies, who is taking over as showrunner, teased that Rose’s return was intentionally confusing.

He laughed: “Life on Doctor Who gets brighter and wilder, how can there be another Rose? You’ll find out in 2023, but it’s an absolute joy to welcome Yasmin.

“We all fell in love with her in Heartstopper, one of those shows which changes the world, and now Yasmin can change the Whoniverse.”

Billie Piper as Rose in Doctor Who, with David Tennant's Doctor (BBC)
Yasmin Finney has joined the cast of Doctor Who (Yasmin Finney has joined the cast of Doctor Who)

Yasmin added: “This show has a place in so many people’s hearts, so to be seen as a trans actress by the legend himself Russell, has not only made my year, it’s made my life.”

Billie played Rose Tyler opposite both Christopher Ecclestone and David Tennant on the BBC hit.

Scottish-Rwandan actor Ncuti Gatwa has been announced as the new Doctor, with Jodie Whittaker departing this autumn.

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