Jodie Whittaker calls for more women to take on traditionally male roles

Jodie Whittaker is hopeful her role as the first female Doctor Who inspires other women to land roles traditionally earmarked for men.
The 36-year-old actress made TV history last year (17) when it was revealed she would be replacing Peter Capaldi as the Time Lord, becoming the show’s first female Doctor.
Jodie, who recently admitted she did not watch the sci-fi series before taking on the role, is aware of how significant her casting was in advancing female representation.
“When I was growing up, these characters didn’t look like us doing these things,” she tells Metro.co.uk. “These were the white guys running about, saving the day, really cool stuff, and if you were lucky you may be clapped at the side, and passed something to help the really heroic moment happen.”
“So to be in the moment of change for that is incredibly exciting, particularly because it’s in a world where it’s absolutely true of this character,” she adds.
And she is looking forward to a time when people are no longer surprised by the casting of a woman for typically male roles.
“It’s a very inclusive time, because it’s maybe not as faithful as anyone maybe imagined when we took the hood down (in the trailer to reveal the new Doctor) and it was a girl,” she continues. “People don’t necessarily know how to feel about it, but for us, it’s 2018… We are just the other half of the population, so to see us doing things shouldn’t be such a surprise.”
“It’s a moment and I’m a part of it and I’m proud of it, but I can’t wait for it to not be a moment as well,” she adds.