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Archie Panjabi plays the RaniIt was a sunny morning in LA, as most of them are, and my phone rang. It was [Doctor Who producer] Phil Collinson, with whom I worked a long time ago [on paranormal drama Sea of Souls]. He asked if I would like to be in Doctor Who. I almost dropped my phone. Then he told me that he and [showrunner] Russell T Davies wanted me to play the Rani. I almost dropped my phone again. I was gobsmacked.
Growing up in England, it’s part of your childhood furniture, part of your DNA. Everybody knows the theme tune. Everyone remembers “EXTERMINATE!” Everyone recognises that blue box. I wouldn’t say I watched every episode, but I’d definitely say that it was for me what it was for many people growing up – a wild adventure through time, full of monsters, mayhem and magic. So, yes, I know the Rani.
It’s subjective, isn’t it? I’ve tried to avoid using the V word. She doesn’t see herself as a villain. She sees herself as a brilliant scientist with a mission. She’s totally out of sync with any morality whatsoever so she’ll do whatever it takes to accomplish her mission. Whereas the Doctor is out to save the universe, the Rani is out to dissect it.
I rewatched the episodes and what stood out was her incredible strength and presence – she is the queen. I didn’t want to mimic her because this Rani is different. So I tried to capture her fire and make it mine. Normally, when I take on a character, I look at other characters for inspiration but, other than Kate O’Mara, it was a struggle to find others on a par with her.
She’s a self-assured, relentless woman who dances with chaos as if it’s a birthright – and she relishes every single second of it. Characters like that are rare. One of the villains I did draw inspiration from was Mogambo from [Bollywood movie] Mr India. As a child he terrified me, yet I couldn’t look away.
Anita Dobson plays Mrs FloodI was completely oblivious in season one, partly because I was having such fun with Russell throwing me all these different little character things, her mannerisms and idiosyncracies. When he asked me back for season two, the speculation started. I still didn’t know – and I was enjoying not knowing and not worrying about it. Gradually, my own curiosity was piqued. The fans came up with some really good suggestions, and a few did say the Rani. I thought that would be nice, but Russell threw a bit of a curveball that suggested she wasn’t. So when I read the scripts for the last few episodes – which is when I found out – I was shocked.
Russell said that wherever she is, whatever she’s doing, Mrs Flood is Mrs Flood and that clinched it for me. Whenever Russell and I talk, which we have a lot, I tend to not push him, because I trust him implicitly and the stories are so good. I just think, “Let the man do his work and you be the conduit to put it on the screen.” And that’s the way it’s worked.
We got on like a house on fire from day one. It was such a lovely relationship and we’re trying to keep in touch. Our characters’ relationship is so unusual but at the same time, I like to think of them as sisters. And when Archie appears, the games really begin. She says, “Our name is the Rani. Although, she’s become a Rani, while I’m the Rani, the definite article.” But whether that’s true or her being an egomaniac, we’ve only got her word for it. After all, she’s only around because I engineered it.
They share an ambition, but their approaches differ. She’s very much “I do the press. You do the legwork in the lab.” Ultimately, I see the Rani as an enabler. She loves power but she doesn’t want to be right at the front line. She’ll facilitate and enable the person in power, to further her own agenda, but she steps back at the last minute so that they can take the flak.
It’s hard! When you’re excited about something and you love it so much, you want to tell everybody because it’s thrilling. Obviously you’ve got to tell your partner because they’re the onesthat are often answering the phone and getting all these odd messages. But I just thought to myself, “You’re going to make it more exciting if you keep your mouth shut.” And I’ve really enjoyed the excitement that both Mrs Flood’s and Angie’s secrets have caused.
There was going to be a little scene before you saw her when you heard Angie’s voice reading a letter to Sharon. But I thought that if you do that, the audience will know she’s going to come on. So I said, “Can’t it just be one scene?” and then it’s a lovely surprise. They said, “OK, we’ll go with that,” so that’s what we did – and it was lovely and surprising.
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