Who’d be me?
I WAS certain my imagination was creating a lurid, nonsensical fantasy as a rhythmic beeping began. My mobile’s glow snapped me out of the dream.
It usually charges quietly on my bedside table, only stirring for major news events. As a freelance journalist, writer for hire and current affairs junkie, I keep abreast of local, national and international activities — even if that costs a little sleep.
Earlier, as I headed to bed, the 2017 Wimbledon women’s final was to be played. Initially confused and drowsy, I doubted the game’s result would induce a phone frenzy.
My thoughts raced to recent rock concerts, historical European landmarks and celebrations targeted by terrorists. I feared the tournament’s civility and all-white Wimbledon attire could be tainted by blood-lusting extremists.
More and more phone alerts spluttered in. Beguiling messages came: “A huge step for feminism”, “Your talent and finesse are finally recognised”, “She takes us into the modern era” and “Jodie Whittaker, you are my hero!”
I was at a loss, having no idea an early night could elicit such lavish praise.
By the time I muted the phone the flood of mysterious compliments became peppered with less affirmative ones. “You have destroyed my childhood memories”, “Kill her off quickly”, “Your a joke. I hate you 4 F#*ing it up” and “Jodie Whittaker means the end”.
The night of the women’s final, the world’s press and trolls had barely noticed Garbine Muguruza had defeated Venus Williams. Instead, a few seconds of UK television advertising had captured international attention.
Another woman had found the media’s focus and landed in a social media superstorm. She had achieved a completely unexpected feat without working up a sweat and was to make history.
That woman and I share our name.
Until July 15, neither of us rated highly on the celebrity meter, but the other Jodie Whittaker’s new job has certainly changed that.
The English Jodie Whittaker instantly become a globally recognisable figure with the online and BBC television release of a oneminute long trailer. The clip made the formal announcement she would become the 13th actor to become Doctor Who.
Since 1963 the Doctor has been reincarnated 11 times, by actors whose ages have been as different as their appearances. From Colin Baker to Matt Smith, Doctor Who’s continual reinvention has given audiences boldly varying personalities and costumes. This evolution triggered controversy with the first female lead casting.
As the other Jodie Whittaker passes through time and space via her unreliable TARDIS spaceship (Time and Relative Dimensions in Space) fleeing Daleks and solving intergalactic problems, she is going to need more than a sonic screwdriver to create real change. An enraged league of Whovians, the show’s most diehard fans, cannot accept that their beloved series could possibly have a woman as the protagonist.
Many of the folk who have been most active on social media in their condemnation of a gender-bending Doctor believe they have discovered an elusive form of direct contact with the other Jodie. They have done this via my LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and email accounts.
Since the naming of the show’s new lead, I have received hundreds of online messages regarding my new role.
Some celebrate the appointment as the next great step towards gender equality. Others vent their disgust that their favourite character has had a sex change. I wish their body clocks were in sync with Australian eastern daylight savings. The messages they pop out around lunchtime in London are not appreciated in the wee small hours here. The Who fans are obviously not perturbed by my photos, a lack of engagement, my electronic media platforms featuring no acting based commentary and my Geelong-centric content. They haven’t read my bio, nor do they seem interested that the UK Jodie shuns social media. I am delighted the role is being completely reinvented to give the 2018 viewers an alternative vision of Doctor Who. With a woman at the helm of the blue police box, the audience will see a strong, resilient and inventive portrayal of femininity. It will be refreshing to have a female Time Lord, engaging in the physical battles and outwitting the foes. Girls will have a new role model as the latest Doctor displays an emotional warmth, travels the cosmos using her intelligence to solve outlandish challenges and independently tastes victory. This is one great step for Jodies, one giant leap for the future of heroic women. I look forward to seeing Jane, instead of James Bond and a wealth of other strong leads for female actors. Jodie Whittaker is a freelance writer, columnist and journalist.