Doctor Who star Karen Gillan is to make her professional theatre debut in John Osborne's classic 1964 drama Inadmissible Evidence at the Donmar Warehouse, it was announced today.
The 23-year-old actress, best known as Doctor Who's sidekick Amy Pond, will appear alongside Douglas Hodge as Bill Maitland - a middle-aged lawyer whose life is consumed by drink, drugs and sex.
Gillan, who will play one of his mistresses, his secretary Shirley, read for the part twice, impressing with her charisma and natural approach.
Director Jamie Lloyd said: "More importantly, she can do the text convincingly and she feels as if she comes from that Sixties British Mad Men world."
Lloyd said he was also struck by how Hodge - an Olivier and Tony award-winner - was able to "bring humility and warmth to such a repulsive character".The estate of Osborne, who died in 1994, has permitted "subtle cuts" to the text, but the director said it was not a complete reworking.
Esther Hall, Amy Morgan, Daniel Ryan and Al Weaver also star in the play, which opens on 13 October.
Composers Ben and Max Ringham are to create original music to evoke the Sixties era.
Inadmissible Evidence is part of artistic director Michael Grandage's farewell season at Donmar Warehouse.
