Whoopi Goldberg is a legend with decades of impressive screen credits. (Not to mention one of only 16 people ever to achieve EGOT status.) But even with that level of talent and credibility in the industry, one role has continued to escape her.

“I wanted to be Doctor Who and I still do,” Goldberg said during an interview at the Edinburgh TV Festival. 

(She was there to accept the festival’s International Icon honor, so we can add that to her long list of accomplishments.

Of course, the actor is no stranger to huge sci-fi franchises. She played a pivotal role in Star Trek: The Next Generation as Guinan. But Goldberg also described herself as a longtime fan of Doctor Who. “I love watching it still, in all the iterations,” she said.

In fact, Goldberg previously said she actually lobbied to play the Time Lord before, but the producers at the BBC turned her down. Disappointing for sure, but at the same time, Goldberg acknowledges that it kind of makes sense for the show.

“I think it would mean an evolution into being American, and I don’t know that that’s correct for Doctor Who,” explained Goldberg. “I don’t know I can usurp that, as much as I love it… There are certain things that are blatantly all English. Doctor Who is like that to me. It’s like Marmite. It’s very English and needs to stay that way.”

As a fellow American, I have to agree: the likelihood of the BBC suddenly venturing outside the UK for their lead seems pretty slim. I mean, this is the same production that made Scottish actor David Tennant play the Time Lord using a British accent; they eventually let Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor go Scottish, but that’s about as far as we’ve seen the series branch out geographically.

Goldberg or not, Doctor Who fans will have to be introduced to a new Doctor soon. Current star Jodie Whittaker recently announced she would step down from the role after the show’s upcoming 13th season. 

So, what do you think… Doctor Whoopi Goldberg, yay or nay? Who do you want to see as the next Doctor? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Deadline