Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Doctor Who assistant Jenna-Louise Coleman: I'm too shy to date

 

Sherna Noah
Monday 13 May 2013 11:49 EDT
Comments
Doctor Who Matt Smith with new assistant Jenna-Louise Coleman
Doctor Who Matt Smith with new assistant Jenna-Louise Coleman (BBC)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Doctor Who star Jenna-Louise Coleman says she has never been on a date because she is too shy.

The actress, who shot to fame as the Doctor's new sidekick Clara in the BBC1 sci-fi drama, admitted she finds being alone with another person nerve-racking.

Coleman, 27, blamed her shyness on moving at the age of 14 from a tiny secondary school, where there were just eight pupils in her year, to a nearby private school.

She told the Radio Times: "If I'm with a group of people I'm okay, but actually I'm quite a nervous person if I'm just one-to-one with somebody.

"I've got a lot better as I've got older. I think it was going from eight people in a tiny, tiny school to being surrounded by loads of people. I shrank away, surrounded myself with quite loud friends. I'd never been on a date in my life ever because the idea of just being sat with one person..."

The former Emmerdale actress, who is in a relationship with Game Of Thrones actor Richard Madden, said: "I'm making myself sound socially inept here and I'm absolutely fine in a group of people but I am quite shy."

The actress, who grew up in Blackpool, said of her new-found fame: "I have a really cool job and get to do these crazy things and you do have so many 'pinch me' moments. I've just been sent emails with pics of the Clara doll."

She said: "Clara is probably the closest to me that I've ever played - especially over the last few years - and I find that hard. Doing an accent is much easier."

She hinted about the series finale: "The Doctor's greatest secret is revealed, all of his friends rally round to protect him and we finally understand why the Doctor has met Clara so many different times."

She added of her co-star Matt Smith: "His first advice was never Google yourself and, now that I've got a three-month break, he said take your time and choose your next role carefully. I've read loads of scripts but nothing I'm really in love with."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in