Casting Doctor Who’s Next Master: 8 Actors Who’d Be Perfect

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Everyone’s eager to find out who the next Doctor will be, but it’s also interesting to think about who will play the Doctor’s long-time enemy, The Master. Doctor Who is currently at a strange turning point, and the future of the show is uncertain, though a Christmas special is planned for 2026.

Despite ongoing questions about the future of the show – including casting, who will run it, and how it will be shown internationally – Doctor Who remains vibrant, especially thanks to the Time Lords’ ability to regenerate and take on new forms when their current bodies wear out.

Sacha Dhawan’s portrayal of The Master was a highlight of the recent Doctor Who years under Christopher Chibnall. However, with ongoing changes happening behind the scenes, it seems probable that a new actor will take on the role when The Master returns.

Sacha Dhawan

I really hope Sacha Dhawan returns as The Master in future episodes of Doctor Who. I’m not giving up on that possibility! Dhawan himself has said he’d like to come back, and it’s happened before in the classic series – actors have played The Master against several different Doctors.

John Simm successfully played The Master alongside both David Tennant and Peter Capaldi, which means Sacha Dhawan could potentially return to the role again. However, it’s also wise to consider the possibility that he might not.

Andrew Scott

If Shikhar Dhawan is unable to return, Andrew Scott would be a great choice for The Master. He’s known for his energetic and unpredictable performances, and many consider his portrayal of Moriarty opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the series Sherlock to be one of the best ever.

Scott has ties to Doctor Who through the show Sherlock. Sherlock was created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, both of whom were heavily involved in Doctor Who during the time Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi played the Doctor. Scott is definitely capable of playing The Master, but it’s unclear whether he’d want a role so similar to his character, Moriarty.

Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham is a remarkably talented British actor who’s recently become widely popular. She has a striking presence and uses her height and physicality to command attention and project a sense of power.

The Master needs to be a truly skilled actor, and Waddingham clearly has that ability. She’s proven recently that she can handle a wide variety of roles – from villains to romantic leads, and everything in between. This flexibility would be a huge asset in playing The Master, allowing her to create a unique and compelling interpretation of the character.

T’Nia Miller

As a huge fan of horror and thrillers, I’ve been consistently blown away by T’Nia Miller’s recent work. She’s a British actress who’s really made a name for herself thanks to her roles in Mike Flanagan’s Netflix shows. I first noticed her in The Haunting of Bly Manor, and she’s just as incredible in The Fall of the House of Usher. She consistently delivers these strong, commanding performances, and it’s clear she’s a seriously talented actress who’s quickly becoming a major star.

Honestly, I think it’d be a really fresh take on the Doctor, totally different from what we’ve seen before. But that’s the amazing thing about Doctor Who, right? The whole regeneration idea means the Doctor can change completely. It’s cool to see how their personality shifts and evolves with each new life – it’s often a pretty big change!

Matt Smith

For years, fans have suggested a compelling idea for Doctor Who: casting a previous Doctor as The Master. This could create incredibly interesting stories, allowing The Master to exploit their recognizable appearance and even interact with the Doctor’s former companions.

Honestly, if anyone’s going to nail a really complex villain, it has to be Matt Smith. Look, David Tennant, Peter Capaldi, and so many others have proven they can play bad guys brilliantly, and Smith isn’t the only one who’s been praised for villainous roles. But what sets him apart, for me, is just how incredibly versatile he is. He can embody evil in so many different ways – it’s truly extraordinary to watch. He doesn’t just play villains, he becomes them, no matter where on the spectrum of bad they fall.

It would be really interesting to see Smith play The Master, and he’s said he’d like to. The show has already established that Time Lords can be influenced by faces they’ve seen during regeneration, so there’s no reason The Master couldn’t regenerate into one of the Doctor’s old bodies.

Dev Patel

Dev Patel is a remarkably talented actor who has shown incredible growth throughout his career. He first gained recognition for his role as a quiet and unassuming character in Slumdog Millionaire, and has since transformed into a powerful and complex action hero in Monkey Man. His journey as an actor has been truly impressive.

Patel is a remarkably versatile actor, equally capable of portraying quiet, understated characters and powerfully commanding attention. He’d be perfect for the Master, but could just as easily excel as the Doctor. It’s almost as if those two roles represent different facets of the same personality.

Sean Pertwee

Sean Pertwee has a unique link to Doctor Who that would make him playing The Master particularly meaningful. He’s the son of Jon Pertwee, who famously played the Third Doctor between 1970 and 1974. While Sean has said he isn’t interested in playing the Doctor himself, he’d be happy to appear in a smaller role as a tribute to his father.

Playing The Master could be a great solution. It wouldn’t require the actor to be in every episode, but it would still connect him to the show and give him a unique opportunity to celebrate his father’s work.

Helen McCrory

Helen McCrory would be a fantastic choice to play The Master, bringing a captivating blend of charm, mystery, and depth to the role. She’s proven her range as an actress, excelling in comedies, dramas, and complex, darker characters. Her stage work, including a memorable performance as the villainous Lady Macbeth, demonstrates she can easily handle the intensity and darkness required for The Master.

McCrory shares some of the same vibrant energy as Michelle Gomez, though her acting style is a bit more restrained. This makes her a strong candidate to play a compelling and intimidating Missy, and she could definitely bring nuance and depth to the character’s complicated relationship with the Doctor.

We probably won’t find out who’s playing The Master in Doctor Who until the show’s future is more secure. That means knowing who the next Doctor will be, when the new season will air, who’s running the show, and where it will be shown around the world. However, The Master is a crucial character, and fans are eager to see them return as soon as things are settled.

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2026-03-15 14:20