It was the hat that did the trick: Sylvester McCoy

McCoy, who is on a visit to India (currently in Mumbai), sat down to chat with us about his journey as Dr. Who, life as an actor and future aspirations.

Revealing how he first landed the role, he explains, “For the longest time, my friends and family thought that I’d be perfect for the role of Dr. Who, because I used to always wear a scarf. But really, it was the hat that did the trick!” He further elaborates, “When I was auditioning for the role, the casting director really liked the idea of Dr. Who wearing a hat and said ‘I like that look with the hat’. So he decided to cast me and make the hat a part of Dr. Who’s persona.”

However, he attributes ‘ignorance’ as the main reason for the role to click. McCoy also reveals that prior to joining the cast, he never really saw much of it. “I never watched much of the series and was oblivious to what the character actually was. I think that’s what added a bit of freshness to my portrayal.”

While his last appearance in the series ended with a comeback in 1996, McCoy says he is quite impressed with his successor and the present Dr. Who, Peter Capaldi. “Oh, I understand every word he says because I too am Scottish through and through,” he glees, recognising the fact that many of its present day fans find it hard to follow Capaldi’s accent. He further adds, “But I quite like the idea of an ‘older’ Dr. Who (Capaldi is the third oldest actor to have played the role), because that’s how it originally was. Unlike the muscular ones clad in red trunks, he was supposed to inspire the audience to become smarter. “

So now that we know he prefers older Dr. Whos, will he ever consider going back to the series to portray one his age? “Oh, definitely. If I am offered the role again I’d take it up at the drop of a hat,” he reveals.

After his stint as Dr. Who, McCoy has been active in the UK’s theatre circles. Telling us about his journey in theatre, he says, “It’s like family. And unlike in TV and films, here you actually have to work closely with your co-stars, so it’s more tightly knit. I am glad that some of the ones I worked with such as Ian McKellen are now considered among the finest actors in the world.”

Telling us about his trip to India, McCoy reveals, “This is not my first trip to India. I came here about four years ago when my son was studying yoga in Mysore. But this trip has been more eventful.” McCoy bid adieu with a tidbit about his next film in the Hotel Marigold franchise. “It is about how to ‘retire in India’. We went to Jaipur, where I dined with the Maharajas, and even danced with slum children!”