Amy Pond

Amy Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Amy is to be the new companion of series protagonist the Doctor, in his eleventh incarnation, from series 5 onwards.

Biography
Amy Pond meets the Doctor in the first episode of the series beginning in 2010.

Character creation
Doctor Who executive producer and head writer Steven Moffat came up with the name for the character.

In an interview with Kat Angus of Dose magazine, Doctor Who writer Russell T. Davies commented on the character, “So when the new series starts next year with the new Doctor, you don’t just get Matt Smith coming on, you also get Karen Gillan as his new companion. I think Amy Pond will be hugely welcomed, because ... I think he does need someone. A lot of these stories prove that. There’s been a huge, empty space on the TARDIS for a long time now and I think her arrival will be every bit as big as Matt’s. It’s really exciting, and everything I’ve heard about Karen is that she’s brilliant. It’s one of our plans that I’m most pleased with, actually. We’ve held off on companions for a long time, so you’ll get rewarded with a great, big, strong character in Amy Pond, when she arrives. I think that plan’s been good.”

Casting and initial filming
Karen Gillan had already appeared on Doctor Who in a smaller role, prior to being cast as Amy Pond. She portrayed a soothsayer in the episode “The Fires of Pompeii,” which aired in 2008.

Steven Moffat said of the casting for the character, “We saw some amazing actresses for this part. But when Karen came through the door, the game was up—she was funny, clever, gorgeous and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her.” Doctor Who executive producer and drama chief at BBC Wales Piers Wenger concurred, “We knew Karen was perfect for the role the moment we saw her. She brought an energy and excitement to the part that was just fantastic.”

Gillan commented she was happy to have been cast in the role, and stated, “I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor’s new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can’t quite believe I am going to be a part of it. Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him—I just can’t wait to get started.”

In October 2009, scenes with the character were shot in Cardiff alongside the Eleventh Doctor; with the character portrayed in a police costume. These were the first scenes shot including the character. In early December 2009, scenes were filmed including the character, with shooting taking place on location in Croatia. The actors were dressed in period costume from a few centuries ago. "The scripts are brilliant and working alongside Karen and the rest of the crew is an inspiration because their work ethic and passion for the show is so admirable," said the actor for the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, on working on the new series.