Doctor, Who? Meet Ncuti Gatwa, who just landed the iconic BBC role – the star of Netflix’s Sex Education is a BAFTA nominee and Rwandan refugee who struggled with racism and even homelessness

May 15 , 2022

Star of Netflix’s Sex Education, Ncuti Gatwa just landed one of British TV’s most iconic roles – Doctor Who. Photo: @ncutigatwa/Instagram

Gatwa, 29, is the 14th person to play Doctor Who in the long running BBC sci-fi drama, but is the first black and African-born actor to take on the role

Most know Gatwa as Eric Effiong in Sex Education alongside Simone Ashley and Gillian Anderson, but things weren’t plain sailing for the actor before getting the part

Actor Ncuti Gatwa, known for his breakthrough role in Netflix’s Sex Education, is confirmed to be the 14th person to play Doctor Who on one of BBC’s most popular and long-running shows. “Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart, but I am giving it all to this show,” Gatwa said on the Doctor Who website. The announcement was met with delight by fans on Twitter.

Ncuti Gatwa is the first black actor to play the BBC’s beloved Doctor Who. Photo: @ncutigatwa/Instagram

Well-loved for his bright demeanour and slick fashion sense off screen, and his natural, often heartwarming performances on screen, Gatwa has rightfully earned a name for himself and gained a solid and loyal fan base.

Let’s take a look at how the 29-year-old’s unique background and early struggles have helped get where he is today.

He suffered racism growing up – but learned to be tough from his parents

Ncuti Gatwa was just a toddler when his parents were forced to flee to the UK during the genocide in Rwanda. Photo: @ncutigatwa/Instagram

Born in Kigali, Rwanda, Gatwa and his family fled genocide in 1994 when he was two and eventually settled in Scotland. He refers to himself as a “Rwandan Scotsman”.

In the BBC documentary Black and Scottish, Gatwa recounted how he was bullied at secondary school as his classmates set up a racist Facebook page about him. Knowing that he would eventually be liked once they got to know him, Gatwa befriended them, and recalled the experience being “a good lesson to me about the difference between hate and ignorance”.

Ncuti Gatwa poses at sunset it Tottenham, London. Photo: @ncutigatwa/Instagram

Gatwa also credited his parents for his grit and toughness, especially his mum, who he said moved to Scotland not knowing the language or culture, without money or connections. And yet she was able to raise him and his two siblings. “As cheesy as it sounds, I’ve been watching strength from [when I was] young,” he added.