Best of 2014 Awards: The Winners (Part 1)
Connor Johnston presents the first set of results from DWTV’s annual awards as voted for by you.
Culminating in the thrilling and emotive “Last Christmas,” Peter Capaldi’s first series in the titular role aboard the TARDIS concluded leaving both critics and fans alike impressed and incredibly satisfied with the years’ worth of adventures through space and time. Following from the bombastic nature of 2013’s “50th Anniversary”, 2014 saw Doctor Who return to a more traditional, subtle and uninterrupted format of storytelling; with a new Doctor in the form of Capaldi and a returning companion in the form of Jenna Coleman’s ‘Clara Oswald’ indulging in 13 brand new exploits that promised (and delivered) a darker, more mature tone while still offering plenty for the whole family.
The international cinematic release of “Deep Breath” introduced us to a brand new Doctor and a brand new dynamic, also providing the series premiere with the highest ratings for a opening episode since 2010. After 12 consistently successful episodes, the Master’s return and one Christmas special that followed, two best friends reunited, ready to face the universe. And so concluded Doctor Who’s 51st year of television…
Now it’s time to begin revealing the results of DWTV’s annual awards celebrating the best of Doctor Who in the last twelve months as voted for by you. First up, the winners of four acting categories.
Best Lead Actor– Peter Capaldi
Steering the success of 2014 was the unbeatable dynamic between the two lead actors: Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman. Throughout the entire year, we watched their relationship both flourish and be tested through various circumstances – and throughout it all the sincerity behind both these actors’ portrayals is what continued to entertain and impress. It takes an insanely successful charisma and strong dynamic between not only two roles, but two actors to allow the relationship between the Doctor and Clara hold such a prominent place in the plot of the series without falling flat.
It goes without saying both actors were tested in their abilities week after week, and with each test came an outstanding overcoming leading to both actors holding a succession of exemplary performances to their names this year. However, as much as Jenna Coleman continued to blow the vast majority away with her performances week after week, there is no doubt that 2014 was indefinitely the year of Peter Capaldi.
A Doctor’s first series in the titular role is always a difficult hurdle to overcome. For the first time in a very long time, the actor chosen to take on the role was far from unknown – in fact with Peter Capaldi already being somewhat of a common name in British households the usual expectations of a new Doctor’s portrayal were doubled due to many already having a high opinion of Capaldi due to his successful career that preceded his casting. I believe at this point – at a time where even remembering anyone else in the role feels remarkably unnatural – it’s fair to say Mr Capaldi most definitely did not disappoint.
From his first hilarious post-regenerative moments, it was clear to all we were about to be taken on the ride of our lives. Throughout the year we had the immense privilege of learning who the Doctor is all over again. Somehow we have a man who has captured with precision the torment, the pain, the hilarity, the longing, the fury, the ironic innocence, the danger, the insanity, the romance, the amusement and the excitement of the role – and furthermore is able to translate the honesty of his portrayal with nothing more than movement of his eyebrows.
Peter Capaldi, with his incredible onscreen presence, has secured himself for the year, and hopefully many more to come as THE DOCTOR. With Peter achieving a winning 76.2% of the vote, what more really needs to be said?
Best Recurring Actor – Michelle Gomez
As much as both Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman continued to provide exemplary performances week after week, the success of a series can never be purely attributed to just 2 actors; but to a recurring team both in front of and behind cameras to secure a level of coherence to the plot. Onscreen the series was carried by a mass of new recurring and genuinely portrayed characters including the instantly likable and progressively lovable Danny Pink (who just misses out on solid recognition today… and ever again… because he’s dead), the relatable and quirky Courtney Woods, and of course the sinister yet hilarious Seb.
The amount of returning recurring characters served to both bridge Capaldi’s era of the show to previous ones and also extend the legacies of already loved characters in the form of Paternoster regulars Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax as well as UNIT personal Kate Stewart and Osgood (who, as another bonus reminder of the cruelty of the universe… is also dead).
However, as much as the pool of nominations may seem wonderfully indulgent, once again an obvious choice has managed to emerge and is of course the satanic insanity of Michelle ‘Missy’ Gomez’s portrayal of the Mistress winning the prize with 53.17% of the vote. I can’t do anything else, but praise Gomez for her remarkable performance as the new Master. She brought so much intensity, complexity and most of all insanity in a whole new way without decreasing the effect that John Simm, Roger Delgado or any of her predecessors had before her.
There is a perfect balance of comedy, class and horror to her portrayal. She exudes villainous energy, and is clearly having a great deal of fun with the role. Regardless of only being onscreen for a few moments every 2 or 3 episodes (Bar of course her explosive and fleshy finale appearances) somehow Gomez still seems to have such a prominent and powerful presence over the entire series without a bombarding amount of screen time.
It’s a testament to both the role and the portrayal that the mystery regarding true identity of Gomez’s role is what continually enthralled and captured people in speculation and discussion regarding her character. Before the incineration device came along, Missy’s weapon of choice was enigmatic subtleness – and boy, was it terrifying.
Best Male Guest Actor – Nick Frost
2014 saw an abundance of effort and depth written into the various guest roles, but great characters are in essence worthless without impeccable and inspired portrayals to give scripts the justice they deserve. The line-up of male talent that makes up this year’s category has been fairly mixed in terms of reception and how substantial the various roles actually were in the plots of the episodes, so it’s no surprise that among almost 20 choices only a solid few took the majority of votes.
With special mentions heading the way of Frank Skinner, Peter Ferdinando, Tom Riley and Remi Gooding there’s no disputing the exceptional range of talent and individual characters honoured today. But regardless of a number of substantial contenders, when Santa Claus comes to town he comes to win. Santa just got badass and the aptly-named Nick Frost’s fantastic interpretation of the legendary hero steals the majority of votes today winning with 31.98%.
Frost’s Father Christmas is much funnier, more intimidating and intellectual when compared to other interpretations we’re used to seeing – and it works so remarkably well. Between scientific banter with the Doctor, entertaining dialogue with his elves and Shona and touching moments with Clara both on the rooftop and during the sleigh ride: Nick Frost’s portrayal is as every bit nostalgic, ridiculous, heart-warming, festive and indulgent as one would ever hope the Whoification of Saint Nicholas to be.
Frost’s onscreen presence is something one can only marvel at – he steals every scene with such subtle humour and witty remarks it’s hard not to have your focus immodestly drawn to him. Add me to the list of souls singing for Frost’s Santa Claus return to be as much of an annual tradition as the holiday itself. I don’t know how, I just know who!
Best Female Guest Actor – Faye Marsay
And now for the ladies! 2014 wasn’t only a year that saw great justice go towards the male members of the guest cast, in fact it was arguably even more indulgent in delivering justice to the array of female talent showcased throughout the series. The reality that there has never been a series where almost every supporting actress has at one point throughout the course of the year been suggested as a possible future companion just shows the strength of this year’s candidates.
From the villainous nature of Keeley Hawes’ ‘Ms Delphox’ to the heroism of Zawe Ashton’s ‘Journey Blue’, the innocence of Abigail Eames’s “Maebh” to the honesty of Daisy Beaumont’s ‘Maisie’ – the impressive list of performances and examples in this category will no doubt be enough to silence any unfair criticisms against the show’s showcasing of female characters. But however impressive the list of candidates was, there was really no doubt the victory could only be attributed to the one actress that united so many Whovians on the dancefloor with her own embarrassingly fabulous shuffling: the entertaining, carefree and talented Faye Marsay with her performance of Shona McCullough in “Last Christmas” earning 39.29% of the vote.
It takes an actress with such warmth and likeability, as well a character with such potential and depth to after only short appearance receive such support towards a return in future storylines. Faye Marsay managed the seemingly impossible in doing just this late last year – but what is it about her character and more specifically her portrayal that attracts so much love and earns her the victory today? Whether it be her hilarious antics, her inquisitive nature, her sensational taste in movies and TV shows, the fact that she conjures up images of a Ace/Lucie Miller lovechild, her breathtaking bantering abilities or a mixture of all of the above, one thing known for certain is that the general consensus is begging for a Shona return – so eloquently illustrated by such a strong majority electing her as their favourite supporting actress of 2014 today.
Join us tomorrow for the next batch of results.
