The Master, Doctor Who’s quintessential villain, has been portrayed by a fascinating array of actors, each bringing their unique flair to this iconic Time Lord antagonist. Since Doctor Who first graced our screens in 1963, the Master has been a persistent thorn in the Doctor’s side, their complex relationship rooted in shared Gallifreyan origins and opposing ideologies regarding Earth and humanity. The recent 60th-anniversary specials hinted at a potential return of the Master, teased by the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris), suggesting his continued significance in Doctor Who Season 14.
While the official Doctor Who Season 14 cast details remain under wraps, it’s widely anticipated that showrunner Russell T. Davies will resurrect the Master. The enduring conflict between the Master and every Doctor incarnation has captivated audiences for decades, largely due to the character’s intricate nature and the compelling villainy they embody. The Master serves as a crucial narrative device, enriching the Doctor’s backstory and providing a dark mirror to their heroic persona. Just as with the Doctor, certain portrayals of the Master have resonated more profoundly than others, shaping the character’s legacy.
| Actor | Years As The Master |
|---|---|
| Roger Delgado | 1971 – 1973 |
| Peter Pratt & Eric Roberts | 1976 & 1981 |
| Anthony Ainley | 1981 – 1989 |
| Eric Roberts | 1996 |
| John Simm | 2007 – 2010, 2017 |
| Michelle Gomez | 2014 – 2017 |
| Sacha Dhawan | 2020 – 2022 |
This ranking includes actors who delivered full, canonical performances as the Master in the main Doctor Who series. It excludes portrayals of the Master in flashbacks, comedic sketches, or charity specials.
8 Peter Pratt & Geoffrey Beevers (1976 & 1981) – The Decayed Master Actors
The Crispy Incarnation of The Master
Peter Pratt holds the distinction of being the first actor to step into the Master’s role after the untimely passing of Roger Delgado in 1973. His portrayal in the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) adventure “The Deadly Assassin” introduced audiences to the ‘Crispy Master,’ a moniker derived from his visibly decayed appearance and gravelly voice. Taking on this role was a significant challenge, not only due to the shadow cast by Delgado’s iconic performance but also the physical limitations imposed by the extensive makeup required to achieve the Master’s deteriorated state. Pratt’s ability to convey emotion and menace was hampered by the mask, making it a demanding task to embody such a pivotal character effectively.
Despite these obstacles, Pratt delivered a commendable and memorable performance. Crucially, his depiction of the Master as being at the end of his life cycle provided a novel perspective on Time Lord biology. It underscored their vulnerability, contrasting with their previously perceived invincibility. This fragility added a layer of depth to the Master and the Time Lords in general, making Pratt’s contribution significant despite the physical constraints of the role.
Pratt’s Master was the last in his life cycle, which allowed audiences to better understand the fragility of the Time Lords.
The ‘Crispy Master’ resurfaced in the Fourth Doctor serial, “The Keeper of Traken,” this time played by Geoffrey Beevers. This marked the second and final appearance of this particular incarnation. Beevers inherited the role and the heavy makeup, continuing the portrayal of the decaying Master. However, Beevers’ performance benefited from advancements in makeup techniques.
Beevers’ Master offered a slightly different visual approach; his face was painted green rather than relying on a full mask. This subtle change significantly improved his diction and allowed for a greater range of facial expressions. His interpretation of the Master was suitably twisted and menacing, delivering a compelling performance in his single episode before the character regenerated into Anthony Ainley’s incarnation. While both Pratt and Beevers portrayed the same decaying Master, Beevers arguably had more scope to express the character’s malevolence due to the improved makeup design.
7 Eric Roberts (1996) – The Master Actor in the TV Movie
The Master’s Gallifreyan Fashion Moment
Eric Roberts, an Oscar-nominated actor, took on the role of the Master in the 1996 Doctor Who television movie, starring opposite Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor. Roberts’ performance is often remembered for its flamboyant and theatrical nature, a departure from previous Masters. Notably, this Master frequently donned elaborate Time Lord robes, a stylistic choice that emphasized his Gallifreyan origins but felt somewhat out of sync with the character’s established image. This sartorial preference, while visually striking, contributed to a slightly different interpretation of the Master.
While Roberts delivered an energetic portrayal, this Master incarnation didn’t quite align with the established character framework laid down by actors like Anthony Ainley. It’s important to consider the context of the Doctor Who movie itself, which adopted a different tone and aesthetic compared to the main series. Roberts’ Master seemed to draw inspiration from classic movie villain tropes, blending moments of genuine menace with a distinct campy charm. This combination, however, arguably made him a memorable, if somewhat divergent, entry in the lineage of Master actors. His performance, while not universally lauded, added a unique chapter to the Master’s on-screen history.
6 Derek Jacobi (2007) – The War Master Actor
The Master’s Fragile Human Disguise
Derek Jacobi’s tenure as the Master, though confined to a single episode, left an indelible mark on the revived Doctor Who series. Jacobi initially appeared as the unassuming Professor Yana in “Utopia,” a seemingly benevolent scientist in one of Doctor Who‘s most celebrated episodes. In a dramatic twist, Yana was revealed to be the Master in disguise. Shot by his assistant, Chantho (Chipo Chung), Yana regenerated into John Simm’s Saxon Master. This episode marked the triumphant return of the Master to Doctor Who after the show’s 2005 revival and presented the character in a uniquely vulnerable state.
Jacobi masterfully balanced the persona of the gentle, amnesiac Professor Yana with the nascent, lurking madness of the Master. Even in his Yana guise, subtle hints of the Master’s true nature seeped through, manifesting in moments of sudden bitterness and the first auditory suggestion of the drums, a motif that would become central to John Simm’s Master. Jacobi’s performance expertly built suspense, gradually revealing the Master’s hidden identity and setting the stage for the character’s resurgence in the modern era. His portrayal served as a brilliant bridge, reconnecting the classic Master with the contemporary series.
5 Anthony Ainley (1981–1989) – The Longest Serving Classic Master Actor
Doctor Who’s Enduring Nemesis of the 80s
Anthony Ainley holds the record for the longest consecutive run as the Master in Doctor Who‘s classic era. He embodied the role from 1981 until the show’s initial cancellation in 1989, with his final appearance in “Survival,” the last adventure of that era. During his extensive tenure, Ainley’s Master confronted an impressive five incarnations of the Doctor, from the Third (Jon Pertwee) to the Seventh (Sylvester McCoy). While replicating Roger Delgado’s captivating energy proved a near-impossible task, Ainley came remarkably close, injecting his own distinctive nuances into the character.
Despite visual similarities to Delgado’s Master, Ainley cultivated an unmatched on-screen presence. His signature dramatic exits, often at the end of episodes, became a hallmark of his portrayal, leaving a lingering sense of mystery and foreboding. Ainley’s Master was characterized by a chilling laugh, instantly recognizable and deeply unsettling, a vocal signature that remains unmatched by subsequent Master actors. His contribution solidified the Master’s role as a recurring and formidable adversary throughout the 1980s Doctor Who seasons.
4 Sacha Dhawan (2020–2022) – The Modern Era Master Actor of Chaos
The Master Reimagined for a New Generation
Sacha Dhawan injected a captivating eeriness into his portrayal of the Master during Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor era, earning widespread acclaim. Dhawan’s casting was groundbreaking; he was the first actor of color to play the Master, a progressive move that mirrored Whittaker’s historic casting as the first female Doctor. This Master incarnation is often regarded as one of the most volatile and unhinged, amplifying the inherent madness present in previous versions to a new extreme.
Dhawan’s Master also gave audiences more context on his past with the Doctor, and his emotional reaction to discovering that the Doctor was the Timeless Child proved just how difficult the Master had found their lives in the Doctor’s shadow.
Dhawan’s Master delved deeper into the complex dynamic between the Master and the Doctor, particularly exploring the Master’s profound resentment and pain stemming from living in the Doctor’s shadow. The revelation of the Doctor as the Timeless Child further intensified the Master’s angst and sense of betrayal. His flamboyant and theatrical interpretation of Rasputin in “The Power of the Doctor” highlighted the inherent absurdity and theatricality that has always been a subtle undercurrent of the Master character. Dhawan successfully modernized the Master for a contemporary audience, making him a compelling and unpredictable force.
3 Michelle Gomez (2014–2017) – The First Female Master Actor
Missy: The Master’s Chaotic Feminine Side
Michelle Gomez’s arrival as Missy, the female incarnation of the Master, shortly after Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor, was a landmark moment for Doctor Who. While Jodie Whittaker later broke ground as the first female Doctor, Gomez was the pioneering female performer to portray a Time Lord in this iconic role. Missy, while retaining the Master’s inherent chaos and malevolence, presented a distinctly different demeanor – more playful, whimsical, and overtly flirtatious with the Doctor. She maintained the Master’s villainous core but with a lighter, more theatrical touch.
Missy exhibited a more nuanced and complex relationship with the Doctor, particularly evident in Doctor Who Season 12. In the two-part finale, “World Enough and Time” and “The Doctor Falls,” Missy encountered John Simm’s Saxon Master. Initially allied to destroy the Doctor, Missy underwent a significant character arc, realizing a deeper connection beyond pure animosity. This culminated in a poignant and dramatic scene where both Masters ultimately killed each other, highlighting Missy’s internal conflict and evolving understanding of her relationship with the Doctor. Gomez’s Missy was a refreshing and captivating reinvention of the Master, showcasing the character’s adaptability and enduring appeal.
2 John Simm (2007–2010, 2017) – The Saxon Master Actor of the Reboot Era
The Master as a Modern Political Manipulator
John Simm stands out as one of the most prominent Masters in the revived Doctor Who series, particularly for his memorable season 3 storyline where he masqueraded as Harold Saxon, the UK Prime Minister. Simm’s Master orchestrated a cunning takeover of Earth using manipulative mind control and political machinations. He reprised the role in David Tennant’s final Tenth Doctor adventure, “The End of Time,” unleashing the Time Lords upon modern-day London in a bid to destroy the Doctor once more. The Saxon Master is arguably the most widely recognized modern interpretation of the character, largely due to his impactful introduction in the rebooted series.
The repetitive sound of the drum beat in the Master’s head made him even more detached from reality than his predecessors
A defining element of Simm’s Master is the “drums” storyline. This constant, maddening drumbeat in his head amplified his detachment from reality, driving him to even more extreme and unpredictable actions than previous incarnations. His cruel treatment of Martha Jones’ family during “The Year That Never Was” and his accelerated aging of the Doctor showcased the depths of his depravity.
Simm’s Master also initiated a contemporary Doctor Who trope: associating the Master with a pop song. For the Saxon Master, it was “Voodoo Child” by Rogue Traders, ominously played as the Toclafane descended upon Earth. While any Master incarnation poses a significant threat, John Simm’s Saxon Master evoked a unique sense of dread and fear, solidifying his place as a truly terrifying adversary.
1 Roger Delgado (1971–1973) – The Definitive Master Doctor Who Actor
The Original Master: Setting the Gold Standard
Roger Delgado’s pioneering portrayal of the Master from 1971 to 1973 remains the gold standard against which all subsequent Master actors are measured. Tragically, Delgado’s career was cut short by his untimely death in a car accident in Turkey. As the first actor to embody the Master, Delgado established a compelling template for the character, creating a sophisticated and formidable villain who could easily rival a James Bond antagonist. His Master was characterized by a suave demeanor, sharp intellect, and chillingly calm menace, delivered with understated intensity and hardened expressions.
Delgado’s Master and Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor shared a dynamic reminiscent of Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes, a brilliant adversarial relationship first showcased in “Terror of the Autons.” Delgado’s performance is widely considered iconic and remains a pinnacle in Doctor Who history. His untimely death prevented further exploration of the character’s arc. The unmade Doctor Who serial “The Final Game,” intended as Jon Pertwee’s farewell episode, was rumored to feature the Master sacrificing himself for the Doctor, a potentially profound development tragically lost.
Delgado’s interpretation profoundly influenced later Master actors, particularly John Simm and Sacha Dhawan, who incorporated elements of Delgado’s delivery and deranged intensity into their own portrayals. Despite the curtailed trajectory of Delgado’s Master, his foundational performance remains unsurpassed, creating the unofficial blueprint for the character’s evolution and enduring legacy in Doctor Who.
Doctor Who
Cast
Headshot Of Ncuti Gatwa In The US premiere of the new season of the Disney+ series Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa – Actor playing the Fifteenth Doctor
Headshot Of Millie Gibson In The US Premiere Of The New Season Of The Disney+ Series Doctor Who Millie Gibson – Actress playing Ruby Sunday- Susan Twist – Actress in Doctor Who
- Michelle Greenidge – Actress in Doctor Who
Success!
The latest season of Doctor Who introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, joined by new companion Ruby Sunday. Their first adventure begins with “The Church on Ruby Road,” where they face powerful new foes and unravel the mystery surrounding Ruby’s origins. The Doctor grapples with the aftermath of a unique regeneration event and battles enemies more formidable than ever before.
Release Date December 25, 2023
Seasons 1
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