There aren’t many actors out there who can pull off comedy and drama with equal ease, or deliver unforgettable performances as both noble heroes and callous villains. David Tennant, however, is one of those rare, precious exceptions.
Few performers have as much range as this Scottish-born actor, who has lent his talents to everything from Shakespearean classics like Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing, to animated series like The Legend of Vox Machina, Final Space, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He’s starred in fantasy adventures like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and grounded dramas like Broadchurch. But out of all the roles in Tennant’s long TV career, there are a few performances that stand above the rest.
The Tenth Doctor (Doctor Who)
It’s practically impossible to discuss David Tennant’s acting career without bringing up his breakout role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who. Taking over from Christopher Eccleston at the end of the 2005 revival’s first season, Tennant’s 2006-2010 tenure on the series turned it from a success into a household name. Tennant’s Doctor is initially introduced as a more upbeat and whimsical iteration compared to Eccleston’s moodier, more withdrawn take. The tortured survivor of the Time War is gone, replaced by a fun-loving, theatrical adventurer who comes up with silly catchphrases. At least, that's how it appears at first.
Over time, it becomes clear that beneath his cheerful facade, Tennant’s Doctor has quite a dark side. The moment an enemy makes him truly furious, he’s capable of going from lovable to terrifying. He’s a truly complex and multifaceted character — sometimes kind and compassionate, other times ruthless and arrogant. And thanks to Tennant’s performance, both sides feel like equally authentic aspects of the same character. Over a decade after leaving the show, Tennant remains the favorite Doctor of countless fans, and it’s not hard to see why. Selfless, brave, funny, tragic, and dangerous all at once, the Tenth Doctor is arguably the definitive incarnation of the character, thanks in no small part to David Tennant’s brilliant performance.
Kilgrave (Jessica Jones)
On the opposite end of the spectrum, here’s a character who’s as vile and villainous as they come. Kilgrave — an adaptation of the comic supervillain known as the Purple Man — is the main antagonist of Jessica Jones Season 1, and has widely been hailed as one of the greatest villains in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since childhood, Kilgrave has had the ability to effortlessly control the minds of anyone he meets, and as a result, he’s gone through life with the power to always do as he pleases with no consequences. Kilgrave uses this power not in search of world domination or any other lofty goals, but merely to indulge his most depraved desires, no matter how many lives he destroys in the process.
From the very start of the series, Kilgrave casts a shadow over the show’s title character, who is haunted by the traumatic memory of her time under Kilgrave’s control. And thanks to Tennant’s performance, he has exactly as much menace as the story requires. On the surface, Kilgrave has a similar sort of playful, easygoing charisma as the Tenth Doctor, showing how easily someone could be lured in by him in the first place. But it’s never long before the mask slips, revealing how casually cruel and callous Kilgrave can be. Tennant delivers a downright horrifying performance, made even more disturbing by how charming Kilgrave is.
Even so, there’s a certain tragedy to Kilgrave despite how monstrous he is. Because of his powers, he never had the opportunity to become a well-adjusted person who can form genuine connections with those around him. In a sense, it’s the effort to fill the void left by that loneliness that motivates his reprehensible deeds. Kilgrave manages to be understandable without being too sympathetic, remaining utterly detestable despite the suffering he’s endured. It’s all thanks to Tennant’s remarkable range that such a complex character can be brought to life so effectively.
Scrooge McDuck (DuckTales)
Viewers may be familiar with the 1987 cartoon DuckTales, in which Donald Duck’s triplet nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie embarked on globetrotting adventures alongside their great uncle Scrooge. However, a recent 2017-2021 reboot of the classic animated series saw David Tennant taking up the role of Scrooge McDuck.
True to form, Tennant absolutely shines in the part. Not only does he excel at capturing the character’s comedic, adventurous side, he also brings a surprising amount of pathos to the role during the show’s more dramatic moments. The series even saw him reunited with his Doctor Who co-star Catherine Tate, who voiced Scrooge’s nemesis Magica De Spell. Far from a case of mere stunt casting, David Tennant’s brief-yet-unforgettable turn as Scrooge McDuck proves that he was an absolutely perfect pick for the character.
Crowley (Good Omens)
One of the most recent additions to Tennant’s ever-growing list of iconic roles is Crowley, one of the two protagonists of Good Omens, adapted from the novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett. As a Fallen Angel and servant of Hell, Crowley likes to present himself as an evil and dangerous being, but he’s actually a decent fellow despite his best efforts.
Despite his cynical, sardonic exterior, Crowley truly loves humanity, and eventually teams up with his nemesis-turned-ally Aziraphale in order to save Earth from the coming Apocalypse. Darkly hilarious with a heart of gold, Crowley is yet another example of David Tennant’s incredible range, as well as his ability to make even the most over-the-top characters feel real.