Karen Gillan burst onto TV screens last year as feisty companion, Amy Pond, and immediately secured her place in Doctor Who broadcasting history which has been an integral part of British culture since the Sixties. Returning for her second series aboard the TARDIS, Karen reveals what lies in store for Amy, the naughty tricks her co-stars play on her and why she has a newfound passion for fencing.

“There were clues planted in the last series that are going to become major storylines in this one,” divulges a conspiratorial Karen Gillan; a revelation which is bound to have all “Whovians” avidly watching Series Five to spot what the Inverness-born actress is referring to.

“There’s a really interesting arc in this series that involves all of the major characters and it’s evident from the first episode that everyone on the TARDIS is withholding secrets from one another,” continues Karen. “It makes for a fascinating dynamic between the characters and it’s incredibly important to the overall series.”

Karen also believes that Amy has more respect for her new husband Rory after his recent adventures. “I think Rory has perhaps developed the most out of all the characters,” explains Karen. “By the end of last series he became a Roman Centurion hero and he had changed a lot; it felt like he had earned his place in the TARDIS. In fact, it’s hard for me to imagine the TARDIS without him now!”

But has married life changed Amy Pond? Karen quickly sweeps that concern out of the way exclaiming: “if anything she is even more Amy Pondish! I don’t think it would work for Amy to completely change now that she’s a married woman and I certainly don’t think she should become a subdued version of herself. However, I do think being married has helped to define the Doctor and Amy’s relationship and I can reveal that something takes place this series which makes Amy see Rory in a new light…” teases the actress.

While the majority of filming for Doctor Who usually takes place in Cardiff, the cast found themselves in the middle of the desert in Utah last November to film scenes for the opening two-parter. “The new series starts with a real bang,” exclaims Karen. “Filming in Utah was so much fun and I spent a lot of time running around the desert; the scenery was amazing and simply wouldn’t have looked the same if we had filmed it in Cardiff against a green screen. The desert backdrop really gives the opening two episodes an epic feel.”

However, it wasn’t all fun for the actors as temperatures plunged below freezing at night and then they had to battle searing temperatures during the day. “We were all ‘thermaled’ up and I had on two pairs of trousers and four tops! Then the sun would come up making it blistering hot and we’d all peel off the layers,” laughs Karen.

But despite the elements, Karen enjoyed being reunited with Alex Kingston who plays enigma River Song. “Alex is so much fun to have around,” reveals Karen. “She makes the TARDIS team feel complete.”

But the question on viewers’ lips is: “will we find out who River Song actually is?”

“The ending of this first set of episodes has been hidden from everyone!” laughs Karen. “Even I got given a dummy ending to episode seven and it was only at the read-through that Steven Moffat took me, Matt and Arthur into the corridor to read the proper version on his laptop. We then all paced around going, ‘oh my God!’. It’s brilliant and viewers will just have to tune in to find out more. It certainly provides a fantastic cliff-hanger to see us through until the autumn.”

Karen also reveals that this series is set to be the scariest yet with the debut of a number of new monsters. “Ooh, in particular I think The Silence, which are the new monsters in the opening two episodes, actually rival the Weeping Angels in terms of scariness and they look disgusting!” says Karen, screwing up her face in revulsion. “The concept behind them is ingenious because it feels like they are undefeatable, and this series also sees the return of some of the Doctor’s oldest foes, but with an interesting twist…”

A new series of Doctor Who wouldn’t be complete without a number of well known guest stars; Hugh Bonneville, Lily Cole, Suranne Jones and Marshall Lancaster are all billed in upcoming episodes.

“The great thing about this show is that it attracts big names and everyone who comes on set is so excited to be part of the Doctor Who experience,” explains Karen. “These actors could all be off doing other things but they choose to come on the show because they are either fans or their kids are, so it makes the whole experience enjoyable. For me, it’s also a wonderful experience to watch these people at work – it’s like an acting masterclass every episode.”

With each story set at different points in time and occasionally on alien planets, Amy Pond has certainly experienced a lot in her relatively short time on the TARDIS. But for Karen the episode that really stands out for her this series features Hugh Bonneville as a Pirate Captain in the 1600s. “I had a brilliant time filming this episode,” reveals Karen. “Swinging across a pirate ship was a particular highlight and I loved doing the sword fight. I’d never done anything like that before so I literally picked up the sword and started learning moves with a stunt guy – in fact I loved it so much that I actually want to take it up as a hobby! Luckily I caused no major injuries on set, although I did collide with Arthur at one point but that was his fault.”

It is clear that Karen has become firm friends with her co stars Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill and their chemistry certainly translates on screen. “We genuinely mess around all day,” confesses Karen, “but I think that works because as a viewer I’d like to see the Doctor, Amy and Rory having fun. Of course we are serious when we need to be, but in general we clown around between takes and I think that helps to create chemistry on screen.

“Matt has also taken to hiding in my trailer and I’ll go in, humming to myself, and then he’ll just jump out at me and shout”, giggles Karen. “The first time he did it was hilarious because he scared me so much that I fell backwards against the wall and slid down it! He also has an annoying habit of filming me when I fall asleep, while in make-up in the mornings, and it’s a hideous sight – I’m not going to lie!” continues Karen. “Arthur eggs him on and the pair of them gang up but don’t worry, I give as good as I get. Although it’s brilliant when Alex Kingston is around because she knows how to handle them!”

So with two mischievous lads and a number of monsters to deal with, both Karen and Amy Pond have a lot to contend with, but where would Karen go if she had sole control of the TARDIS? “The tundra,” she says, “no reason why! Just go with it!”

Also Karen Gillan Interviews Matt Smith

DOCTOR WHO – THE OFFICIAL SEASON 5 BBC TRAILER – AMY POND

The regenerations of the Doctor are a staple part of the mythology of Doctor Who, but across the past five decades there has been another constant in the series; the changing faces of his companion. Now, as Inverness-born Karen Gillan becomes the latest actress to join the Doctor in the TARDIS, we find out her thoughts on landing one of the most enviable roles in British television and making her mum cry…

“It was one of the strangest experiences ever; it was a really weird feeling!” exclaims Karen Gillan about her casting as Amy Pond.

“I found out on the day of my second audition with Matt, so at least I didn’t have a really long wait. It just didn’t feel real, and I couldn’t believe it!”

But auditioning for Doctor Who is unlike any other audition for the excitable, down to earth actress: “I knew that the audition was for the part of the Companion, but I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about it. They even had a code name for the role because it was so top secret. The code name was ‘Panic Moon’; an anagram of Companion which I thought was really clever.”

Even after Karen discovered she had been cast as Amy Pond the veil of secrecy was not lifted: “I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone that I got the part but my boyfriend was with me when I found out so there was rather a lot of screaming!

“I decided not to tell my parents as I didn’t want to spoil the surprise but when I finally did tell them I made a special day of it and my mum took a day off work. She just couldn’t believe it when I told her. She was doing the dishes and she literally stopped in her tracks and cried. She’s a huge fan of the show, has been a fan for years. She even has Dalek bubble bath at home!”

However, when the BBC announced her casting Karen was just as curious as her parents to find out what reaction she’s get from the fans.

“I couldn’t resist it; I couldn’t stop myself from having a look online to see what people thought,” laughs Karen.

“Although after a while it all got a bit strange seeing people talking about me so I had to stop and I haven’t looked since!”

Part of the interest in Karen was due to her being a relative newcomer to the industry, so how would she explain her life so far to the public?

“I’m from Inverness in Scotland, right up in the highlands. When I was 16 I moved to Edinburgh to study acting and I stayed there for a year, then at 17 I decided to move to London to continue my acting career,” she reveals. “I also did a little bit of modelling for two years which I enjoyed. I met some great people and it was a really fantastic experience.”

As the countdown to the new series starts, Karen is determined not to allow the intense interest in the show to distract her.

“There is no other show that brings the same level of interest and hype or frenzy around it. I don’t think it’s really registered with me yet although I’m sure it will do when it gets closer to transmission. But mainly it’s just great to know there are loads of people that are interested in the show and care about it. I think the best thing for me is to concentrate on doing the job well.”

Karen’s first day of filming the series was made even more memorable by her first encounter with the one thing which, more than any other, represents the show.

“It was great having the TARDIS there. It felt quite strange to see it on a beach in Wales; it’s such a beautiful and iconic thing.”

But seeing the exterior of the TARDIS still couldn’t prepare Karen for the moment when she first entered the blue box, as she explains: “I was in awe of the whole thing. I’d seen the old one so much on TV and then I walked into the new one and it was breathtaking; just the sheer scale of it. It was so exciting. I thought to myself that I had to remember that moment for when Amy walked into it for the first time.”

Since Doctor Who’s return in 2005, there have been a number of memorable Companions for the Doctor. How does Karen feel Amy compares to those that have gone before?

“Well, for a start Steven Moffat has written a brilliant character. I do think Amy is different from previous Companions because she’s very equal to the Doctor. She doesn’t take his word as gospel and she’s always happy to challenge him. If he tells her to do something then she won’t necessarily do it, she might go off and do her own thing which can sometimes create a rift between the two of them! They are best pals though and it’s a very up and down relationship because they are both very passionate people.”

So is it fair to say that we will see some conflict between Amy and The Doctor?

“The Doctor is definitely an alpha male and Amy is an alpha female, so when they meet, they combust. They have quite a turbulent relationship but it’s also really passionate and they care about each other. Amy can really hold her own against him and Steven’s written some great one-liners. It’s a great relationship.”

As soon as the series started filming and Karen was pictured in the media it became clear that Amy Pond has a very unique style. So how involved was Karen in the sartorial choices?

“I think it’s quite important that I feel like her when I wear the clothes. So I worked quite closely with the costume designer, Ray and also the producers, to come up with the signature Amy look. They were generally vintage clothes, but we tried to incorporate high street styles as well because Amy is young. I think naturally there is going to be some of me in her style, as I relate to Amy and we are the same age as each other.”

And Karen feels Matt Smith, as the youngest actor ever to play the Doctor, has risen to the challenge admirably.

“I think Steven said it perfectly; Matt manages to be old and young at the same time,” explains Karen.

“That’s the great thing about the Doctor; he has the energy and mischief of a young child as well as the wisdom, age and intelligence of someone a lot older. Also, with Matt’s performance in particular, he’s so believable that he isn’t human. He has all these things that he does that make you really believe he is an alien or a Time Lord you’re drawn in by that.”

However, as well as working with Matt, the series has also given Karen the opportunity to work with a spectacular array of guest stars.

“That’s the fantastic thing about Doctor Who, you get the most amazing people coming in as guest stars. I got to work with incredible actors; Alex Kingston is back as River Song and she’s a legend! I’m managing to learn so much from all of these people. I feel privileged and I’m always trying to pick up tips from them.”

Is there anyone who hasn’t been in the series as yet that Karen would love to work with?

“As a Scot, I have to say that Billy Connolly would be really great and really funny. It would also be amazing to have someone like Judi Dench to come in and play a character. That would be mind blowing!”

If Karen were in Amy’s place and could commandeer the TARDIS for a day, where would be her first stop?

“I would like to go millions of years into the future to see how people have changed and what technology we have come up with. Also, it would be really interesting to see how far humans have advanced physically. There is this theory that people are going to get really frail and skinny with big heads because they only use their brains and not their body. If I was going to go into the past then I think it would definitely be to see Elvis in concert or visit Gracelands.”

There is one question which will be asked more than any other in the coming months and Karen is unequivocal in her answer; who is Karen’s favourite Doctor?

“That’s simple. Matt.”

Karen Gillan, who plays Doctor Who’s new assistant. Photograph by Suki Dhanda

Can there be any woman between 17 and 30 who doesn’t secretly (or not even that secretly) want, with shivers of yearning, to be Karen Gillan at this moment? Plucked, she freely admits, from obscurity, she’s the new girl, Amy Pond, in the life of the new Doctor, as Matt Smith replaces David Tennant this Easter, and Steven Moffat comes back to the writing.

There is, I regret to inform those of you who like a bit of grit in the oyster to mitigate yellow jealousy, not a bad bone in this story. Karen is, truly and annoyingly, a lucky, pretty, talented, happy, smart, leggy, ordinary, honest, laughing girl, from a very loving family ….

Read the Rest in The Observer