The actress has appeared in several different roles in the new series, but who is she really playing?
Fans of Doctor Who have been left scratching their heads over the mysterious recurring appearances of actress Susan Twist in the new series.
Twist has appeared in several different roles in the new series, but who is she really playing?
A time traveller? A villain? A member of the Pantheon?
The first theory is that Twist is a time traveller, perhaps even the iconic River Song, who knew the Doctor without him knowing her because their timelines weren’t synced. Twist’s appearances across various time periods could suggest she is following the Doctor and Ruby through time.
Another theory is that Twist is a major villain, perhaps the Rani or the One Who Waits. The latter is an enigma, mentioned by both the Toymaker and Maestro, and is presumed to be an extremely powerful member of the Pantheon, a group of god-like beings. Twist’s appearances could be her following the Doctor and Ruby, getting closer and closer with each new episode.
Twist’s appearances could also be linked to the central mystery surrounding Ruby’s origins. One theory is that Twist is Ruby’s birth mother, keeping tabs on her for her own reasons. Another theory is that Twist is associated with Triad Technology, a company name spotted on a bus during the Christmas special. Could she be an evil tech mogul or a hologram sent to distract Ruby from learning the truth about her origins?
Showrunner Russell T Davies has tried to brush off the mystery
Showrunner Russell T Davies has tried to brush off the mystery, joking that there was a “shortage of actors” and that they “keep using Susan Twist for a lot of things”. However, fans aren’t convinced, and with Davies known for inserting seemingly random details that become significant later on, it seems likely that Twist’s appearances are more than just a coincidence.
Twist’s other appearances
So far, Twist has appeared as Mrs Merridew in ‘Wild Blue Yonder’, an unnamed audience member in ‘The Church on Ruby Road’, Comms Officer Gina in ‘Space Babies’, Tea Lady in ‘The Devil’s Chord’, the Ambulance in ‘Boom’, the Hiker in ’73 Yards’, and Penny Pepper-Bean in ‘Dot and Bubble’.
Twist is also set to appear in the finale two-parter, ‘The Legend of Ruby Sunday’ and ‘Empire of Death’, so perhaps her character’s identity will finally be revealed then.
