Doctor Who star Jinkx Monsoon has broken down her "objectively evil" character in the upcoming series.
The BBC show will return to screens on May 11 with a double-episode premiere, marking the start of Ncuti Gatwa's first full stint as the Fifteenth Doctor alongside his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).
Episode two will see the Doctor face off against his "most powerful enemy yet", Maestro, played by two-time Drag Race winner Monsoon.
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Ahead of the new series' launch, Monsoon teased some of what fans can expect to see from the villain, who she says is "exceptionally powerful".
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"When human rules don't apply to you you get to do whatever you want. You don't have to worry about whether your emotions make sense to people because you don't have to answer to them. And that's really freeing when you’re playing a character," she shared.
"The thing I love about a villain is that they can't think they're doing something wrong, or if they do think they're doing something wrong, it's justified because it's for something greater that they've planned.
"What I love about Maestro is that while objectively evil, they are an artist, they have a mission statement. And that was really lovely to play."
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Monsoon went on to explain how Maestro "treats the Doctor like he is no threat", adding: "When you have someone trying to take you down, but they don't really scare you that much, that is so enjoyable."
"It made for a dynamic performance between Ncuti and me. Maestro has a fascination with the Doctor," she continued.
"To get to play against someone who hates you and is trying to tear you down and trying to stop you when you just find them adorable - that's great to play. It really informs the character of the villain."
Doctor Who will return for its 14th series on May 11 at midnight, airing on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
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Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
