Archie Panjabi played the iconic villain this season. Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies spoke about casting her as the Rani, saying it was “vital” to choose an Indian actress for the role.
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After much speculation, the final scenes of The Interstellar Song Contest showed Anita Dobson’s Mrs Flood bi-generating into the Rani, with Panjabi taking over as her counterpart.
The famous Time Lady scientist, who first appeared in 1985’s The Mark of The Rani, was originally played by Kate O’Mara, who passed away in 2014.
This time, the Doctor Who team felt it was important to cast an Indian actress, as “Rani” is a Sanskrit word and name that means “Queen.”
After all these years, it was time to cast the right heritage. I think it was vital to cast an Indian person as the Rani. Let’s face it, I’d cast Archie Panjabi as anything! But Phil Collinson had worked with her on Sea of Souls and it helps when someone has worked with an actor before. She was straight in! She dived into it and knew of Kate O’Mara and the history. She was an instant yes and an absolute joy to work with.
Davies told Doctor Who Magazine
Earlier, while speaking to Radio Times magazine, Panjabi shared that she aimed to honour O’Mara in her performance.
I rewatched the episodes and what stood out was this incredible strength and presence. She was so unforgettable that I did want the audience to look at the Rani and get a sense of Kate O’Mara’s Rani, just for a split second, while seeing her.
Panjabi said
In the season finale, The Reality War, Panjabi’s Rani was ultimately destroyed by Omega, leaving Mrs Flood’s version still alive.
Source: RadioTimes