Doctor Who Season 8 Casts Keeley Hawes In Guest Role

BBC America has announced that Kelley Hawes will be playing a character called "Ms. Delphox" in an episode of Doctor Who's eighth season. Ms. Delphox is described as "powerful out-of-this-world character with a dark secret" who will meet the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and his companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) on a "strange and puzzling planet." Hawes is a popular talent on British television, with roles in Tipping the Velvet, MI-5, Ashes to Ashes, Upstairs Downstairs, and, most recently, the second season of Line of Duty. Video game fans may also recognize her voice as the voice of Lara Croft in the original Tomb Raider video game series. "I am delighted to join Doctor Who and to be working with this incredible team," Hawes said. "Ms Delphox is a great character and someone I've had a lot of fun playing." "Anyone watching Jed Mercurio's amazing Line of Duty will know that Keeley Hawes is having one hell of year," added lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat. "And now it's about to get even better as she achieves the greatest villainy yet attempted on Doctor Who: she plays a banker." Hawes' episode will be written by Steve Thompson, who wrote the Doctor Who episodes "The Curse of the Black Spot" and "Journey to the Center of the TARDIS," as well as Sherlock episodes "The Blind Banker," "The Reichenbach Fall," and "The Sign of Three." It will be directed by Douglas Mackinnon. Doctor Who Season 8 is expected to begin airing on BBC America later in 2014.