MILLIE GIBSON
- Andrew Rankin
- 13 minutes ago
- 4 min read
As 5’ELEVEN" sits down to speak with Millie Gibson, it’s immediately clear why audiences are drawn to her. A mixture of grounded warmth, sharp instinct, and a strong passion for her artistic craft. Best known worldwide as Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who, Gibson now steps into one of her most complex roles yet: Irene Heron in The Forsytes, the lavish new adaptation of John Galsworthy’s iconic novels.
Words by Caoimhe Clements
Photographed by Alex Hutchinson. Styled by Rosie Sykes. Make-up by Howard Kong at Carol Hayes Management using Tatcha and YSL. Hair by Dani Ruzhnitskyi at C/O Management using R+Co. Millie Gibson appears courtesy of Public Eye
For Gibson, the role felt like a turning point in her career. “To be honest, I've never been seen in that sort of light before,” she says thoughtfully. “I haven’t done any roles like that before.” What intrigued her most about Irene was the character's history, one that has appeared in countless adaptations, each coloured by its era. ”I think Irene is the type of character that has been done before; it was a challenge I wanted to give myself, to do my own version of it,” she explains. “I think the script speaks for itself. I think the audience falls in love with Soames Forsythe as well.”
Despite the beauty and elegance of the period drama, the experience was emotionally extensive. “Playing Irene was the hardest role I have ever played,” Gibson reflects. “It was one of the funniest roles I have ever played. I had the best time. That cast is just brilliant, so many beautiful personalities.” During the filming process, she says, she was also pushed further than anything she has worked on before. “It was a show where I explored themes and did things as an actor that I had never done before.” However, surrounded by a team she trusted, she found the courage to go deeper. “I felt safe. It was a very safe environment. I had to take myself to pretty dark places, but I felt so safe. “Working alongside Eleanor Tomlinson and Jack Davenport shaped the experience in more ways than one, and Tomlinson, in particular, became a grounding force. “Eleanor was the big sister on set,” Gibson smiles, describing the cast, “We made a connection of a family, really.”
When filming for season one of The Forsytes began, Gibson was still in the whirlwind of Doctor Who, a global franchise with a passionate, vocal fanbase. In contrast to the sci-fi chaos of interplanetary adventure, Irene offered a very different emotional register. “Playing Irene was a natural performance... a bit more grounded,” she says. “It’s such a sensitive show, and I do eventually address a lot of sensitive subjects. It’s a more serious role.”
Though still in the early years of her career, Gibson’s approach to acting is very disciplined. “Don’t bring your personal emotions into your role,” she says. “I think when it comes to the scenes we explore in this show, these are so real and so raw. I try not to draw from personal experience too much, but at the same time it’s quite hard.” It was her previous Role on Doctor Who that taught Millie the cost of emotional overextension. “I remember a lot of times in Doctor Who I was drawing a lot from personal experiences, and it can drain you for the rest of the day,” she says. “You have to detach the two even when it’s hard. I am still learning.”
Coat by Tod’s. Shirt and tie stylists own. Tights by Falke. Shoes by Izie. Jewellery Millie’s own
As she reflects on the past year, two major shows, radically different roles, Gibson sounds energised. "I just love how the characters I have played recently are completely different,” she says. “I think I'll just stay on that path.” What draws her most to specific parts is the depth of the characters. “I am drawn to characters that are wounded in a way, so maybe more comedy would be really good,” she laughs. “Anything that challenges me and makes me a better actor.”
Off-set, Gibson is disarmingly down-to-earth. She talks about the simple joy of unwinding after long shooting days. “Going out with the cast afterwards is nice,” she says, before laughing at a summer memory. “I remember this summer when we were filming season two, I was just obsessed with Love Island.”
Her voice lifts again when the conversation shifts to creativity. Few people inspire her as deeply as Phoebe Waller-Bridge. “I love Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I take such inspiration from her,” she says. “I really want to get into writing, and she really inspired me with Fleabag.”
Long before stepping onto sets like Doctor Who or The Forsytes, Gibson was already certain of where she belonged. Born and raised in Manchester, she grew up in a house where imagination wasn’t just encouraged, it was nurtured. “My mum took me to a theatre school when I was about six,” she recalls. “I was always a performative child. I always wanted to role-play and just play dress up with my mum. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”
It was her training at Oldham Theatre Workshop, famous for shaping some of the North West’s strongest young performers, that crystallised her ambitions. By 14, she was juggling schoolwork with professional auditions, eventually landing Coronation Street, the job that placed her firmly on British television’s radar. Throughout it all, Gibson credits her mother’s unwavering support in nurturing her creativity.
There is a softness to the way Gibson speaks about the path she’s on, as if she’s moving with purpose, but also with joy. She smiles the kind of smile only someone doing exactly what they were meant to do can have.
“I just love playing different people.”
Coat by Shrimps. Jewellery Millie’s own
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