Doctor Who Actor Petitioning to Update Dress Code

Working on Doctor Who can open quite a few doors. However, it may not change the requirements for a job outside of the acting world, as Nicola Thorp found out.

When one thinks of actors who have appeared on Doctor Who in the past, our thoughts tend to go immediately to those who played prominent roles on the show. We picture past Doctors, companions, or notable recurring characters. For those people, their roles on Doctor Who can open quite a few doors in the acting world, helping to launch their careers.

However, those other, lesser known actors who appear on the show in minor roles may not have that same luxury. Unless they get their big break, or find a way to come back to the program, they may have to find other lines of work in order to make ends meet. Such was the case for Nicola Thorp, who appeared as Clara’s mother in two episodes in 2013.

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As it turned out, the actor, who was working as a temporary receptionist for PricewaterhouseCooper, was fired from her position for refusing to follow the dress code. The reason? As it turns out, she was told she could not work there without wearing more “feminine attire,” specifically high heeled shoes with at least a two inch heel.

"‘They said they had a policy that all women had to wear high heels at reception,’ Ms Thorp said. ‘They said I could go out and buy a pair of two to four inch heels or go home."

Since she was expected to be on her feet for the entirety of her shift, one can understand not wanting to wear high heeled shoes all day. That just looks painful. Even if it weren’t, why is it necessary? But that was not the only inane dress code requirement, as skirts were strongly preferred, and any makeup had to fall on a chart of “acceptable shades.”

With this being the case, she has petitioned the government to ban that sort of dress code, as she does not feel that dressing more “feminine” affects her ability to do her job. It is certainly understandable; after all, as long as she is not wearing a tattered punk band shirt and a pair of ripped up jeans in an office setting, what difference does a pair of heels or a skirt make? None at all. In reality, the dress code is simply forcing employees to adhere to an archaic patriarchal, sexist standard of beauty.

Next: Davros auditions on Britian's Got Talent

Hopefully, Thorp will be able to get a few more acting jobs and maybe even land her next break. As we know from watching the struggles that Donna had on Doctor Who, being a temp is generally a pretty awful position.

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Doctor Who Actor Nicola Thorp Petitioning to Update Sexist Dress Code

By David Hill | May 11, 2016

Working on Doctor Who can open quite a few doors. However, it may not change the requirements for a job outside of the acting world, as Nicola Thorp found out.