Alex Kingston

Alexandra "Alex" Kingston (born 11 March 1963) plays River Song in Doctor Who, beginning with DW: Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead in Series 4 and then in further episodes. Trained as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Kingston is best known internationally for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Corday in the US TV series ER and the title role in the 1996 miniseries The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders. She also has a recurring roles in the US TV series FlashForward as Scotland Yard inspector Fiona Banks and a lead role in the ITV drama Marchlands as Helen Maynard, the 1980s tenant of the house. Kingston also starred in multiple seasons of Law & Order: SVU, where she played Defence Attorney Miranda Pond.

Formerly married to actor Ralph Fiennes, whom she met at RADA, she is currently married to Florian Haertel and has one child. Following David Tennant's announcement in October 2008 of his plans to leave Doctor Who, UK media ran multiple features on the odds-on favourites to become the Eleventh Doctor. Kingston's name was one of the only female names listed in the field of actors considered possible candidates (although it's not known if the BBC ever actually considered her for the part). According to Arthur Darvil, Kingston has been told more about her character's history with the Doctor than anyone else, but has been very good at keeping River's secrets from her fellow cast members.