Simon Callow

Simon Callow (born 13th June 1949) played Charles Dickens in The Unquiet Dead. He was also considered for the role of the Eighth Doctor in the Doctor Who TV Movie in 1996

Around 1994, Callow was working on the movie Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (which he is probably best known to the American audience as), his co-star Jim Carrey was offered the role of the Eighth Doctor during filming, Carrey had never even heard of Doctor Who until he was offered the role. While he was being offered the role, the producers told him it was a highly succesful British television show, so Carrey approached Callow about what he should do. He merely said "I've been offered the role of the Eighth Doctor in the revival of Doctor Who" and Callow cut him off and told him to take it. A bewildered Carrey then responded that he would probably have to work in television and Callow answered "Fuck a movie career! You're being offered the chance to play Doctor Who! You don't pass up on an opportunity like this! Are you fucking ma?d!". It was at that moment Carrey realised how big a deal Doctor Who was, so he turned down the role as he felt it would offend Doctor Who fans for someone who isn't a fan of the show to play their sacred part.