All the red carpet details

“How do I say this in a PG way?” asks Best friendwith a mischievous smile, ahead of the Los Angeles premiere of Doctor whowhich airs May 10 on Disney+. Gatwa, who takes command of the time and space traveling TARDIS as the Fifteenth Doctor, takes a break before thoughtfully bringing his signature approach to expressive, headline-making style to The Hollywood Reporter.

“I am someone who very much wears my heart on my sleeve. My emotions are very clear for everyone to see, so I like pieces that have a mix of strength and vulnerability,” says Gatwa, who stole scenes as Ken in Barbie, as well as on the red carpet at the film's London premiere in custom silver sequin Valentino shorts, a billowing cut-out cape and a jaunty cowboy hat. “I always like something sexy and sensual.”

Due to his close collaboration with stylist Felicity Kaythe Sex education fan favorite also likes to add clever nods to his notable roles. “How can I relate to the character or the show in a 'fashionable' way?” says Gatwa, who immediately hit it off with Kay during an editorial shoot in 2019.

For the red carpet of the Hollywood premiere of Doctor who, Kay specifically looked at a navy blue pinstripe double-breasted suit that Gatwa's Doctor dons for a trip to the not-so-swinging 1963 London music scene in episode three. During his fitting, Gatwa “absolutely fell in love,” as he says, with a black model with powerful shoulders. business suitaccented with a silver grommet, from Achilles Ion Gabriel's debut collection.

“It just had a really cool, punky, rocker element to it, which I love because the show feels quite punk and nerdy,” says Gatwa. “I just thought it was so different from anything I've done before. It was more… clothed.”

The selection of the Paris-based Finnish designer, who is also creative director of Camper, reflects the duo's ongoing efforts to spotlight emerging designers — especially for “big moments” like this premiere, Kay said.

“It also speaks to my journey as an actor,” says Gatwa. “It's worth supporting emerging artists because they are the ones who push the story forward and then move us forward.”

Accessorized with pointed square toe Christian Louboutin boots, Gatwa's Doctor who The premiere look feels subversively daring and unexpected – featuring a cropped jacket with a slightly nipped in waist and calf slits on the sides of the flared trousers – and it sends a deeper message.

“It's a twist on traditionalism, like everything we do with this show,” says Gatwa, of the upcoming season that promises to tackle race in “interestingways. “There is a twist to this traditional, institutional show moving into the modern era. So the suit is a bit of an ode to that.”

Expect even more compelling looks in the next two weeks. To pay tribute to the pantheon of Time Lords – and to Gatwa's historical turn as the first openly queer Black Doctor — Kay has prepared a series of twelve ensembles for his monster round Doctor who appearances.

“We talked a lot about the Doctor and there are a lot of parallels between the Doctor's wardrobe and their eccentricity as a character,” says Kay, who “noticed” Doctor who costume designer Pam Downe's winks back to previous Time Lords. “Ncuti authentically embraces the eccentric side of fashion anyway, so there are so many parallels between him and his doctor.”

See more looks the rising stars' style has worn in recent months, from last summer Barbie premiering in LA at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party.