I was sitting thinking to myself yesterday if ever they decided they should have a woman play the Doctor, even for just an episode, who would be a good choice.

My thoughts were, as they would be no matter who was going to play the character, that they would have to be someone who could convey a great range and would be able to command respect and even fear in the way that we have seen prior Doctors achieving in the past.

Originally I thought of comic actresses but I couldn't think of any who could convey the right type of respect, although brilliant actresses they just weren't right, my thoughts in that case were:

Miranda Hart
Sheridan Smith

I started thinking of others as well, some of which included people who've already appeared in Who, even though I don't think they would be right due to their conflicting pasts in the franchise some of them only had minor roles which could be explained or retconned:

Catherine Tate
Tamsin Grieg
Naoki Mori
Olivia Colman
Dervla Kirwin

Also some big name stars who I don't think would necessarily act in television any more:

Kate Winslet
Catherine Zeta Jones
Tilda Swinton
Julie Walters
Helen Mirren
Emily Blunt
Naomie Harris
Helena onham Carter

And a plethora of others:
Zawe Ashton
Leonora Crichlow
Ruth Negga
Romola Garai
Michelle Dockery
Maria Doyle Kennedy

This is just a bit of a list of some ideas, some people will find some of these terrible but that will be good to hear too. What are your thoughts?

Lots of spelling mistakes but can't be bothered going back to correct them

Prescinding from the premise of this thread for the moment (not wanting to be the first to start an argument) I do want to be the first to say:

Carey Mulligan!

I believe Rachel Weisz expressed interest in playing the role.

Miranda Hart as the Doctor would be hilarious.

Jo Brand =D

Christina Hendricks. She even comes with her own Dalek bumps

*cackle* YES!

They ll never cast one its just a joke.

Keeley Hawes might be ok for one episode.

Floella Benjamin

I had meant to include Joanna Lumley in the original list, would be epic

glad you think so personally I find her painfully unfunny.

Is this for the The Doctor to be female, or a separate female Time Lord?

I think Tamsin Greig, at least in the past, would have been a good choice. She can be quite eccentric and is unique looking.

I dread the reaction to this but...

No one.

The only female person who could possibly play the Doctor and not make me turn off at once is Helena Bonham Carter.

I have no idea why people get so riled at the suggestion of a female actor playing the doctor!

I like the OPs suggestion of Helen Mirren. I think she could convey the age and wisdom of the doctor and the excited and mischievious side at the same time.

Realistically, if it were to happen, then it would have to be a relative unknown and not someone too "sexy" for her to be given a chance. We could also harness the power of half of fandom imploding to power Manchester for the next 10 years

Probably the same people who got really riled about Matt Smith being too young (most of whom now never bat an eyelid).

Not all the same people, no.

I can imagine the regeneration scene being so funny where he finds out he's a she now ("Oh BUGGER!!") but I really wouldnt want a female Doctor. If there ever were one then I wouldnt want her around for more than 1 season unless, ya know, she was spectacular and surprised everyone

One actress I saw the other day and instantly thought of as a good Doctor was Margaret Rutherford but she is no longer with us.

I've found in the past that the reactions to a female Doctor can be a bit drastic so I'm glad to see it's not the case this time.

I can't see a female Doctor ever happening and I don't really see that as a negative or a positive but it can be interesting to find out what others think.

My favourite would probably be Ruth Negga actually, I think she could pull it off well.

Samantha Morton might be ok too.