Alex Kingston on Doctor Who, ER and Life After River Song

If you’ve been missing the sonic screwdriver and the mysterious allure of River Song, we've got good news: Alex Kingston is back in the TARDIS. Well, sort of. The beloved actress has lent her voice to the latest Big Finish audio drama, Doctor Who: The Ruby’s Curse, proving that once a time traveller, always a time traveller.

Kingston, who stole our hearts as the archaeologist with a timeline more tangled than headphone wires, recently sat down for a good natter about her career. And naturally, the conversation turned to ER. “It really holds up,” she laughed, admitting she’s been rewatching the medical drama with her daughter, Salome. “She finally gets why Mammy was so busy saving lives in Chicago.”

These days, Kingston’s own life is a bit more settled. She shares her London home with husband Ed Wall, an art consultant, and the pair often host dinner parties with close mate Alex Schwartz. “We’ve got a lovely little crew,” she says. “Alex keeps us young, and Ed keeps us sane.”

But don’t think for a second that she’s slowing down. Besides the Doctor Who gig, there’s talk of a rather intriguing project on the horizon—something under the working title Seven. “I can’t say much,” she teases, “but it’s dark, it’s British, and it’s delicious.”

Here are a few things you might not know about the woman behind the time-travelling legend:

• She once turned down a role in a Hollywood blockbuster because it clashed with her daughter’s school play.
• Her favourite ER scene involved a banana and a very confused patient.
• She keeps a TARDIS keyring on her actual keys—just in case.

With The Ruby’s Curse out now and whispers of Seven getting louder, it's safe to say Alex Kingston isn't done surprising us yet. Whether she's in a hospital gown or a time-traveller's frock, she remains one of Britain's most treasured exports. And sure look? We wouldn't have it any other way.