You probably know that feeling when an actor walks onto the screen and the energy just... shifts. That’s Jo Martin. For a long time, she was one of those "Oh, it’s her!" actors—the kind you’d see in The Bill, Casualty, or a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in Batman Begins. But then 2020 happened.
When she turned around in a lighthouse in Gloucester and revealed she was the Doctor, the internet basically broke. It wasn't just a casting choice; it was a cultural reset for one of the biggest sci-fi franchises on the planet. Honestly, looking back at Jo Martin movies and TV shows, it’s wild how much she’s done while staying just under the radar until the world finally caught up to her talent.
The Fugitive Doctor and the "Lighthouse" Moment
Let's talk about the big one first. In the Doctor Who episode "Fugitive of the Judoon," Martin played Ruth Clayton, a bubbly tour guide. Then, in a twist nobody—and I mean nobody—saw coming, she was revealed as an incarnation of the Doctor that the audience (and the Doctor herself) knew nothing about.
She wasn't just "the first Black Doctor." She was a better Doctor than many we'd seen in years. She had this authority, this grit, and a "don't mess with me" energy that felt like a throwback to the classic era but with a modern, sharp edge. She’s popped up a few times since, including a cameo in the 2025 episode The Story & the Engine and a big role in the upcoming 2026 mixed-media event Circuit Breaker.
If you haven't checked out her audio dramas with Big Finish, you’re missing out. The Fugitive Doctor: Most Wanted is basically three hours of her being a total boss across the galaxy. It fills in those gaps of what she was doing while on the run from the Division, and frankly, her voice work is just as commanding as her screen presence.
👉 See also: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
The Holby City Era: Max McGerry’s Iron Fist
Before she was jumping through time, she was running a hospital. In Holby City, Martin played Max McGerry, the CEO and Consultant Neurosurgeon. Max was... a lot. She was the kind of boss who called people "snowflakes" and had zero patience for bureaucracy, even though she was the bureaucracy.
What made her performance so good wasn't just the professional toughness. It was the messy personal stuff. Her relationship with her transgender son, Louis, was one of the most grounded and moving storylines the show ever did. Martin played it with this specific blend of maternal love and utter confusion that felt painfully real. She didn't make Max a saint; she made her a human who was trying to keep a failing NHS trust together while her own family life was a wreck.
The Comedy You Might Have Missed
It's easy to pigeonhole her into these "strong woman" roles, but Martin’s roots are actually in comedy. You’ve gotta go back to the 90s for some of the real gems.
- The Real McCoy: This was a staple of 90s Black British comedy. Jo was a regular, showing off her range in sketches that are still quoted today.
- The Crouches: A BBC sitcom where she played Natalie Crouch. It was one of those shows that maybe didn't get the love it deserved at the time, but showed she could lead a series.
- Back to Life: This is a more recent one (2019-2021). She plays Janice, the parole officer for Daisy Haggard’s character, Miri.
Janice is hilarious. She’s this harried, over-sharing bureaucrat who casually steals food from people's shopping trolleys and gives the most unhinged, "blunt-force" advice. There was actually a lot of talk a few years back about a Janice spin-off because she stole every single scene she was in. If you want to see her comic timing at its absolute peak, watch the scene where she talks about "noodles." It's a masterclass in deadpan.
✨ Don't miss: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
Small Roles, Big Impact: From Batman to The Sandman
If you look through a list of Jo Martin movies and TV shows, you'll find her in places you never expected. Did you know she was in Batman Begins? She plays a police prison official. It’s a tiny role, but it’s part of that Christopher Nolan pedigree.
More recently, she’s been everywhere:
- Dreaming Whilst Black: She plays Grace, and it’s a brilliant look at the realities of the creative industry.
- The Marlow Murder Club: As Suzie Harris, she’s part of a cozy-crime trio that’s been a massive hit. It’s light, it’s fun, and it shows she can do the "Sunday night mystery" vibe perfectly.
- The Sandman: She lent her voice to the Gryphon in the 2025 season.
- Black Ops: She plays Julie, diving back into that gritty-but-funny space she inhabits so well.
Why She’s Ranking So High Right Now
The reason everyone is searching for Jo Martin isn't just because of one role. It's because she represents a shift in British casting. For years, she was a reliable "character actor," but now she's a lead. She brings a specific weight to her roles—a "lived-in" quality that makes you believe she actually knows how to perform brain surgery or fly a TARDIS.
She’s also incredibly prolific. In 2024 and 2025 alone, she appeared in Missing You, Hard Truths, and Midsomer Murders. She doesn't stop.
🔗 Read more: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
What to Watch First
If you’re new to her work, don’t just stick to the sci-fi stuff. Here’s a quick roadmap:
- For the Drama: Watch her Holby City entrance.
- For the Laughs: Watch Back to Life (Season 1 and 2).
- For the History: Find old clips of The Real McCoy on YouTube.
- For the Thrills: Check out The Marlow Murder Club.
Jo Martin is finally getting her flowers. Whether she’s playing a neurosurgeon, a parole officer, or a renegade Time Lord, she’s consistently the most interesting person in the room. With Circuit Breaker coming in 2026, it looks like her "Fugitive" version of the Doctor is going to be the gift that keeps on giving for fans.
To stay up to date with her latest roles, keep an eye on BBC iPlayer's "New Releases" section, as she frequently appears in their high-end dramas. You can also follow the Big Finish website for her latest audio-exclusive Doctor Who adventures, which often bridge the gap between her television appearances.