'Doctor Who' Alex Kingston: 'Women like kick-ass River Song'

Alex Kingston has said that people have praised her for playing a "kick-ass" older woman in Doctor Who.

The actress first appeared as River Song in fourth series two-parter 'Silence in the Library'/'Forest of the Dead' and has since returned several times. She also features in this weekend's mid-season finale.

Talking about her character to the Evening Standard, Kingston said : "It plays with the notion of an older woman being in love with a younger man, who in his own funny, confused way loves her but doesn't quite know why, because it's a love in the future, in a different body.

"I'm not sure you'd get that kind of dynamic in America. At first I thought, my goodness, children aren't really going to understand or respond to River Song because of the age difference. But it seems they don't notice that. It's the character they are responding to."

She added: "I have had women coming up to me saying that she's a fantastic role model. That it's great to see a woman in her 40s being kick-ass."

Kingston also claimed that Doctor Who is "the closest thing to theatre" on TV because of its ensemble cast.

The actress has admitted that she did not expect to win a recurring role on the BBC sci-fi drama.

Matt Smith has claimed that the Eleventh Doctor is "too much of a space bachelor" to move beyond flirting with River Song.

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Watch River's Sacrifice in 'Forest of the Dead' below: