Actress Karen Gillan is about to go from unknown to Who-fan object of obsession. It turns out none of the Doctors companions who’ve shared the TARDIS with David Tennant’s doctor will follow over to the new Doctor’s reign, Matt Smith. Instead, he’ll be accompanied by Gillan, who is 21 and unveiled by BBC as Smith’s new assistant over the weekend.

The boost in profile alone for the actress could help her afford some nice Wilmington NC real estate here stateside, where she might have a better chance to avoid all the geek attention sure to come her way when series five of the new Doctor Who debuts in 2010.