| Clara Oswald | |
|---|---|
| Doctor Who character | |
 Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald | |
| First appearance | "Asylum of the Daleks" (2012) |
| Last appearance | "Twice Upon a Time" (2017) |
| Created by | Steven Moffat |
| Portrayed by | Jenna Coleman |
| Duration | 2012–2015, 2017 |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Human |
| Affiliation | |
| Family | Dave Oswald (father) Ellie Oswald (mother) |
| Home | Earth |
Clara Oswald is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. She was created by series producer Steven Moffat and portrayed by Jenna Coleman. Clara was introduced in the seventh series as a new travelling companion of the series protagonist, the Doctor, in his eleventh and twelfth incarnations.
As the actress portraying Clara, Coleman received second billing alongside Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi for the duration of her time as a regular cast member. A featured actress in the series seven premiere, she became a regular for the second part of the series in 2013, and remained so for the 50th anniversary specials (2013), all of series eight and nine. Coleman also made a cameo appearance as Clara in the 2017 Christmas special.
In the series' narrative, Clara is introduced in the seventh series as three distinct, though similarly named, people living in different eras. The first two incarnations, Oswin Oswald and Clara Oswin Oswald, each die during the episode in which they appear. The third incarnation, a nanny living in 21st century London, becomes the Doctor's companion, travelling with him for the remainder of the series as he tries to uncover the mystery of her multiple lives. She continues to travel with the Doctor after the mystery is resolved at the end of the series, witnessing him regenerate into his twelfth incarnation. At first unsure of the change the Doctor has gone through, she becomes accustomed to it and keeps traveling with him. Clara's actions and personality during this period become a reflection of the Doctor's, and both grow increasingly attached. This leads to her slowly abandoning her life on Earth, and finally, to her demise, which the Doctor tries to stop through dangerous methods. In the series nine finale he is able to save Clara, at the expense of having his memories of her erased. Coleman stated that her character "holds her own" and was competitive with the Doctor, providing "a nice double act". With her place in the series' narrative, Clara was intended to reawaken the Doctor's "curiosity in the universe and gives him his mojo back"..
In promoting the series, Coleman stressed Clara's curiosity and ability to hold her own against the Doctor while Moffat highlighted her speed and wit. Critical reaction noted that the character was far different from previous companion Amy Pond, while the character's first two incarnations were well received, critics thought her final one was more grounded and straightforward. Although her arc in her first season was criticized, the overall role in the narrative of the following series was praised. Coleman was nominated for numerous awards for her portrayal of Clara —including one for the BAFTA Cymru Awards —and since her initial role in the series, the character has ranked highly in numerous 'best companion' polls.[citation needed]