Twitter

David Tennant is a very specific kind of celebrity. For Anglophiles and Doctor Who fans, he’s crazy famous. After all, he’s starred in a string of popular British shows, lit up the London stage, and is arguably the best Doctor in the history of Doctor Who. (When I say “arguably,” it’s with the understanding that Whovians will argue about it.) Tennant is a big deal, and yet, most Americans probably don’t know his name. My own boss told me just last week, “Tsk. No one knows who David Tennant is!”

As of next weekend, a lot of Americans are going to know Tennant’s name and face. The Scot has a plum — no pun-intended — role in Marvel’s Jessica Jones. The series is a bold step forward for the superhero genre and Tennant plays a brand new kind of villain. Kilgrave is a cretin with the power of persuasion. He can control anyone’s mind and get them to do whatever amuses him. It’s the kind of part that’s going to haunt a lot of people and put Tennant’s name on the map stateside. If you want the lowdown on Tennant before he hits the big time, we’ve compiled a streaming dossier for you. It’s kind of like a “meet cute” in a romantic comedy, but because it’s all streaming, we’re calling it your “meet queue.” So get ready to fall for David Tennant…

Casanova (2005)

David Tennant had a string of gigs under his belt when he landed what’s arguably his breakthrough role. In Casanova, Tennant gave us a different kind of lothario. Instead of being a misogynistic sex fiend, Tennant’s Casanova was a scrappy upstart who used his wit and empathy to win women’s hearts. The project not only turned Tennant into a thinking woman’s sex symbol, but paired him with Doctor Who writer and then showrunner Russell T. Davies. [Where To Stream Casanova]

Doctor Who (2005-2013)

Almost immediately after Christopher Eccleston helped Davies reboot Doctor Who for the new millennium, the actor jumped ship, leaving a major void to be filled. Tennant was tasked to step into the role and help keep the fledging series going. It turned out to be an inspired casting choice. Unlike Eccleston, Tennant was an avowed Whovian and brought a sense of mad whimsy to the character that Matt Smith later expanded upon. [Stream Doctor Who on Netflix]

Hamlet (2009)

David Tennant is more than just a cult celebrity best known for playing an eccentric time-traveling alien in a trench coat. That’s right; He’s also an esteemed Shakespearean actor. Tennant got his start treading the boards for the RSC and returned to the legendary theater company to play Hamlet opposite Sir Patrick Stewart. The performance was so celebrated that it was filmed for TV and even shown stateside as a part of PBS’s Great Performances series. [Stream Hamlet on PBS]

The Decoy Bride (2011)

The Decoy Bride is a zany little romantic comedy about what happens when a selfish writer asks a down-on-her-luck Scottish tour guide writer to pretend to be his movie star bride to avoid the prying eyes of the paparazzi. We’ve all been there, right? While the film might not be a known as a classic, it’s got more than enough charm and sweetness to win your heart. [Watch The Decoy Bride on Netflix]

Broadchruch (2013-2015)

If you know Tennant from anything (that’s not Doctor Who), it’s probably his short stint on last Fall’s crime drama Gracepoint. The show was an American adaptation of a stellar British show called Broadchurch…that also starred David Tennant. The British version is a must-see for all murder mystery junkies. The series follows what happens when a boy’s death tears a small coastal town apart. As it turns out, everyone is a suspect and everyone has something to hide. Even the new detective in town played by Tennant. [Stream Broadchurch on Netflix]

[Photos: BBC, Everett Collection, PBS]