David Tennant on lifelong 'guilt': Scottish Presbyterian roots shape 'Rivals' role
Synopsis
David Tennant says his Scottish Presbyterian upbringing left him drowning in lifelong guilt — and that very burden is what lets him crawl inside the skin of Tony Badingham, the morally bankrupt schemer of Disney Plus hit 'Rivals'. As season 2's second half drops this week, Tennant's confession reframes one of TV's most-watched villains.
Key Takeaways
David Tennant says he has spent his entire life feeling 'guilt', attributing it to his Scottish Presbyterian upbringing.
The actor told The Hollywood Reporter that guilt is his 'engine' and that he constantly worries about behaving appropriately.
Tennant believes this disposition helps him portray amoral characters like Tony Badingham in 'Rivals' . 'Rivals' is adapted from the novels of Dame Jilly Cooper and streams on Disney Plus .
The second part of season 2 is set to release later this week.
Actor David Tennant, the breakout star of Disney Plus drama 'Rivals', has revealed he has spent his entire life weighed down by a persistent sense of 'guilt' — a feeling he traces back to his Scottish Presbyterian upbringing. The Doctor Who alum opened up about the emotional undercurrent in a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, as reported by ‘Female First UK’.
What David Tennant Said
Asked what exactly he feels guilty about, Tennant did not hold back. ‘Everything, absolutely everything. I’m a Scottish Presbyterian. It’s my engine,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter.
‘Everything is sent to make me feel bad about myself. That’s it, really. I don’t have any more profound an insight than that. Must be partly upbringing and partly psychology. I will often worry that one hasn’t done the right thing, behaved appropriately, been as kind as one should have been,’ the actor added.
How Guilt Feeds His Villain Roles
Tennant, who describes himself as ‘quite conflict-averse’, believes that this lifelong burden has paradoxically equipped him to inhabit characters who possess no moral compass at all — chief among them Tony Badingham, the deliciously amoral antagonist in 'Rivals', adapted from the novels of Dame Jilly Cooper.
‘I think maybe having a sort of very keen sense of that allows me to understand characters like Tony Badingham, who has none of that,’ he explained.
The Appeal of Playing the Bad Guy
On whether he genuinely enjoys playing villains, Tennant offered a layered answer. ‘It’s interesting, as someone who is quite conflict-averse, as someone who suffers a lot from guilt and who’s not particularly liberated by a lack of morality in real life,’ he said.
‘I suppose enjoyable is the word, to imagine what it might be like to walk in those very nicely put together three piece tailor-made suits and brogues. I mean, they’re fun to play, aren’t they? It’s enjoyable to imagine what life might be like if you didn’t give a s***,’ he added.
What's Next for 'Rivals'
The actor had previously discussed the raunchy escapades of his 'Rivals' character, with the second part of season two set to land on screens later this week. Tennant's reflections arrive at a moment when audiences are gearing up to watch Badingham at his most unfiltered, lending fresh psychological texture to a performance already drawing critical acclaim.
Point of View
Because they're played by someone who genuinely cannot imagine living without a conscience. In a streaming landscape glutted with one-note antagonists, that gap between actor and character is exactly what makes Tony Badingham feel dangerous rather than cartoonish.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does David Tennant say he feels guilty all the time?
Tennant attributes his lifelong sense of guilt to his Scottish Presbyterian upbringing, which he describes as his 'engine'. He told The Hollywood Reporter that he constantly worries about whether he has done the right thing or behaved appropriately.
Who does David Tennant play in 'Rivals'?
Tennant plays Tony Badingham, an amoral and scheming antagonist, in the Disney Plus drama 'Rivals'. The series is adapted from the novels of Dame Jilly Cooper.
How does Tennant's personal guilt connect to his acting?
Tennant believes his acute personal sense of morality and guilt helps him understand and portray characters who possess no such compass. He says imagining life without that moral weight is part of what makes playing villains enjoyable.
When is the next part of 'Rivals' season 2 releasing?
The second part of 'Rivals' season 2 is set to hit Disney Plus later this week. Tennant's remarks come ahead of that release, offering fresh insight into his portrayal of Tony Badingham.
