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David Tennant has played a number of iconic characters, from Doctor Who's Timelord to the demon Crowley in Good Omens. He's also portrayed more real people than you might realize, so ahead of the premiere of Litvinenko, in which he gives a devastating performance as poisoned Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, here's a handy guide to seven of his best real-life roles. 

1. Casanova (2005)

Before Tennant and Russell T Davies teamed up for Doctor Who, they worked together on this frisky BBC miniseries. Tennant plays the younger version of Giacomo Casanova, the infamous 19th-century adventurer known for playing the field romantically, with Peter O'Toole as his older counterpart. It's a fun, eventful watch that's well worth seeking out.

2. Dead Ringers (2007)

Tennant's Staged co-star Michael Sheen is known for playing Prime Minister Tony Blair, but Tennant has also depicted him, albeit briefly. During his Doctor Who years, he gamely appeared in a bit for BBC impressions show Dead Ringers in which the P.M. regenerates Timelord-style. He gets Blair's distinctive mannerisms absolutely spot-on.

3. United (2011)

Written by former Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall, this BBC TV movie tells the story of the talented Manchester United soccer team decimated in the 1958 Munich air disaster. Tennant plays Jimmy Murphy, the team's assistant manager, who steered them through the incredibly painful aftermath of this devastating tragedy.

4. Einstein and Eddington (2016)

This BBC/HBO TV movie tells the story of two highly influential 20th-century scientists. Andy Serkis portrays Albert Einstein, while Tennant co-stars as Alan Eddington, the less gregarious Brit who helped to disseminate Einstein's theory of general relativity. It's a subtle and sensitive performance that really shows off his range.

5. Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

This historical movie explores the iconic rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots (Saoirse Ronan) and her English equivalent, Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie). Tennant shines in a vital supporting role as John Knox, the founder of the Church of Scotland, whose cunning machinations play a pivotal part in Mary's downfall.

6. Des (2022)

Tennant gives a genuinely chilling, International Emmy-winning performance in this true-crime miniseries. He plays Dennis Nilsen, a former police officer who murdered at least a dozen young men in London in the late 1970s and 1980s before finally being caught. It's a psychologically complex watch that you can binge on Sundance Now.

7. Litvinenko (2022)

Tennant's latest role is perhaps his most poignant yet. In this four-part drama, he plays Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB officer who died from Polonium-210 poisoning in 2006. Before his passing, Litvinenko claimed to have been poisoned on the orders of Vladimir Putin, triggering an incredibly delicate U.K. police investigation. It premieres Friday (December 16) on AMC+ and Sundance Now.

Do you have a favorite David Tennant real-life role?