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Doctor Who star Karen Gillan has hit back at suggestions her character Amy Pond is too sexy.

Speaking to the Radio Times, the actress said she did not want "strong female" Amy to conform to a simple "girl-next-door" formula.

She added that her character's short skirts were what young women wore.

The 22-year-old, from Inverness, also said "feminism was not the issue any more" and her character would not just stand about in awe of the doctor.

Kissogram Amy recently tried to seduce the Doctor in an episode of the ����ý1 show, which is popular with children.

Gillan told the magazine: "I guess there was a bit of an uproar and I really didn't see that coming.

"I just don't get it with the skirts. It's what any girl on the street is wearing.

"I mean, Amy's not a schoolgirl, she's 21, pretty much the same age as me, and we all wear stuff like this."

Gillan said the relationship between Amy and the Doctor was one of equals.

She said: "Feminism is not the issue any more, not for me, anyway.

"It's just never occurred to me that a woman wouldn't be equal, in any sphere, to a man.

"It's nothing that has ever come up in my life and nothing I've thought about in terms of Amy.

"She's just a strong girl, woman, whatever. Oh, let's just say she's a strong female."

The actress said she never wanted to base Amy on any kind of formula from the past - "to conform to what works - or what has worked - in a companion; you know, the whole, likeable, girl-next-door business".

She added: "Amy is likeable, I hope, but she's not ordinary. She's quite complicated and there are layers to explore.

"So I was taking a few risks with her and I think it works."