Not necessarily. I found out about him when I was a kid. I honestly can't remember which I saw first, the British TV show or the Peter Cushing movies (shown on local Channel 7 when they had Sci Fi Week on the 4:00 Movie), but I knew about the guy from early on. I'm very fond of the Tom Baker years, and until this stuff thought Genesis of the Daleks was the best stuff they ever did with the character.

It's like I posted earlier: Before this, I liked and appreciated Doctor Who. Eccleston made me a fan.