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| death date    = [[26 July (people)|26 July]] [[2012 (people)|2012]]
| death date    = [[26 July (people)|26 July]] [[2012 (people)|2012]]
| role          = [[Romana I]]
| role          = [[Romana I]]
| job title      = Actor
| job title      = [[Actor]]
| story          =  
| story          = [[#Credits|See Credits Section]]
| time          = {{il|1978-1979 (television)|2005-2011 (audio)}}
| time          = {{il|1978-1979 (television)|2005-2012 (audio)}}
| non dwu        = ''The Odessa File'', ''The Likely Lads'', ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'', ''Jane Eyre'', ''Bergerac'', ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'', ''Casualty'', ''Brookside'', ''Heartbeat'', ''Jonathan Creek'', ''Paradise Heights'', ''Holby City'', ''Wire in the Blood'', ''Eastenders''
| non dwu        = ''The Odessa File'', ''Return of the Saint'', ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'', ''[[Jane Eyre]]'', ''[[Bergerac]]'', ''[[Poirot|Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'', ''Casualty'', ''Brookside'', ''Heartbeat'', ''Jonathan Creek'', ''Paradise Heights'', ''Holby City'', ''Wire in the Blood'', ''[[EastEnders]]''
| imdb          = 0848693
| imdb          = 0848693
| official site  =  
| official site  =  
| twitter        =  
| twitter        =  
}}'''Mary Tamm''' (born [[22 March (people)|22 March]] [[1950 (people)|1950]]<ref>[[REF]]: ''[[Who-ology: The Official Miscellany]]''</ref>) was a graduate and an associate member of the {{w|Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts}}. She was the first actress to play [[Romana I|Romana]] in ''[[Doctor Who]]'', appearing as the [[companion]] of [[Tom Baker]]'s [[Fourth Doctor]] in [[Season 16]].
}}'''Mary Tamm''' ([[22 March (people)|22 March]] [[1950 (people)|1950]]<ref>[[REF]]: ''[[Who-ology: The Official Miscellany]]''</ref><ref name="obituary" />-[[26 July (people)|26 July]] [[2012 (people)|2012]]<ref name="obituary" />; born in [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]]<ref name="obituary">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jul/26/mary-tamm|title=Mary Tamm obituary|author=[[Toby Hadoke|Hadoke, Toby]]|date of source=26 July 2012|website name=The Guardian|accessdate=12 November 2018}}</ref>) was a graduate and an associate member of the {{w|Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts}}. She was the first actress to play [[Romana I|Romana]] in ''[[Doctor Who]]'', appearing as the [[companion]] of [[Tom Baker]]'s [[Fourth Doctor]] in [[Season 16 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 16]].
 
== Career ==


Tamm began her acting career on the stage with the [[Birmingham]] Repertory Company in 1971, moved to [[London]] in 1972 and appeared in the musical ''Mother Earth''. Before her association with ''Doctor Who'', Tamm acted in several motion pictures, most notably Sigi in {{wi|The Odessa File}} (1974) and {{wi|The Likely Lads}} (1976).
Tamm began her acting career on the stage with the [[Birmingham]] Repertory Company in 1971, moved to [[London]] in 1972 and appeared in the musical ''Mother Earth''. Before her association with ''Doctor Who'', Tamm acted in several motion pictures, most notably Sigi in {{wi|The Odessa File}} (1974) and {{wi|The Likely Lads}} (1976).
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Tamm was not initially interested in playing a [[companion]] to the Doctor. She believed the role was merely that of the "damsel in distress." She changed her mind when assured by the [[producer]]s and her agent that Romana would be different. While Romana was supposed to be a [[Time Lord|Time Lady]], a member of the Doctor's own people and therefore as capable as the Doctor, the character eventually took on the characteristics that Tamm was concerned about; as a result of this, she left the programme after only one season.<ref>[[There's Something About Mary...]]</ref>
Tamm was not initially interested in playing a [[companion]] to the Doctor. She believed the role was merely that of the "damsel in distress." She changed her mind when assured by the [[producer]]s and her agent that Romana would be different. While Romana was supposed to be a [[Time Lord|Time Lady]], a member of the Doctor's own people and therefore as capable as the Doctor, the character eventually took on the characteristics that Tamm was concerned about; as a result of this, she left the programme after only one season.<ref>[[There's Something About Mary...]]</ref>


Other reasons for her departure were reported in media and in fandom, but this is the only reason mentioned in the recent ''Key to Time'' DVD box set. The role of Romana was assumed by [[Lalla Ward]]. On the 2007 Special Edition DVD release of the ''Key to Time'', Tamm states she was willing to film a regeneration sequence, but was not asked to do so.
Other reasons for her departure were reported in media and in fandom, but this is the only reason mentioned in the 2007 ''Key to Time'' DVD box set. Contrary to popular belief, Tamm's pregnancy in 1979 was not infact a factor in the decision to leave the show or even to not appear for a regeneration. Tamm herself was vocal about the inaccurate nature of this belief, aptly pointing out that she did not give birth until November 1979<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20100106014719/http://www.marytamm.com/page6.htm</ref> (which was long after scripting and filming for ''Destiny of the Daleks'' in January and June of 1979, respectively.<ref name=":0">[[DWMSE 9]]</ref>)
 
On the 2007 Special Edition DVD release of the ''Key to Time'', Tamm states she was willing to film a regeneration sequence, but was not asked to do so. This fits with [[Douglas Adams]]' own statements that there was never any intention of having Tamm reprise Romana for the start of ''Destiny of the Daleks''.<ref>In-Vision Issue 39, ''Destiny of the Daleks'' (October 1992)</ref>
 
At any rate, the role of Romana was assumed by [[Lalla Ward]], after Tamm had suggested her as a successor.<ref name=":0" />


Since then, Tamm acted in film and television, playing the characters of Penny Crosbie in the soap opera {{wi|Brookside}} from 1993 to 1995, Yvonne Edwards in the [[BBC]] drama {{wi|Paradise Heights}} (2002) and guest roles in many television programmes. In one of her films, the 1987 release ''Three Kinds of Heat'', her character has the dubious distinction of being killed off by a villain portrayed by future Doctor [[Sylvester McCoy]].
Since then, Tamm acted in film and television, playing the characters of Penny Crosbie in the soap opera {{wi|Brookside}} from 1993 to 1995, Yvonne Edwards in the [[BBC]] drama {{wi|Paradise Heights}} (2002) and guest roles in many television programmes. In one of her films, the 1987 release ''Three Kinds of Heat'', her character has the dubious distinction of being killed off by a villain portrayed by future Doctor [[Sylvester McCoy]].


[[File:Mary Tamm 2.jpg|thumb|left|A publicity image of Tamm prior to her work on ''[[Doctor Who]]''.]]
[[File:Mary Tamm 2.jpg|thumb|left|A publicity image of Tamm prior to her work on ''[[Doctor Who]]''.]]
Tamm returned to the role of Romana in the second series of ''[[Gallifrey (audio series)|Gallifrey]]'' audio plays produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. In 2007 she added "interviewer" to her CV when she hosted and conducted interviews for a brief documentary entitled "Stones Free" for the DVD release of'' [[Season 16|The Key to Time]]'', in which she talked to historians about one of the locations for the serial, ''[[The Stones of Blood]]''. The [[2 entertain|2{{!}}entertain]] documentary ''[[There's Something About Mary...]]'' saw Tamm recount her time on the show and the means by which she acquired and later left the role.
Tamm returned to the role of Romana in the second series of ''[[Gallifrey (audio series)|Gallifrey]]'' audio plays produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. In 2007 she added "interviewer" to her CV when she hosted and conducted interviews for a brief documentary entitled "Stones Free" for the DVD release of'' [[Season 16 (Doctor Who 1963)|The Key to Time]]'', in which she talked to historians about one of the locations for the serial, ''[[The Stones of Blood (TV story)|The Stones of Blood]]''. The [[2 entertain|2{{!}}entertain]] documentary ''[[There's Something About Mary...]]'' saw Tamm recount her time on the show and the means by which she acquired and later left the role.


She performed in the Big Finish production ''[[The Stealers from Saiph]]'' (released June 2009), again playing Romana, as well as reading the voice of the Fourth Doctor.
She performed in the Big Finish production ''[[The Stealers from Saiph]]'' (released June 2009), again playing Romana, as well as reading the voice of the Fourth Doctor.
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Also in 2009, she read an audio book version of the [[Time Hunter]] novella ''[[The Tunnel at the End of the Light]]''.
Also in 2009, she read an audio book version of the [[Time Hunter]] novella ''[[The Tunnel at the End of the Light]]''.


She was married with one daughter and a grandson. On 14 September 2009, Tamm published her autobiography, ''First Generation'' — a reference to the fact she was in the first generation of her family born in the UK, as her parents hailed from the then-[[Soviet Union]].<ref>http://www.fantomfilms.co.uk/books/mary_tamm.htm</ref> She also recorded an audio book version. ''First Generation'' was publicised as "volume 1" of her autobiography, suggesting a follow-up book in the future.
In early 2010, [[2 entertain|2{{!}}entertain]] announced a new series of DVD featurettes entitled ''[[Tomorrow's Times]]'' would be featured on upcoming DVD releases. The first chapter of this series was presented by Mary Tamm.<ref>http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-dvd-extras.html</ref>
 
In 2011 and 2012, Tamm recorded a series of [[Big Finish]] audios as Romana alongside [[Tom Baker]]. These were released from January to July 2013, posthumously.
 
== Personal life ==
She was married with one daughter and a grandson. On 14 September 2009, Tamm published her autobiography, ''First Generation'' — a reference to the fact she was in the first generation of her family born in the UK, as her parents hailed from the then-[[Soviet Union]].<ref>https://www.fantompublishing.co.uk/product/mary-tamm-first-generation/</ref> She also recorded an audio book version. ''First Generation'' was publicised as "volume 1" of her autobiography, suggesting a follow-up book in the future.
 
== Death ==
On 26 July 2012, Tamm died at the age of 62. The BBC confirmed that Tamm died in hospital following a battle against [[cancer]]. Tom Baker said in a statement: "She was a darling companion and wonderfully witty and kind. I'm so sorry to hear of her death."


In early 2010, [[2 entertain|2{{!}}entertain]] announced a new series of DVD featurettes entitled ''[[Tomorrow's Times]]'' would be featured on upcoming DVD releases. The first chapter of this series was presented by Mary Tamm.<ref>http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-dvd-extras.html</ref>
Her husband, Marcus Ringrose, died a few hours after Mary's funeral.<ref>https://www.standard.co.uk/news/celebritynews/widower-of-dr-who-actress-mary-tamm-dies-of-heart-attack-hours-after-giving-eulogy-8027000.html</ref>
 
== Credits ==
=== Television ===
==== Doctor Who ====
* ''[[The Ribos Operation (TV story)|The Ribos Operation]]''
* ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]''
* ''[[The Stones of Blood (TV story)|The Stones of Blood]]''
* ''[[The Androids of Tara (TV story)|The Androids of Tara]]'' (also as [[Strella|Princess Strella]])
* ''[[The Power of Kroll (TV story)|The Power of Kroll]]''
* ''[[The Armageddon Factor (TV story)|The Armageddon Factor]]''
 
=== Audio ===
==== The Fourth Doctor Adventures ====
* ''[[The Auntie Matter (audio story)|The Auntie Matter]]''
* ''[[The Sands of Life (audio story)|The Sands of Life]]'' / ''[[War Against the Laan (audio story)|War Against the Laan]]''
* ''[[The Justice of Jalxar (audio story)|The Justice of Jalxar]]''
* ''[[Phantoms of the Deep (audio story)|Phantoms of the Deep]]''
* ''[[The Dalek Contract (audio story)|The Dalek Contract]]'' / ''[[The Final Phase (audio story)|The Final Phase]]''
 
==== The Companion Chronicles ====
* ''[[The Stealers from Saiph (audio story)|The Stealers from Saiph]]''
* ''[[Ferril's Folly (audio story)|Ferril's Folly]]''
* ''[[Tales from the Vault (audio story)|Tales from the Vault]]''
 
==== Gallifrey ====
* ''[[Lies (audio story)|Lies]]'' - [[Romana I]]
* ''[[Imperiatrix (audio story)|Imperiatrix]]'' - Romana I / [[Pandora]]
* ''[[Fractures (audio story)|Fractures]]'' - Imperiatrix Pandora
* ''[[Warfare (audio story)|Warfare]]'' - Imperiatrix Pandora
* ''[[Reborn (audio story)|Reborn]]'' - [[Romana (Reborn)|Romana]]
 
=== Audiobook Readings ===
==== Time Hunter Novels ====
* ''[[The Tunnel at the End of the Light (novel)|The Tunnel at the End of the Light]]''


In 2011 and 2012, Tamm recorded a series of [[Big Finish]] audios as Romana alongside [[Tom Baker]]. These were released from January to July 2013.
=== Documentary ===
* ''Doctor Who's Who's Who''
* ''[[Myth Makers]]''
* ''[[The Ribos File (documentary)|The Ribos File]]''
* ''[[There's Something About Mary... (documentary)|There's Something About Mary...]]''
* ''[[The Humans of Tara (documentary)|The Humans of Tara]]''
* ''[[Stones Free (documentary)|Stones Free]]''
* ''[[Parrot Fashion (documentary)|Parrot Fashion]]''
* ''[[Getting Blood from the Stones (documentary)|Getting Blood from the Stones]]''
* ''[[Defining Shadows (documentary)|Defining Shadows]]''
* ''[[A Matter of Time (documentary)|A Matter of Time]]''


On 24 July 2012, Tamm died at the age of 62. The BBC confirmed that Tamm died in hospital following a battle against [[cancer]]. Tom Baker said in a statement: "She was a darling companion and wonderfully witty and kind. I'm so sorry to hear of her death." There was some initial confusion in the media regarding the actual date of her death, with the ''Radio Times'' later confirming that she died the morning on 24 July.<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-07-26/doctor-whos-romana-mary-tamm-dies</ref>
=== Other ===
* ''[[Merry Christmas Doctor Who (TV story)|Merry Christmas Doctor Who]]''


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{imdb name|id=0848693}}
{{NameSort}}
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:Articles that were originally Wikipedia forks]]
[[Category:Articles that were originally Wikipedia forks]]
[[Category:Doctor Who regular cast]]
[[Category:Doctor Who regular cast]]
[[Category:Actors who portrayed Romana]]
[[Category:Actors who portrayed Romana]]
[[Category:Big Finish Gallifrey voice actors]]
[[Category:Big Finish Gallifrey voice actors]]
[[Category:Big Finish Doctor Who voice actors]]
[[Category:Pre-2005 Doctor Who cast reprising their roles at Big Finish]]
[[Category:Pre-2005 Doctor Who cast reprising their roles at Big Finish]]
[[Category:Audiobook readers]]
[[Category:Audiobook readers]]
[[Category:Actors who had speaking roles in adlibbed stories]]
[[Category:Actors who had speaking roles in adlibbed stories]]
[[Category:The Companion Chronicles voice actors]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor Adventures voice actors]]
[[Category:Big Finish regular cast]]

Latest revision as of 19:47, 22 April 2024

RealWorld.png

Mary Tamm (22 March 1950[1][2]-26 July 2012[2]; born in Bradford, West Yorkshire[2]) was a graduate and an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was the first actress to play Romana in Doctor Who, appearing as the companion of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor in season 16.

Career[[edit] | [edit source]]

Tamm began her acting career on the stage with the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1971, moved to London in 1972 and appeared in the musical Mother Earth. Before her association with Doctor Who, Tamm acted in several motion pictures, most notably Sigi in The Odessa File (1974) and The Likely Lads (1976).

Tamm was not initially interested in playing a companion to the Doctor. She believed the role was merely that of the "damsel in distress." She changed her mind when assured by the producers and her agent that Romana would be different. While Romana was supposed to be a Time Lady, a member of the Doctor's own people and therefore as capable as the Doctor, the character eventually took on the characteristics that Tamm was concerned about; as a result of this, she left the programme after only one season.[3]

Other reasons for her departure were reported in media and in fandom, but this is the only reason mentioned in the 2007 Key to Time DVD box set. Contrary to popular belief, Tamm's pregnancy in 1979 was not infact a factor in the decision to leave the show or even to not appear for a regeneration. Tamm herself was vocal about the inaccurate nature of this belief, aptly pointing out that she did not give birth until November 1979[4] (which was long after scripting and filming for Destiny of the Daleks in January and June of 1979, respectively.[5])

On the 2007 Special Edition DVD release of the Key to Time, Tamm states she was willing to film a regeneration sequence, but was not asked to do so. This fits with Douglas Adams' own statements that there was never any intention of having Tamm reprise Romana for the start of Destiny of the Daleks.[6]

At any rate, the role of Romana was assumed by Lalla Ward, after Tamm had suggested her as a successor.[5]

Since then, Tamm acted in film and television, playing the characters of Penny Crosbie in the soap opera Brookside from 1993 to 1995, Yvonne Edwards in the BBC drama Paradise Heights (2002) and guest roles in many television programmes. In one of her films, the 1987 release Three Kinds of Heat, her character has the dubious distinction of being killed off by a villain portrayed by future Doctor Sylvester McCoy.

A publicity image of Tamm prior to her work on Doctor Who.

Tamm returned to the role of Romana in the second series of Gallifrey audio plays produced by Big Finish Productions. In 2007 she added "interviewer" to her CV when she hosted and conducted interviews for a brief documentary entitled "Stones Free" for the DVD release of The Key to Time, in which she talked to historians about one of the locations for the serial, The Stones of Blood. The 2|entertain documentary There's Something About Mary... saw Tamm recount her time on the show and the means by which she acquired and later left the role.

She performed in the Big Finish production The Stealers from Saiph (released June 2009), again playing Romana, as well as reading the voice of the Fourth Doctor.

Also in 2009, she read an audio book version of the Time Hunter novella The Tunnel at the End of the Light.

In early 2010, 2|entertain announced a new series of DVD featurettes entitled Tomorrow's Times would be featured on upcoming DVD releases. The first chapter of this series was presented by Mary Tamm.[7]

In 2011 and 2012, Tamm recorded a series of Big Finish audios as Romana alongside Tom Baker. These were released from January to July 2013, posthumously.

Personal life[[edit] | [edit source]]

She was married with one daughter and a grandson. On 14 September 2009, Tamm published her autobiography, First Generation — a reference to the fact she was in the first generation of her family born in the UK, as her parents hailed from the then-Soviet Union.[8] She also recorded an audio book version. First Generation was publicised as "volume 1" of her autobiography, suggesting a follow-up book in the future.

Death[[edit] | [edit source]]

On 26 July 2012, Tamm died at the age of 62. The BBC confirmed that Tamm died in hospital following a battle against cancer. Tom Baker said in a statement: "She was a darling companion and wonderfully witty and kind. I'm so sorry to hear of her death."

Her husband, Marcus Ringrose, died a few hours after Mary's funeral.[9]

Credits[[edit] | [edit source]]

Television[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Fourth Doctor Adventures[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Companion Chronicles[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifrey[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobook Readings[[edit] | [edit source]]

Time Hunter Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

Documentary[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ REF: Who-ology: The Official Miscellany
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hadoke, Toby (26 July 2012). Mary Tamm obituary. The Guardian. Retrieved on 12 November 2018.
  3. ↑ There's Something About Mary...
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100106014719/http://www.marytamm.com/page6.htm
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 DWMSE 9
  6. ↑ In-Vision Issue 39, Destiny of the Daleks (October 1992)
  7. ↑ http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-dvd-extras.html
  8. ↑ https://www.fantompublishing.co.uk/product/mary-tamm-first-generation/
  9. ↑ https://www.standard.co.uk/news/celebritynews/widower-of-dr-who-actress-mary-tamm-dies-of-heart-attack-hours-after-giving-eulogy-8027000.html

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

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