 It’s
with great sadness that it was announced, on the 27th
July 2012, that Mary Tamm, who played the first incarnation
of Romana,
has died aged 62.
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Mary Tamm,
who was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, had been
fighting a long battle with cancer for the last 18
months.
Mary
Tamm played the part of Romana, a Time
Lady from The Doctor's home planet of
Gallifrey, alongside the Fourth Doctor
and his robot dog K9 in
the Key
to Time season of six connected
stories in 1978/9.
Her first story, "The
Ribos Operation",
saw her join the Fourth
Doctor on a quest to find
the six scattered segments
of the Key to Time.
Romana's other
adventures
with in the TARDIS included "The
Pirate Planet",
written by
Douglas Adams,
and "The
Stones of
Blood",
which was
the 100th
story since
the show
started in
1963.
When Mary Tamm
left Doctor Who the role of Romana
was taken over by Lalla
Ward.
Tom Baker,
who played the part of the Fourth
Doctor, described Mary Tamm as ‘a
darling companion and wonderfully witty
and kind. I'm so sorry to hear of her
death’.
Colin Baker,
who played the Sixth
Doctor, wrote on Twitter: ‘Shell-shocked
to hear Mary Tamm is gone.
A funny, caring, talented,
lovely and down to earth
lady’.
Her agent,
Barry Langford,
who confirmed
the news,
said she
had a ‘zest
for life’ and
that ‘she
was a fantastic
actress.
She played
stage parts
of such range,
parts that
would take
your breath
away. She
could play
any role,
and do so
wonderfully’.
Mary Tamm trained
at RADA, beginning her career at the
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, alongside
Derek Jacobi, Joan Sims and Ronnie Barker.
Her stage work included the roles of
Amanda in Private Lives and
Beverley in Abigail's Party.
She then moved on to work in television
and film. Her first feature film was Tales
That Witness Madness. This was followed
by further stage film and television
roles including The Odessa File and The
Likely Lads, as well as recurring
roles in EastEnders and Brookside.
More recently, she starred in Wire
in the Blood, Paradise Heights and Jonathan
Creek.
Her husband
Marcus Ringrose paid tribute to her ‘sheer
talent’. He has also said
that ‘Mary was truly beautiful
in every way. On set and offstage, her
earthy northern humour and self-deprecating
wit brightened every occasion. We will
miss her every day’.
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