Today the news broke that another former Doctor Who star passed away. Sadly, this is becoming more and more frequent, with Nicholas Courtney and Elisabeth Sladen last year, and Phil Madoc and Caroline John this. Now another name must be added to the list.
Mary Tamm played the first incarnation of the Time Lady Romanadvoratrelunder or Romana for short (or Fred depending on who you ask). With this character, she became a first for the show. She was the first companion designed to be the Doctor's equal. In theory, she would be every bit as intelligent as him. Her first appearance, The Ribos Operation, certainly managed to achieve this.
However, as her one and only series progressed, Mrs Tamm felt that her character had evolved into a 'damsel in distress' and it is for this reason that she choose to depart the series. In her last appearance, The Armageddon Factor, she actually acted alongside the actress who would replace her, Lalla Ward.
As with many Who actors, she returned to the role in the Big Finish Audio Adventures. In there, she acted alongside Lalla Ward as Romana II, as well as John Leeson as K9. Her final contributation to the series will come in a series of audios alongside Tom Baker's Doctor, presumably set between Armageddon and Destiny of the Daleks.
My introduction to her came when I bought The Key to Time boxset. While I was aware that Lalla Ward protrayed the second Romana, I had no idea what Mary Tamm's version of the character was like. Let me tell you. When I watched The Armadggedon Factor, I was hooked! Her Romana was more poised and graceful, but also more snobby than her replacement. As the serials passed, she mellowed a little, but remained graceful, and I would've loved to have seen more of her character's evolution had she remained with the series.
Unfortunately, like with Caroline John and Liz Shaw, it was simply not meant to be.
Following an 18 month battle with cancer, she passed away, leaving behind a husband and daughter. My sympathies go out to them and the rest of her family during this difficult time.
UPDATE: It was reported that mere hours after giving her eulogy, Mary Tamm's husband, Marcus Ringrose, died suddenly from a heart attack. My deepest sympathies go out to their daughter, Lauren Burlingham, and her son.
However, as her one and only series progressed, Mrs Tamm felt that her character had evolved into a 'damsel in distress' and it is for this reason that she choose to depart the series. In her last appearance, The Armageddon Factor, she actually acted alongside the actress who would replace her, Lalla Ward.
As with many Who actors, she returned to the role in the Big Finish Audio Adventures. In there, she acted alongside Lalla Ward as Romana II, as well as John Leeson as K9. Her final contributation to the series will come in a series of audios alongside Tom Baker's Doctor, presumably set between Armageddon and Destiny of the Daleks.
My introduction to her came when I bought The Key to Time boxset. While I was aware that Lalla Ward protrayed the second Romana, I had no idea what Mary Tamm's version of the character was like. Let me tell you. When I watched The Armadggedon Factor, I was hooked! Her Romana was more poised and graceful, but also more snobby than her replacement. As the serials passed, she mellowed a little, but remained graceful, and I would've loved to have seen more of her character's evolution had she remained with the series.
Unfortunately, like with Caroline John and Liz Shaw, it was simply not meant to be.
Following an 18 month battle with cancer, she passed away, leaving behind a husband and daughter. My sympathies go out to them and the rest of her family during this difficult time.
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| Rest in Peace, Mary Tamm |
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