in conversation with Eddie

Mary Tamm is Whovian Royalty. In 1978 Season 16 took an unusual step away from the Gothic excesses of the Hinchcliffe/Holmes era with a series of linking stories known collectively as The Key To Time. Given to the Doctor as a bona fide “assistant” – as apposed to “companions” Sarah and Leela, by The White Guardian, Time Lady Romanadvoratrelunar was haughty, clever, brave and naïve, and, it seemed, more than a match for the reluctant Doctor, and, of course played by the spectacular Mary Tamm who first appeared on screen in a sleek one piece white dress and feather boa raising more than the temperature for a thousand pre-pubescent fanboys and dads alike. But Romana was more than glamour and looks and Mary Tamm’s one season in the TARDIS has stayed in the memory and is thought of, for the most part, with great affection.

I understand when you were first offered the role of Doctor Who you turned it down, not wanting to be another “damsel in distress”… how did the producers convince you?

It was not so much the producers as the director and my agent- there is a long story about this question which is answered in the book.

Quick word on the genius of Mr Tom Baker – what’s he like to work with? I get reports of everything from genius to infuriating and perhaps everything in between.

You said it! Tom and I got on very well, eventually, after a rocky start - I still meet him from time to time, and we always have a great laugh together.

How did you approach the role of Romana? Again we hear that time wasn’t particularly of the essence. Some others have said “simply say the lines and turn up”, but your Romana always seemed to have a keen wit behind her.

I guess with my classical training and theatre experience, I was able to approach the role intelligently. I was the first companion to have an established career behind her, apart from Louise (Jamieson, aka Leela – ed), who also trained at RADA; some people say we stand out for this reason.

You were of course put in some wonderful costumes in the role. Did you have a favourite? The striking white robes for The Ribos Operation spring to mind. I’m not sure why…

I helped to design the costume for The Androids of Tara, so this one is my favourite. Over the years I have received more compliments about this costume than any other, although the white dress is copied most by fans that turn up in various versions of it at conventions!

As a serious, proper and established actor, how different is Doctor Who to work in? Some suggest its melodrama, but Tom says that if you don’t take it seriously you lose the audience. Did you take his lead?

Tom took the part very seriously, as did I - he is a consummate professional, and you cannot be anything else to make the part, and therefore the series work - to not take your work seriously is a complete disaster for an actor. Tom was being flippant when he said that, I am sure!

I love the relationship between Romana and the Doctor. First he’s reluctant, then sometimes he’s almost teacher-ish, but there’s a mutual respect, he allows you to go off and have your own adventure, and, maybe, did I sense a little chemistry?

Oh very much so, we got on like a house on fire, as we both share a wicked sense of humour!

How was your other co-star, the fabulous K9, to work with?

Fabulous is the word - John Leeson was a star!

And you had some varied locations, from beautiful countryside to difficult swamps…?

Yes, some locations were very cold, damp and uncomfortable to be in, to be sure, but it is all part of the actor's life! You learn to live with it, and the nicer locations make up for it.

And at the end of that season you decided to leave? Was that a difficult decision? Romana was popular, had a great rapport with the Doctor, were you asked to stay? There’s an apocryphal story that you were pregnant…

NOT TRUE! The story of my being pregnant is a myth, and I have recently edited my Wikipedia page to amend the falsehood. John Nathan Turner started it, and I was very cross with him about it, the naughty man! My daughter was born in November 1979! I decided to leave because the part was not up to what had been promised, and there was nowhere left to go with character.

Did you ever regret leaving? Romana MkII went on to great success with Lalla.

No, I had done my time, and had some very exciting film work soon after which left me with no regrets, or looking back.

You’ve returned to the role of Romana in the Big Finish Audios along with Lalla. How was that, working with “another” Romana. Famously, the Doctors were known for getting together during anniversaries etc, but never a companion…

Yes, well, it was weird, at first, and I felt strongly proprietorial about Romana, so it was strange to hear Lalla doing” my" part. She is so good in it, however, and we are such good pals that I soon got over it!

And of course now we have Elisabeth Sladen returning to Doctor Who and having her own spin-off show! With K9! Would you ever appear in the programme again?

Yes, I would love to appear in the programme again, I love the new show and Liz is great in the new spin off series. I could come back as Romana, or play a juicy villainess part!

What do you think of the new programme in general and its choice of Doctors… there’s a lot more, um, kissing now…

Yes, I find that a little shocking - my view of Time Lords (and ladies) is that they are above that sort of thing, so it is a shame that any hanky panky is going on, in my view - as I said above, I love the new series - Sky TV approached me to do a news interview when the new doc was announced, and I had a few minutes to expand on my ideas as to how a Time Lord should behave, which was fun to do. I think David Tennant is incredible, and am looking forward to Matt's performance now.

A lot of actors complain of typecasting, especially the companions. Did you have any trouble with the direction casting directors wanted to take you after Who? Did you ever consider doing something radical, like Katy Manning did (she posed nude with a Dalek), to try and “break the mould” of a “Who Girl”? Perhaps a gritty drama or something far removed from the very glamorous image you have?

I had a varied and extensively character driven career before DW so was not really affected by any typecasting as such. A lot of people did not even know I had been in the programme, so I had a previous reputation to fall back on. I think, apart from Louise, that Who was the first and only claim to fame for many companions, which means that typecasting was more prevalent for them. I have broken the glamour mould in many stage productions, notably playing Mari Hoff in The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, a drunken , over the hill mother from hell- about as far removed from Romana as you could imagine!

When looking at your body of work, both before and after Doctor Who, it strikes me as constant and very diverse… is this a conscious effort to remain “moving” as it were? It looks like there’s hardly an established programme you haven’t appeared in…

Yes, well I am a workaholic, and accept any job that come along, as opposed to choosing roles to fit in with a plan or image - I have no false ideas about stardom or how I am perceived - in other words, I am pretty down to earth and just consider myself as a jobbing actor - I am always grateful for work, no matter what it is!

What has been the highlight of your acting career?

I suppose Brookside was one, although I feel I have had many.....Brookie was good for me because the character was developed to become a highly dramatic part and the writers wrote very much for the actors, observing them in the studio and getting ideas for storylines from their (the actors') own lives and circumstances.

Do you ever get fed up with people constantly harking back to that one year of Who you did?

Sometimes, but only a little - I am used to it now and accept , quite happily that DW is one of the great British institutions- so really, I am very proud to be a part of it, and always will be.

Did you know at the time you were joining a very loyal family?

No, I did not realise the extent of the fan's loyalty, but soon did when I visited the first few fan cons in the States, which I go into in great depth in the second book - i.e. volume two of my autobiography.

Is there any role you haven’t yet taken and what like to? (Personally, I’d love to see you as Gertrude in Hamlet. It’s made for you!)

Yes, Dirty Gertie is a great role, as is the Scottish queen ad Jocasta- all parts I would love to do one day, plus Medea- I love the Greek plays- the women's parts are superb!

What do you have coming up in the future? I am appearing in Eastenders - a really good guest role over four episodes- I will be announcing news of it on my website very soon - marytamm.com

Do you have a message for all your fans out there in the world of Doctor Who?

Hi to all the loyal fans who have kept the show going and, more importantly, moving forward into a new millennium! Buy my book!

Mary's Book will be out in September and can be bought from any book outlet.

Thanks to her for taking the time to chat.

Bookmark with: