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Doctor Who star Mary Tamm dies aged 62 Doctor Who star Mary Tamm dies aged 62
(about 6 hours later)
The Doctor Who actor Mary Tamm has died aged 62, her agent has said. Mary Tamm, the actor best known for her role as the first incarnation of Doctor Who's companion Romana in the late 1970s, has died aged 62.
Tamm, who played the Doctor's companion Romana alongside Tom Baker, died at a hospital in London on Thursday morning. She had been suffering from cancer for 18 months. Tom Baker, who played the Time Lord to Tamm's Time Lady – she too was from Gallifrey – led tributes to an actor who had a successful stage, TV and film career for more than 40 years.
She was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the daughter of Estonian refugees, and had a long career on stage and screen. She starred in the films The Odessa File and The Likely Lads and had recurring roles in the soaps Brookside and EastEnders. He said: "She was a darling companion and wonderfully witty and kind. I'm so sorry to hear of her death."
Tamm leaves her husband Marcus Ringrose, daughter Lauren and son Max. His successor, Colin Baker, tweeted: "Shellshocked to hear Mary Tamm is gone. A funny, caring, talented, lovely and down to earth lady."
Barry Langford, her agent of 22 years, said: "She had a great zest for life. 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." Tamm's agent, Barry Langford, said the Bradford-born actor died at her home in Battersea after suffering from cancer for 18 months.
Tamm, who lived in Battersea, south London, trained at Rada. Her first professional job was at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre where she worked alongside Derek Jacobi, Joan Sims and Ronnie Barker. From there she moved on to television work and film, her first feature film being Tales That Witness Madness with Kim Novak. Her husband, Marcus Ringrose, said: "Mary was truly beautiful in every way. She was a very spiritual lady who loved nature and adored all animals.
She recently starred in Wire in the Blood, Paradise Heights and Jonathan Creek, with stage work including Amanda in Private Lives and Beverley in Abigail's Party. Her autobiography was published three years ago. "On set and offstage, her earthy northern humour and self-deprecating wit brightened every occasion. She was a consummate actress, and immensely popular in the profession."
Langford said Tamm had been saddened by the recent deaths of her contemporaries Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who, and Angharad Rees, who died last weekend. Following her one-season stint on Doctor Who Tamm appeared in Brookside in the mid-1990s, when she played snooty Penny Crosbie.
One of her earliest film roles was as Jon Voight's character's girlfriend in The Odessa File in 1973. Three years later Tamm starred as Terry's glamorous Finnish girlfriend in The Likely Lads film with lines such as: "I learn much this weekend Terry. It has been, how you say in English, an eyesore."
More recent roles have included parts in the TV series Wire in the Blood and Jonathan Creek, and in 2009 she had a brief role as Orlenda in EastEnders.
Langford, Tamm's agent of 22 years, described her as one of his closest friends, and said: "She had a great zest for life. 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."
Tamm leaves her husband, a daughter, Lauren, and grandson, Max.