Mary Tamm

Mary Tamm (22 March 1950 – 26 July 2012) was a British actress, known for her role as Romana in the BBC's science fiction television series Doctor Who, starring opposite Tom Baker in the 1978–79 story arc The Key to Time.

Early life

Tamm was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire to Estonian immigrant parents and attended Bradford Girls' Grammar School. She was a graduate and an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she studied from 1969-71.

Acting career

Tamm began acting on the stage with the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1971. She moved to London in 1972 and appeared in the musical Mother Earth. Her first TV role for the BBC was as Sally in The Donati Conspiracy shown in 1973. This was followed by an episode of Warship in 1974. in 1975, she featured in Muriel Spark's The Girls Of Slender Means on BBC2. Before her association with Doctor Who, Tamm acted in a few films, including Tales That Witness Madness (1973), The Odessa File (1974) and The Likely Lads (1976). In 1981, she took the part of Rhoda Dawes in Agatha Christie's Cards on the Table at London's Vaudeville Theatre.