I listened to the audio version of this biography and it was lovely to hear Mary reading it herself. She has such a lovely voice and it was great to hear her doing her native Yorkshire accent. For me I think the most interesting parts were hearing about her childhood growing up as the daughter of immigrants. It was quite a unique insight and I felt like I learned a lot. I must admit in the middle part I found my attention wandering a little as she discussed her numerous roles and how easily they
I listened to the audio version of this biography and it was lovely to hear Mary reading it herself. She has such a lovely voice and it was great to hear her doing her native Yorkshire accent. For me I think the most interesting parts were hearing about her childhood growing up as the daughter of immigrants. It was quite a unique insight and I felt like I learned a lot. I must admit in the middle part I found my attention wandering a little as she discussed her numerous roles and how easily they came. Often I fear actors' biographies turn into a long list of productions, which while quite interesting for acting students, I find a bit dull. For me I like hearing about personal struggles over adversity, it just makes for a more human story. The third section featured her time on Doctor Who which as a doctor who fan I greatly enjoyed. As a feminist it was very interesting to hear her discuss her role and the roles of the other women on the show from that standpoint. I was sad that it ended so abruptly. I would have loved to have heard the rest of the story.
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I found it enjoyable enough, but I was disappointed by the abrupt ending, and promise of "to be continued"... Sadly, probably not to be the case, given her untimely passing.
Mary Tamm (born 22 March 1950 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire; died 24 July 2012) was a graduate and an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was the first actress to play Romana in Doctor Who, appearing opposite Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor.
Tamm began her acting career on the stage with the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1971, moved to London in 1972 and appeared in the musical Mother
Mary Tamm (born 22 March 1950 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire; died 24 July 2012) was a graduate and an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was the first actress to play Romana in Doctor Who, appearing opposite Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor.
Tamm began her acting career on the stage with the Birmingham Repertory Company in 1971, moved to London in 1972 and appeared in the musical Mother Earth. Before her association with Doctor Who, Tamm acted in several motion pictures, most notably Sigi in The Odessa File (1974) and The Likely Lads (1976).
Tamm was not initially interested in playing a companion to the Doctor. She believed the role was merely that of the "damsel in distress." She changed her mind when assured by the producers and her agent that Romana would be different. While Romana was supposed to be a Time Lady, a member of the Doctor's own people and therefore as capable as the Doctor, the character eventually took on the characteristics that Tamm was concerned about; as a result of this, she left the programme after only one season.
Tamm returned to the role of Romana in the second series of Gallifrey audio plays produced by Big Finish Productions. In 2007 she added "interviewer" to her CV when she hosted and conducted interviews for a brief documentary entitled "Stones Free" for the DVD release of The Key to Time, in which she talked to historians about one of the locations for the serial, The Stones of Blood. The 2|entertain documentary There's Something About Mary... saw Tamm recount her time on the show and the means by which she ascertained and later left the role.
Most recently, she performed in the Big Finish production The Stealers from Saiph (released June 2009), again playing Romana, as well as reading the voice of the Fourth Doctor.
Also in 2009, she read an audio book version of the Time Hunter novella The Tunnel at the End of the Light.
In 2012, Tamm recorded a series of Big Finish audios as Romana alongside Tom Baker; these will be released in 2013.
On 24 July 2012, Tamm died at the age of 62. The BBC confirmed that Tamm died in hospital following a battle against cancer. Tom Baker said in a statement: "She was a darling companion and wonderfully witty and kind. I'm so sorry to hear of her death." There was some initial confusion in the media regarding the actual date of her death, with the Radio Times later confirming that she died the morning on 24 July.
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