Mary Tamm

Actor · 1950–2012 · Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, UK

Biography

Mary Tamm (22 March 1950 – 26 July 2012) was a British actress who appeared in many British TV drama series and serials. She is best known for her role as Romana I in the BBC's science fiction television series Doctor Who, appearing opposite Tom Baker in the 1978–1979 story arc The Key to Time. Tamm was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, to an Estonian father and a half-Russian mother, who was an opera singer. Her parents had fled Estonia after four of her father's brothers had died in Stalin's gulag labour camps. Tamm spoke only Estonian at home and attended Estonian-language school on Saturdays. She did not begin learning English until she was enrolled in primary school. At age 11, she won a scholarship to attend Bradford Girls' Grammar School and joined the city's Civic Theatre. She was a graduate and an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she studied from 1969 to 1971.

Acted in 55

2010s

2017
The Doctors: The Tom Baker Years
Movie
2013
Doctor Who: Clara and the TARDIS
Romana I (archive footage)
2010
Doctor Who: Meanwhile in the TARDIS: Part 2
Romana I (archive footage)

2000s

2009
Doghouse
Meg Nut
56
2008
The Ties That Bind Us
Romana (archive footage)
2007
A Matter of Time
Movie
The Ribos File
Movie
Parrot Fashion
Movie
Getting Blood from the Stones
Movie
The Humans of Tara
Movie
Defining Shadows
Movie
A Class Apart
Mrs. Fills
2005
Diamond Geezer
TV
Twisted Tales
Mrs Templeman · 1 episode
2003
The Story of Doctor Who
Movie
Spine Chillers
Mrs Templeton · 1 episode
2002
Wire in the Blood
Elektra · 1 episode
81
Rose and Maloney
Danuta Richmond · 1 episode
2001
Amazons and Gladiators
Zenobia
2000
Sorted
School Mother
59
Doctors
TV · 24 Seasons · Drama
47

1990s

1999
CI5: The New Professionals
TV
1997
Crime Traveller
TV
1992
Heartbeat
Marilyn · 1 episode
70
1990
Perfect Scoundrels
Mary Cooper · 1 episode

1980s

1989
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Mrs. Farley · 1 episode
85
1987
Three Kinds of Heat
Piou
1986
Worlds Beyond
Susan Wentworth · 1 episode
Casualty
Virginia Wilson · 1 episode
62
Who's Who
Movie
1985
Doctor Who's Who's Who
Romana · 1 episode
1984
Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks
Romana I (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Jane Eyre
Blanche Ingram · 2 episodes
1982
Brookside
Penny Crosbie · 473 episodes
65
1981
Bergerac
Leslie West · 1 episode
69
Doctor Who: Logopolis
Romana (I) (archive footage)
1980
The Assassination Run
Jill Fraser · 3 episodes