The official website of Deborah Watling yesterday reported that the actress had
died after a short battle with lung cancer, aged 69. She was best known for her
portrayal of Victoria Waterfield, a companion to the Second Doctor, from May
1967 to April 1968, described by The Telegraph as a "Sixties screamer."
Deborah Patricia Watling was born in London in 1948, to actors Jack Watling
and Patricia Hicks. Her siblings Dilys, Giles and Nicky also became actors.
and Patricia Hicks. Her siblings Dilys, Giles and Nicky also became actors.
Her breakthrough role was Sally Wilson in ITC's The Invisible Man (1958), but
it was the lead part in Dennis Potter's Alice in 1965 that brought her to the
attention of the Doctor Who office. Watling debuted as Victoria (named after
script editor Gerry Davies' daughter) in the second episode of The Evil of the Daleks. The Tomb of the Cybermen and The Enemy of the World are the only two serials in which Watling appeared that still exist in their entirety. She even worked opposite her father in The Web of Fear. She departed the programme
in Fury From the Deep, but returned for Dimension in Time (1993), Downtime (1995) and The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013).
it was the lead part in Dennis Potter's Alice in 1965 that brought her to the
attention of the Doctor Who office. Watling debuted as Victoria (named after
script editor Gerry Davies' daughter) in the second episode of The Evil of the Daleks. The Tomb of the Cybermen and The Enemy of the World are the only two serials in which Watling appeared that still exist in their entirety. She even worked opposite her father in The Web of Fear. She departed the programme
in Fury From the Deep, but returned for Dimension in Time (1993), Downtime (1995) and The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013).
After Doctor Who, Watling starred in BBC soap The Newcomers, the Cliff
Richard film Take Me High (1973) and ITV wartime drama, Danger UXB.
Richard film Take Me High (1973) and ITV wartime drama, Danger UXB.
