Elisabeth Sladen stayed with the programme Doctor Who originally for three and a half seasons, acting alongside two incarnations of the Doctor - played by Jon Pertwee and then Tom Baker. Over the years, she has consistently been thought of as one of the favourites of the cast line since the programme began.
Born in 1948, Sladen pursued an interest in acting and performing from a young age, taking part in a Royal Ballet production at the age of five. She attended grammar school, and when graduated took two years in drama. Her first appearance in TV acting, although uncredited, was as an actor in the film Ferry Cross The Mersey.
Stage and screen work
Sladen has an extended CV; her past acting parts including stage work - being the leading lady in a production of Othello - and also being a barmaid for six episodes in long-running soap opera, Coronation Street. In 1973, she was given a recommendation by Ron Craddock - a producer of Z-Cars, which she had appeared in - to the producer of Doctor Who, who had been searching for a new assistant after Katy Manning left the role.
Sladen admitted in later interviews she at first felt "intimidated" by Jon Pertwee, who was the actor playing Doctor Who at the time. After she was introduced, she accepted the offer to be an investigative reporter named Sarah Jane Smith - a role which would earn her popular feedback for years to come.
After she left Doctor Who to take part in the 1976 serial The Hand of Fear, it made first-page news in most newspapers. She at first declined, then accepted to take part in a Doctor Who spin-off show named K-9 and Company; however, the pilot was never accepted and the recorded show was never screened.
She next appeared as Sarah Jane in the 20th Anniversary Special of Doctor Who. However, she took up the role of Sarah Jane Smith again numerous times - the most recent in the CBBC Doctor Who spin-off show The Sarah Jane Adventures, which fourth series screened in October 2010. The BBC has said in its official statement regarding her death that a fifth series had been scheduled, but is now highly unlikely to continue without her.
Work with four Doctors
Sladen officially quit Doctor Who in 1976 - but until the time of her death, she was still continuing acting plans to still be involved with the franchise. She has acted alongside both David Tennant and Matt Smith since the show was reinstated in 2005, reprising her role as Sarah Jane Smith for all appearances. Other recent work apart from appearing in various Doctor Who shows and spin-offs includes her playing two parts in the stage production Peter Pan, playing both Mrs Darling and a mermaid in 2009.
Elisabeth Sladen is survived by her husband, Brian Miller and daughter Sadie Miller.
Jessica Aston - Hello, my name is Jessica, I'm a freelance writer that takes a huge interest in celebrity culture, worldwide news and the music business. ...
Join the Conversation