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Doctor Who actress Mary Tamm, known to millions as the Time Lord’s glamorous companion Romana, died this morning aged 62.

Tamm, who played the Doctor's sidekick alongside Tom Baker in the show's 1970s heyday, died at hospital in London after a long battle with cancer.

Doctor Who legend Tom, 78, said: “She was a darling companion and wonderfully witty and kind. I’m so sorry to hear of her death.”

Her agent Barry Langford said she had a "zest for life".

Mary’s parents migrated from Estonia to Bradford, West Yorkshire, where she was born, and she did not learn English until primary school.

She first worked in theatre alongside Derek Jacobi, Joan Sims and Ronnie Barker.

(Image: Getty)

Then she moved on to television and film work, landing her first role in Tales That Witness Madness with Kim Novak.

She played Doctor Who’s sidekick Time Lady Romanadvoratrelundar, Romana for short, from 1978 to 1979.

She reportedly refused to return after her character lost her independence and became a damsel in distress.

Mary also appeared in blockbuster film The Odessa File and TV’s The Likely Lads and she had a recurring role in soap Brookside as Penny Crosbie.

More recently she starred in Wire In The Blood, Paradise Heights and Jonathan Creek. Her last role was as Orlenda in EastEnders in 2009.

Actress and friend Helen Lederer, 57, said: “Mary was such an energised, talented woman with a great twinkle in her eye and she was so very beautiful.”

Doctor Who writer Joe Lidster tweeted of Tamm: “Sweet and funny and not at all what you’d expect someone so glamorous to be. Such sad news.”

Mary’s agent Barry Langford said she was one of his “closest friends”.

(Image: Getty)

He added: “She had a great zest for life and was a fantastic actress. She could play any role ­wonderfully.”

He added Mary had been saddened by the recent deaths of contemporaries Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who, and Angharad Rees.

He said: “All these people she knew were going.”

Mary died at home in Battersea, South London, after battling cancer for 18 months.

She leaves husband Marcus Ringrose, daughter Lauren and grandson Max, seven.

Marcus said: “She was truly beautiful in every way. She was a spiritual lady.

"She was a consummate actress and immensely popular in the profession. We will miss her every day.”

Another ex-Time Lord, Colin Baker, 69, tweeted: “Shellshocked to hear Mary is gone. A funny, caring, talented, lovely and down to earth lady.”

Actress Helen Lederer, a friend of Tamm's, said: "Mary was such an energised, talented woman with a great twinkle in her eye and she was so very beautiful."

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