- Louise Jameson, Doctor Who #89: The Face of Evil, 1976. In the mix for Doc4 Tom Baker’s new travelling rug. Jameson was less dressed, more savage then the norm. Baker did not approve (of losing the limelight). He was told she’d be in three episodes only, was signed for 14 and had finished 40 when she left in 1978.
- Tara Ward, Doctor Who #130: Warriors of The Deep, 1984. For Doc5 Peter Davison’s finale, 18 stunners were shuffled for Preston… Salem, Ward, Lynda Bellingham, Sarah Berger, Isla Blair, Suzanne Danielle, Patricia Finnegan, Jenny Hanley, Diane Keen, Rula Lenska (Dr Styles in #133: Resurrection of the Daleks, TV, 1984), Susan Penhaligon (Lakis in #64: The Time Monster, 1972), Susan Skipper, Catherine Schell (Countess Scarlioni in #105: City of Death, 1979), Primi Townsend (Mula in #99: The Pirate Planet, 1978), Wanda Ventham (the mother of Benedict Cumberbatch), Fiona Walker… and two Ken Russell favourites: Georgina Hale and Helen Mirren.
- Ingrid Pitt, Doctor Who #130: Warriors of The Deep, 1984. The nine potential faces of Dr Solow were: Pitt, Salem, Honor Blackman, Eleanor Bron, Diane Keen, Rula Lenska (she became Dr Styles in #133: Resurrection of the Daleks), Maureen Lipman, Sylvia Syms, Wanda Ventham (mother of Benedict Cumberbatch) and Fiona Walker. Not the happiest of Whovian shoots – and not just because Doc5 Peter Davison folllowed Doc2 Patrick Troughton’s rule. Three seasons and out.
- Polly James, Doctor Who #131: The Awakening, TV, 1984. Imagine Glenda Jackson and Helen Mirren up for the same Whoverse role. Plus Bond ladies, Honor Blackman, Judi Dench, Diana Rigg and Pamela Salem. Well, producer John Nathan-Taylor had a female casting/dart) board, as well as one for the guys. As proved by his 18 choices for Jane Humpden in Doc5 Peter Davison’s four-parter. The others were James, Lynda Bellingham, Eleanor Bron, Pauline Collins, Diane Keen, Jean Marsh, Sheila Ruskin, Barbara Shelley, Sylvia Syms, Wanda Ventham, Fiona Walker, Penelope Wilton.
- Rula Lenska, DoctorWho #133: Resurrection of the Daleks, TV, 1984. Fourteen ladies, including four Bond Girls (Salem, Honor Blackman, Jenny Hanley, Joanna Lumley) and future M Judi Dench were in the melting pot for Dr Styles… Also listed: Polly Adams, Eleanor Bron, Rachel Davies, Diane Keen, Maureen Lipman, Kate O’Mara, Jacqueline Pearce, Sheila Ruskin, Fiona Walker and Penelope Wilton. Up for various Whoverse roles, Salem was Toos in the next tale – #90: The Robots of Death, 1976. It was another 12 years before she returned as Professor Rachel Jensen in the all-important 25th anniversary season opener, #148: Remembrance of the Daleks, 1988. And why her? Because inbetween time, she had been a Bond Girl in Sean Connery’s 007 finale, Never Say Never, 1983
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 5