14 Facts About Deborah Watling

Deborah Patricia Watling was an English actress who played the role of Victoria Waterfield, a companion of the Second Doctor in the BBC television series Doctor Who from 1967 to 1968.

Deborah Watling began her career as a child actress, making her debut as a regular in The Invisible Man.

Deborah Watling was born 2 January 1948 at the Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London, the daughter of actors Jack Deborah Watling and Patricia Hicks.

Deborah Watling was raised in Epping until the family moved to the 16th-century Alderton Hall in Loughton, Essex.

Deborah Watling made her film debut aged three and started playing background roles in her father's films.

Deborah Watling was later cast for the lead role in Alice, Dennis Potter's play about Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell, for the BBC's The Wednesday Play.

Deborah Watling co-starred with Cliff Richard in the 1973 film Take Me High, and the same year had a small role in the film That'll Be the Day.

Deborah Watling played Norma Baker in the ITV series Danger UXB, and appeared regularly in the theatre.

When Collins confirmed she did not want to join the regular cast, it was decided to introduce Victoria as the new companion and Denise Buckley was released, but paid in full, with Deborah Watling replacing her as a more suitable actress for the continuing role.

Deborah Watling played Victoria in Doctor Who from 1967 to 1968, though owing to the BBC's wiping policy of the time, The Tomb of the Cybermen and The Enemy of the World are the only serials in which she appeared that still exist in their entirety.

Deborah Watling appeared in Dimensions in Time and Downtime.

Deborah Watling appeared in the Doctor Who audio drama Three's a Crowd and regularly attended Doctor Who conventions and events.

Deborah Watling's autobiography, entitled Daddy's Girl, was published in 2010.

Deborah Watling died on 21 July 2017, aged 69, at Beaumont Manor nursing home in Frinton-on-Sea, six weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer.