In further sad news after the passings of Steve Moore and Derek Martinus this past month, Doctor Who lost possibly it’s leading villainess Kate O’Mara at the age of 74 on March 30.
Kate O’Mara was a mainstay of British television from the 1970’s onward, starring in such classic series’ as Howard’s Way, The Brothers, Crossroads and of course Doctor Who as renegade Time Lady The Rani alongside both Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy.
In the 1980s the actress of course found international stardom in Dynasty, playing the glamorous (yet devious) Cassandra Morell, sister to the equally glamorous and devious Alexis Colby as portrayed by Joan Collins in the series.
While she may be popularly known for her campy femme fatale roles, O’Mara came from a theatrical family and was dedicated to Shakespeare, her Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream being particularly noted.
To Doctor Who fans however she will always be remembered as villainous Rani, starring in The Mark of the Rani alongside former Brothers co-star Colin Baker and again in Time of the Rani, the debut of Sylvester McCoy in the lead role. O’Mara would return to the role of the Rani twice more, firstly in 1993’s charity special Dimensions in Time and in the BBV audio production The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind in 2000.
Sixth Doctor Baker gave his thoughts on Twitter to the news:
“Oh my goodness. Kate O’Mara is no longer with us. Sad sad news. A delightful, committed and talented lady and actress. We are the poorer”
Kate kept her association with the show right up until last years 50th anniversary celebrations, appearing and signing autographs at London’s Excel celebration and while she may have missed a part much earlier in the show’s history during the Pertwee years, the actress certainly enjoyed playing Doctor Who’s number one villainess:
“I was first offered the part of a scientist in ‘Doctor Who’ by Douglas Camfield back in Jon Pertwee’s run. Instead I did a couple of Hammer horror films but I think on reflection I should have done ‘Doctor Who’! Then Douglas said he was writing a story himself about Amazon women and he wanted me to play the queen! It turned out that ‘Doctor Who’ couldn’t afford to do it and that one was scrapped! Then a few years later, along came the Rani. I adored her the moment I first read it because she’s a lovely part. All those clothes and things – all butch with padded shoulders, boots and lots of hair. I want the Rani to be a real threat, a megalomaniac. She’s a bit of the ‘I Want to Rule the Universe’ type. First and foremost, she’s a scientist but she is totally unethical and has no morals. She believes firmly that the end justifies the means. She has to have her come-uppance, of course, not because she’s evil as such, but because of that amorality. Good must be seen to triumph over bad (and) the moral aspect is very important, which is why I try to make her as unleasant as possible. Ruthless but with a sense of humour – although it’s a very warped sense of humour. There’s sort of a twinkle there, but not too much because I don’t want her to be attractive. She must be hard because it’s a case of absolute power corrupting absolutely.”
Kate O’Mara was married to actors Richard Willis and Jeremy Young and leaves a sister, actress Belinda Carroll. Her son Dickon predeceased her.
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