Remembering Jacqueline Hill
Today is the birthday of Jacqueline Hill, née Grace Jacqueline Hill.
Or at least it would have been. Jacqueline Hill died on February 18th, 1993 of breast cancer at the age of 63. She would have been 94 years old today.
Jacqueline Hill was a British actress best known for her role as Barbara Wright in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. As the history teacher of Susan Foreman, the Doctor's granddaughter, Barbara was the first Doctor Who companion to appear on-screen in 1963, with Hill speaking the series' first words. She played the role for nearly two years. Hill returned to Doctor Who in 1980 for an appearance in the serial "Meglos", as the Tigellan priestess Lexa.
I first encountered Jacqueline Hill in the Saturday Playhouse, Episode 49, "The Man Who Came to Dinner" in the role of Maggie Cutler and te in the BBC Sunday-Night Play Series 2, Episode 1, "The Chopping Block" in the role of Jane. I was a young, impressionable child of 5 or 6 years of age, and fell in love with the actress in the two roles, and as I grew older, I kept my eyes out for the actress in other roles. I was thrilled when she appeared opposite William Hartnell, in Doctor Who when the series debuted in 1963, and my crush (my first) on the actress grew even more. She was superb in every film, tv and stage role in which she appeared, but it was as teacher Barbara Wright that she shone, particularly in the (pseudo-)historical serials in Doctor Who, notably "The Aztecs" and "The Crusade". She quit acting in 1965 to raise a family, returning to the career in 1978, and appeared in the Tom Baker Doctor serial "Meglos" in 1980.
Jacqueline brought a gravitas to the role of Barbara in Doctor Who, and she was the character who taught the school children (like myself) watching the show about history, although William Russell's Ian did some of that as well, but it was Barbara who got involved in the historical serials and seemed to have a vested interest in historical events as well. She was less emotional that Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter, but showed her emotions all the time at appropriate moments, and never hid the fact that she was afraid of what was going on around her. She also had no problems "debating" issues with the Hartnell Doctor, and usually said what she was thinking about a given situation. And that smile… :)
I was absolutely devastated when I learn of Jacqueline's passing in 1993 at such a young age. I was 38 years old at the time, and was just…shocked. To this day, Barbara Wright remains my all-time favourite female companion in Doctor Who; she was my first crush, too. And she had a very important role in the making of what Doctor Who was back in the day and has influenced the series to a strong degree even to this day.
I still miss Jacqueline Hill.
And with William Russell's death this past year, I am reassured that Ian, Barbara, and the First Doctor are now enjoying their well-earned rest in that TARDIS in the sky.
Or at least it would have been. Jacqueline Hill died on February 18th, 1993 of breast cancer at the age of 63. She would have been 94 years old today.
Jacqueline Hill was a British actress best known for her role as Barbara Wright in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. As the history teacher of Susan Foreman, the Doctor's granddaughter, Barbara was the first Doctor Who companion to appear on-screen in 1963, with Hill speaking the series' first words. She played the role for nearly two years. Hill returned to Doctor Who in 1980 for an appearance in the serial "Meglos", as the Tigellan priestess Lexa.
I first encountered Jacqueline Hill in the Saturday Playhouse, Episode 49, "The Man Who Came to Dinner" in the role of Maggie Cutler and te in the BBC Sunday-Night Play Series 2, Episode 1, "The Chopping Block" in the role of Jane. I was a young, impressionable child of 5 or 6 years of age, and fell in love with the actress in the two roles, and as I grew older, I kept my eyes out for the actress in other roles. I was thrilled when she appeared opposite William Hartnell, in Doctor Who when the series debuted in 1963, and my crush (my first) on the actress grew even more. She was superb in every film, tv and stage role in which she appeared, but it was as teacher Barbara Wright that she shone, particularly in the (pseudo-)historical serials in Doctor Who, notably "The Aztecs" and "The Crusade". She quit acting in 1965 to raise a family, returning to the career in 1978, and appeared in the Tom Baker Doctor serial "Meglos" in 1980.
Jacqueline brought a gravitas to the role of Barbara in Doctor Who, and she was the character who taught the school children (like myself) watching the show about history, although William Russell's Ian did some of that as well, but it was Barbara who got involved in the historical serials and seemed to have a vested interest in historical events as well. She was less emotional that Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter, but showed her emotions all the time at appropriate moments, and never hid the fact that she was afraid of what was going on around her. She also had no problems "debating" issues with the Hartnell Doctor, and usually said what she was thinking about a given situation. And that smile… :)
I was absolutely devastated when I learn of Jacqueline's passing in 1993 at such a young age. I was 38 years old at the time, and was just…shocked. To this day, Barbara Wright remains my all-time favourite female companion in Doctor Who; she was my first crush, too. And she had a very important role in the making of what Doctor Who was back in the day and has influenced the series to a strong degree even to this day.
I still miss Jacqueline Hill.
And with William Russell's death this past year, I am reassured that Ian, Barbara, and the First Doctor are now enjoying their well-earned rest in that TARDIS in the sky.