'She always stood up to the Doctor'
Elisabeth Sladen joined the long running TV series Doctor Who in 1973 as investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, who went on to become one of the show’s most cherished characters. Now, 35 years later, Sarah Jane is back. She popped up in Season 3 of BBC1's newly revitalised Doctor Who and then into her very own series, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and she will be back in Doctor Who in Season 4. Screenjabber's James Whittington tracked Elisabeth down to see why she thought it was the right time to bring back a childhood favourite.
Did you always want to be an actress and were your parents supportive?
Yes, Absolutely so.
What was it like joining the series back in the 1970s? Was it a daunting task?
When I first started it was just another job but with a much higher profile which was exciting
Why do you think Sarah Jane connected so well with the audience almost instantly?
I never realised that she did until many years later!
What attributes do you think she possess that make her such a well-loved character?
Who can tell? I think basically that she can be wrong, do wrong but she always tries and she never gives up and I think she always stood up to the Doctor at the same time as supporting him.
The way in which she was updated for the new series of Doctor Who was, speaking as a fan, just perfect.
Did you feel the same?
It was the only way I could have done it. I only agreed to do the series when I realised that we were all agreed on where Sarah Jane would be in her life.
Did you ever consider not accepting to return?
I was asked to return with Tom [Baker] by [then-producer John] Nathan Turner and declined, so it's always an option, but with Sarah Jane Adventures it made sense as Russell T Davies and his team had such a good sense of her character and where she would be.
Did you play any part in her development for her appearance in the Doctor Who episode School Reunion?
I could always have a say if necessary, after all I've known her for 30 years! But Toby's script really said it all.
The new Sarah Jane Adventures series is aimed squarely at the children's market. Do you think Doctor Who fans will get anything from it?
Yes, absolutely. Its content and production values are so high and what I really love are the cliffhangers, which I think fans of the old Doctor Who will appreciate and welcome.
What's it like to be heading your own show?
Both exciting and scary but once the camera rolls I stop thinking about it!
Would you like to move away from Sarah and do something totally different?
I have many times, but at the moment it's just full on with Sarah Jane Adventures
From a professional point of view does it bother you that after such a long career you're always remembered specifically for the role of Sarah Jane?
No! How lucky am I to be remembered for anything!
• The Sarah Jane Adventures
• Doctor Who is on BBC1 on Saturday evenings