Nicola Bryant
Encyclopedia
Nicola Bryant is an English
actress known for her role as Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown
, a companion
of the Doctor
in the BBC
science fiction
television series Doctor Who
.
, near Guildford
. She started dance classes at the age of three and also began to learn the piano. At the age of ten she auditioned to go to ballet schools, but was unable to take up places offered because of asthma
. Upset by this development, she joined a local amateur dramatic group. On leaving school, she auditioned for all of the London
drama schools and took up a scholarship to the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
. In her final year there, she played the part of Nanette in a production of the musical No, No, Nanette
.
in Doctor Who
. She played the part from 1984 to 1986, first with Peter Davison
, and then with Colin Baker
as the Doctor. Bryant's tenure on the show was met with raised eyebrows in some quarters as series producer John Nathan-Turner
admitted (in his book Doctor Who: The Companions and elsewhere) that his intention was to pump up the sex appeal of the ageing series by casting the young actress who was often seen wearing revealing outfits in the show. Her character was American and for a while a publicity-driven fiction was maintained suggesting Bryant was also American. During her final season on Doctor Who, the actress was allowed to dress more conservatively on the show.
Nicola appeared in the Doctor Who serial "The Two Doctors," (1985), and she enjoyed working with Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor. She was sad 2 years later when she learned Pat Troughton died of a heart attack.
After appearing in Doctor Who, Bryant spent nine months at the Savoy Theatre
in the West End of London
in the thriller Killing Jessica with Patrick Macnee
, directed by Bryan Forbes
. She went on to have other television roles, including a part in Blackadder's Christmas Carol
. In the early-mid 1990s, she also co-starred with Baker in a series of made-for-video science fiction films entitled The Stranger
for BBV
, although the first few films in the series were little more than Doctor Who episodes in disguise. She also appeared alongside Baker, Davison, Sylvester McCoy
and Jon Pertwee
in another BBV production, The Airzone Solution
which is notable as it includes a love scene between Baker and Bryant.
Bryant reprised the role of Peri in several of the Big Finish Productions
Doctor Who
spin-off audio plays
. She has appeared with both Peter Davison and Colin Baker in these. She also directed UNIT: The Wasting
and Judge Dredd: 99 Code Red!.
In February 2006, she performed in a New End Theatre
production of the Carl Djerassi
play Taboos, and in early 2007 appeared in a London stage production of Tom Stoppard
's Rock 'n' Roll
at the Duke of York's Theatre
. A DVD documentary, "In The Footsteps of The Two Doctors", following Nicola's return to some of the locations featured in the Doctor Who serial The Two Doctors
was released in late 2006.
She returned to the stage in 2008/2009, in a touring production, in an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier
’s "Don't Look Now", playing the part of Laura Baxter.
In the summer of 2009 Bryant filmed an improvised documentary style film for award winning Australian director Ben Briand
for the European arm of a travel company as well as recording eight stories for a missing season of audio adventures for Big Finish's range of Doctor Who CDs.
On 2 March 2010 she appeared on Holby City
as a television news reporter.
In 2011, she guest starred in the Dark Shadows
audio drama The Blind Painter
.
writer (and Doctor Who fan) Nev Fountain
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress known for her role as Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown
Peri Brown
Peri Brown, full name Perpugilliam Brown, is a fictional character played by Nicola Bryant in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
, a companion
Companion (Doctor Who)
In the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, the term "companion" refers to a character who travels with, and shares the adventures of the Doctor. In most Doctor Who stories, the primary companion acts as both deuteragonist and audience surrogate...
of the Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.
Early life
The daughter of Sheila and Denis Bryant, Bryant grew up in a village in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, near Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
. She started dance classes at the age of three and also began to learn the piano. At the age of ten she auditioned to go to ballet schools, but was unable to take up places offered because of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. Upset by this development, she joined a local amateur dramatic group. On leaving school, she auditioned for all of the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
drama schools and took up a scholarship to the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, formerly the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, was a drama school, and originally a singing school, in London. It was one of the leading drama schools in Britain, and offered comprehensive training for those intending to pursue a...
. In her final year there, she played the part of Nanette in a production of the musical No, No, Nanette
No, No, Nanette
No, No, Nanette is a musical comedy with lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, music by Vincent Youmans, and a book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, based on Mandel's 1919 Broadway play My Lady Friends...
.
Career
Bryant's first professional part was as Peri BrownPeri Brown
Peri Brown, full name Perpugilliam Brown, is a fictional character played by Nicola Bryant in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
in Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. She played the part from 1984 to 1986, first with Peter Davison
Peter Davison
Peter Davison is a British actor, best known for his roles as Tristan Farnon in the television version of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small and the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, which he played from 1982 to 1984.-Early life:Davison was born Peter Moffett in Streatham,...
, and then with Colin Baker
Colin Baker
Colin Baker is a British actor who is known for playing Paul Merroney in The Brothers from 1974 to 1976 and as the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, from 1984 to 1986.- Background:Colin Baker was born in London, but moved north to...
as the Doctor. Bryant's tenure on the show was met with raised eyebrows in some quarters as series producer John Nathan-Turner
John Nathan-Turner
John Nathan-Turner was the ninth producer of the long-running BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, from 1980 until it was effectively cancelled in 1989...
admitted (in his book Doctor Who: The Companions and elsewhere) that his intention was to pump up the sex appeal of the ageing series by casting the young actress who was often seen wearing revealing outfits in the show. Her character was American and for a while a publicity-driven fiction was maintained suggesting Bryant was also American. During her final season on Doctor Who, the actress was allowed to dress more conservatively on the show.
Nicola appeared in the Doctor Who serial "The Two Doctors," (1985), and she enjoyed working with Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor. She was sad 2 years later when she learned Pat Troughton died of a heart attack.
After appearing in Doctor Who, Bryant spent nine months at the Savoy Theatre
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
in the West End of London
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
in the thriller Killing Jessica with Patrick Macnee
Patrick Macnee
Patrick Macnee is an English actor, best known for his role as the secret agent John Steed in the series The Avengers.-Early life:...
, directed by Bryan Forbes
Bryan Forbes
Bryan Forbes, CBE is an English film director, actor and writer.-Career:Bryan Forbes was born John Theobald Clarke on 22 July 1926 in Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, West Ham, Essex , and grew up at 43 Cranmer Road, Forest Gate, West Ham, Essex .Forbes trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of...
. She went on to have other television roles, including a part in Blackadder's Christmas Carol
Blackadder's Christmas Carol
Blackadder's Christmas Carol is a one-off episode of Blackadder, a parody of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is set between Blackadder the Third and Blackadder Goes Forth , and is narrated by Hugh Laurie...
. In the early-mid 1990s, she also co-starred with Baker in a series of made-for-video science fiction films entitled The Stranger
The Stranger (video series)
The Stranger is a series of direct-to-video science-fiction dramas produced by BBV and starring Colin Baker. They are now available on DVD.The series began in 1991 with Summoned by Shadows, co-produced with the BBC Film Club...
for BBV
BBV
BBV is a video and audio production company specialising in science fiction drama, known for its links with the British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
, although the first few films in the series were little more than Doctor Who episodes in disguise. She also appeared alongside Baker, Davison, Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor. As a comic act and busker he appeared regularly on stage and on BBC Children's television in the 1970s and 80s, but is best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to...
and Jon Pertwee
Jon Pertwee
John Devon Roland Pertwee , was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge...
in another BBV production, The Airzone Solution
The Airzone Solution
The Airzone Solution is a 1993 British science-fiction film, produced and released direct-to-video by BBV...
which is notable as it includes a love scene between Baker and Bryant.
Bryant reprised the role of Peri in several of the Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
spin-off audio plays
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
. She has appeared with both Peter Davison and Colin Baker in these. She also directed UNIT: The Wasting
UNIT: The Wasting
UNIT: The Wasting is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It stars Nicholas Courtney reprising his role as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the former commander of UNIT...
and Judge Dredd: 99 Code Red!.
In February 2006, she performed in a New End Theatre
New End Theatre
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, was a 80-seat fringe theatre venue in London, England, located in the London Borough of Camden which operated from 1974 until 2011. It was listed widely on the internet, including with the New York Times....
production of the Carl Djerassi
Carl Djerassi
Carl Djerassi is an Austrian-American chemist, novelist, and playwright best known for his contribution to the development of the first oral contraceptive pill . Djerassi is emeritus professor of chemistry at Stanford University.He participated in the invention in 1951, together with Mexican Luis E...
play Taboos, and in early 2007 appeared in a London stage production of Tom Stoppard
Tom Stoppard
Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, knighted in 1997. He has written prolifically for TV, radio, film and stage, finding prominence with plays such as Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz and...
's Rock 'n' Roll
Rock 'n' Roll (play)
Rock 'n' Roll is a play by British playwright Tom Stoppard that premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 2006.-Plot summary:The play is concerned with the significance of rock and roll in the emergence of the socialist movement in Eastern Bloc Czechoslovakia between the Prague Spring of...
at the Duke of York's Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre
The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End Theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre, until her death in 1935. It opened on 10 September 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, with Wedding...
. A DVD documentary, "In The Footsteps of The Two Doctors", following Nicola's return to some of the locations featured in the Doctor Who serial The Two Doctors
The Two Doctors
The Two Doctors is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in three weekly parts from 16 February to 2 March 1985. It starred Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant as the Sixth Doctor and his companion Peri, respectively...
was released in late 2006.
She returned to the stage in 2008/2009, in a touring production, in an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
’s "Don't Look Now", playing the part of Laura Baxter.
In the summer of 2009 Bryant filmed an improvised documentary style film for award winning Australian director Ben Briand
Ben Briand
- Biography :In 2007 he wrote and directed Hammer Bay. The one hour film was the winner of the People's Choice Award at the first annual Optus ONE80PROJECT. The award was a joint venture with Sony Ericsson, Optus and MTV Australia, produced by Cherub Pictures, the production company by which he is...
for the European arm of a travel company as well as recording eight stories for a missing season of audio adventures for Big Finish's range of Doctor Who CDs.
On 2 March 2010 she appeared on Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
as a television news reporter.
In 2011, she guest starred in the Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
audio drama The Blind Painter
The Blind Painter
Dark Shadows: The Blind Painter is a 2011 Big Finish Productions original dramatic reading based on the long-running American horror soap opera series Dark Shadows.-Cast:*Charles Delaware Tate - Roger Davis*Eloise - Nicola Bryant-External links:...
.
Personal life
It was whilst Bryant was at drama school she married American Broadway singer Scott Kennedy, but the couple later separated. Bryant has one younger sister named Tracy. She is now in a relationship with Dead RingersDead Ringers (comedy)
Dead Ringers is a UK radio and television comedy impressions broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and later BBC Two. The programme was devised by producer Bill Dare and developed with Jon Holmes, Andy Hurst and Simon Blackwell. It starred Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly and Mark Perry...
writer (and Doctor Who fan) Nev Fountain
Nev Fountain
Nev Fountain, born Steven John Fountain, is an English writer, best known for his comedy work with writing partner Tom Jamieson on the radio and television programme Dead Ringers.A native of Stamford, Fountain attended the University of Warwick...
.
External links
- Official website
- Nicola Bryant at shillpages.com/dw (Doctor Who Image Archive)
- Nicola Bryant on Twitter