Anneke Wills

Anneke Wills

Born: October 20, 1941
in Berkshire, England, UK
Anneke Wills is a British actress famous for playing Polly, the swinging sixties companion to the first and second Doctor in Doctor Who from 1966 to 1967. Other roles include Evelyn in the ITC drama The Strange Report (1969-1970) and guest appearances in The Avengers and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). Film roles include Anne in Some People (1962) and Angela in The Pleasure Girls (1965). From 1962 to 1979 she was married to Michael Gough but has subsequently twice remarried. The father of her first child was Anthony Newley, who left her for Joan Collins. In 1970 Wills effectively gave up acting to be a full time mum. Following her divorce from Gough, she left the UK in 1980 and lived in various places in the 16 years afterwards, including in Laos, Vietnam and India in the early 1980s, in the USA from 1983–1986, and in Canada from 1986–1996. She returned to live in the UK in 1996 and is a popular figure on the Doctor Who convention circuit. She has returned sporadically to acting for Doctor Who themed productions and has published three volumes of her memoirs: Self Portrait (2007), Naked (2009), and In Focus (2012).

Movies for Anneke Wills...

Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace
Title: Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace
Character: Polly Wright (voice)
Released: November 13, 2023
Type: Movie
The Doctor and his friends find themselves in the lost city of Atlantis, where the crazed Professor Zaroff has convinced the people of Atlantis that he can raise their sunken city from beneath the sea. However, the Doctor discovers a terrible secret behind Zaroff's plan — a secret that could destroy all life on Earth.
bee
Doctor Who: The Faceless Ones
Title: Doctor Who: The Faceless Ones
Character: Polly (voice)
Released: March 16, 2020
Type: Movie
The Doctor and his friends Ben, Polly and Jamie arrive at Gatwick airport. They quickly stumble upon an alien plot, centring upon the mysterious ‘Chameleon Tours’ - a low-price holiday company, whose young passengers have been vanishing in unexplained circumstances. The Doctor investigates further, but it isn’t long before his own friends start disappearing too.
bee
Doctor Who: The Macra Terror
Title: Doctor Who: The Macra Terror
Character: Polly Wright (voice)
Released: March 25, 2019
Type: Movie
The original 1967 master recordings of ‘The Macra Terror’ were lost soon after the programme’s original transmission. However, audio-only recordings have survived and have been used here to create a brand new fully animated reconstruction of this lost classic.
bee
Remembering Deborah Watling
Title: Remembering Deborah Watling
Character: Self
Released: March 26, 2018
Type: Movie
Family, friends and colleagues pay tribute to Debbie Watling who played Victoria Waterfield, companion to Patrick Troughton's Doctor.
bee
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
Title: Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
Character: Polly (archive footage)
Released: December 25, 2017
Type: Movie
As the Twelfth Doctor nears regeneration, he stumbles on his first incarnation, also refusing to change. It takes a captain, a glass avatar and a familiar face to convince the Doctors the universe still needs them.
bee
The Doctors: The Pat Troughton Years
Title: The Doctors: The Pat Troughton Years
Released: July 1, 2017
Type: Movie
This is the definitive set of interviews with the team of actors who brought the Patrick Troughton era of Doctor Who to life! Together with a special tribute to Patrick Troughton (the Second Doctor), containing messages from a host of stars and production staff from Doctor Who, this set also features the best in-depth interviews ever undertaken with, Anneke Wills (Polly), MichaelL Craze (Ben), Frazer Hines (Jamie), Deborah Watling (Victoria) and Wendy Padbury (Zoe)!
bee
Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks
Title: Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks
Character: Polly (Voice)
Released: November 5, 2016
Type: Movie
Following the Doctor's regeneration into a new, younger body, the TARDIS lands at an Earth colony on the planet Vulcan in the far future. Mistaken for an official Earth Examiner, the Doctor discovers that a scientist called Lesterson is attempting to reactivate two inanimate, subservient Daleks found in a crashed space rocket. The colonists refuse to heed the Doctor's dire warnings that the Daleks are dangerous.
bee
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
Title: The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
Character: Herself
Released: November 23, 2013
Type: Movie
With the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who about to film, the "classic" Doctors Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy are keen to be involved. But do they manage it?
bee
Title: Doctor Who
Character: Polly (archive footage)
Released: March 26, 2005
Type: TV
The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.
bee
The Story of Doctor Who
Title: The Story of Doctor Who
Released: December 30, 2003
Type: Movie
Documentary to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of this popular cult sci-fi television series.
bee
Myth Makers 53: Patrick Troughton
Title: Myth Makers 53: Patrick Troughton
Character: Herself
Released: March 22, 2002
Type: Movie
Patrick Troughton was born and raised in North London. During a long and successful career he appeared in countless television dramas, including Doctor Finlay's Casebook, and The Old Curiosity Shop, plus feature films including Laurence Olivier’s acclaimed Hamlet. But it is probably his role as the second Doctor Who that he will be most remembered for. Eccentric, childish, comic, whimsical... the list of facets within his portrayal is long and complex and this reflected much of Patrick’s own personality. In this tribute Myth Makers we concentrate on what exactly made PATRICK’s second Doctor so successful. And for the first time we include an exclusive interview with Patrick shot at his only UK convention appearance at PanoptiCon VI! The only such interview shot in the UK.
bee
Carnival of Monsters
Title: Carnival of Monsters
Released: November 13, 1999
Type: Movie
A look at the various monsters that have appeared in Doctor Who.
bee
Myth Makers 43: William Hartnell
Title: Myth Makers 43: William Hartnell
Released: June 2, 1999
Type: Movie
As the very first Doctor, William Hartnell created the character that made Doctor Who a success. No other actor made such a lasting contribution to the programme or influenced it so greatly. In this special Myth Makers, Nicholas Briggs meets William’s friends, colleagues and family and explores the personality of this shy, complex and private man. With contributions from William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Verity Lambert, Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, Donald Tosh, Christopher Barry and a revealing interview with Jack Pitt, who was an extra in Doctor Who and shared William’s flat in London. Also featured is Jessica Carney, who has written a biography of the grandfather’s life titled Who’s There? This is not just a Myth Makers tribute… it’s almost a chance to meet the man himself.
bee
Lust in Space
Title: Lust in Space
Released: May 28, 1998
Type: Movie
Doctor Who travelled with the most gorgeous girls in the Cosmos. But was there any Lust in Space? Doctor Who is on trial - and the charge is sexism! The scene is set, the witnesses called. We expose Doctor Who’s final taboo! It’s everything you wanted to know about sex (in Doctor Who) but were afraid to ask!
bee
Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary
Title: Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary
Character: Self
Released: April 1, 1996
Type: Movie
In January 1996 filming began on a new episode of Doctor Who set in San Francisco, but shot in Vancouver, Canada. Sylvester McCoy flew out to join the production team to re-create his role as the Seventh Doctor and to hand over to Paul McGann. In this behind-the-scenes video diary, Sylvester gives us a personal account of his final days as the famous Timelord. Reminiscing about the "old days" and drawing comparisons with the experience of working on this latest adventure, he talks to Paul McGann, Daphne Ashbrook (Dr Grace Holloway) from the new production and Anneke Wills (Polly) from the show's past. All shot on Hi-8 camcorder.
bee
The Go-Between
Title: The Go-Between
Character: (uncredited role)
Released: June 16, 1971
Type: Movie
British teenager Leo Colston spends a summer in the countryside, where he develops a crush on the beautiful young aristocrat Marian. Eager to impress her, Leo becomes the "go-between" for Marian, delivering secret romantic letters to Ted Burgess, a handsome neighboring farmer.
bee
Title: Strange Report
Character: Evelyn McLean
Released: September 21, 1969
Type: TV
Strange Report is a British television Adam Strange, a retired Home Office criminologist, solves bizarre cases – which had been marked "Open File" by various government departments – with the help of Hamlyn Gynt, Evelyn and Professor Marks. He employed the latest techniques in forensic investigation, which he undertook in his own laboratory in his flat in Warwick Crescent in the Maida Vale/Little Venice area of Paddington.
bee
Doctor Who: The Faceless Ones
Title: Doctor Who: The Faceless Ones
Character: Polly
Released: May 13, 1967
Type: Movie
The TARDIS arrives on Earth in July, 1966, on a runway at Gatwick Airport. Polly witnesses a murder in a nearby hangar and is then kidnapped by the perpetrator, Spencer of Chameleon Tours. Ben also vanishes. The Second Doctor and Jamie are left to convince the sceptical airport Commandant there has been foul play.
bee
Doctor Who: The Macra Terror
Title: Doctor Who: The Macra Terror
Character: Polly
Released: April 1, 1967
Type: Movie
When the Second Doctor, Polly, Ben and Jamie visit a human colony that appears to be one big holiday camp, they think they have come across a truly happy place. Yet a shadowy presence soon makes them realise that the surface contentment is carefully controlled.
bee
Doctor Who: The Moonbase
Title: Doctor Who: The Moonbase
Character: Polly
Released: March 4, 1967
Type: Movie
The TARDIS arrives in 2070 on the Moon, where a weather control station under the command of a man named Hobson is in the grip of a plague epidemic — in reality the result of an alien poison planted by the Cybermen. Jamie is knocked unconscious and lapses into a delirium, leaving the Second Doctor, Ben, and Polly to fight off a massive Cyberman attack.
bee
Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace
Title: Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace
Character: Polly
Released: February 4, 1967
Type: Movie
The TARDIS arrives on an extinct volcanic island. Before long, the travellers are captured and taken into the depths of the Earth, where they find a hidden civilisation — the lost city of Atlantis.
bee
Doctor Who: The Highlanders
Title: Doctor Who: The Highlanders
Character: Polly
Released: January 7, 1967
Type: Movie
The time travellers arrive in Scotland just after the Battle of Culloden. The Second Doctor gains the trust of a small band of fleeing Jacobites by offering to tend to their wounded Laird, Colin McLaren. While Polly and the Laird's daughter, Kirsty, are away fetching water, he and the others are all captured by Redcoat troops commanded by Lieutenant Algernon Ffinch.
bee
Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks
Title: Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks
Character: Polly
Released: November 5, 1966
Type: Movie
Following the Doctor's regeneration into a new, younger body, the TARDIS lands at an Earth colony on the planet Vulcan in the far future. Mistaken for an official Earth Examiner, the Doctor discovers that a scientist called Lesterson is attempting to reactivate two inanimate, subservient Daleks found in a crashed space rocket. The colonists refuse to heed the Doctor's dire warnings that the Daleks are dangerous.
bee
Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet
Title: Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet
Character: Polly
Released: October 29, 1966
Type: Movie
The Doctor's TARDIS lands at the Snowcap space tracking station in Antarctica in December 1986. A routine space mission starts going wrong. When the base personnel's suspicions are roused, the Doctor informs them that the space capsule is being affected by the gravitational pull of another planet — a tenth planet in the Solar system.
bee
Doctor Who: The Smugglers
Title: Doctor Who: The Smugglers
Character: Polly
Released: October 1, 1966
Type: Movie
The TARDIS arrives on the coast of seventeenth century Cornwall — much to the astonishment of Polly and Ben. Pirates led by Captain Samuel Pike and his henchman Cherub are searching for a hidden treasure, while a smuggling ring masterminded by the local squire is trying to off-load contraband.
bee
Doctor Who: The War Machines
Title: Doctor Who: The War Machines
Character: Polly
Released: July 16, 1966
Type: Movie
The TARDIS arrives in London in 1966 and the First Doctor and Dodo visit the Post Office Tower. There they meet Professor Brett, whose revolutionary new computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought ANalogue) can actually think for itself and is shortly to be linked up to other major computers around the world — a project overseen by civil servant Sir Charles Summer.
bee
The Pleasure Girls
Title: The Pleasure Girls
Character: Angela
Released: May 1, 1965
Type: Movie
When Sally moves to London to pursue a modelling career, she moves in with Angela and Dee and discovers the world of the carefree bachelor girl in Swinging London. Over one weekend - filled with parties, blossoming friendships, and romantic encounters with Keith and Nikko (Klaus Kinski) - the vivacious girls learn about life's pleasures and pains.
bee
Title: The Likely Lads
Character: Judith Francis
Released: December 16, 1964
Type: TV
The Likely Lads was a black and white British sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and produced by Dick Clement. Twenty-one episodes were broadcast by the BBC, in three series, between 16 December 1964 and 23 July 1966. However, only eight of these shows have survived.
bee
Nothing But the Best
Title: Nothing But the Best
Character: Young Wife
Released: March 10, 1964
Type: Movie
Success has James Brewster's name written all over it, and he also has his heart set on his boss's daughter. A con artist hires him to help out on a bank scheme, but then again, James will do anything to get rich and be the most successful businessman in Britain-even if it means murder!!!
bee
Title: Doctor Who
Character: Polly Wright
Released: November 23, 1963
Type: TV
The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, The Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help ordinary people, and right many wrongs.
bee
Title: Doctor Who
Character: Polly
Released: November 23, 1963
Type: TV
The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, The Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help ordinary people, and right many wrongs.
bee
Title: The Saint
Character: Fran Roeding
Released: October 4, 1962
Type: TV
Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.
bee
Some People
Title: Some People
Character: Anne
Released: May 31, 1962
Type: Movie
Four teen-aged Teds are persuaded to form a rock group and undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme to keep them out of trouble.
bee
Title: The Avengers
Character: Judy
Released: January 7, 1961
Type: TV
The Avengers is a British television series created in the 1960s. It initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed. Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants. His most famous assistants were intelligent, stylish and assertive women: Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King. Later episodes increasingly incorporated elements of science fiction and fantasy, parody and British eccentricity.
bee
Title: No Hiding Place
Released: September 16, 1959
Type: TV
No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.
bee
Child's Play
Title: Child's Play
Character: Alice Nightingale
Released: October 1, 1954
Type: Movie
A science-fiction film about children who manage to split the atom and thereby create a new form of popcorn.