- Born
- Birth nameNicola Jane Bryant
- Height1.60 m
- Nicola Bryant was born the daughter of a heating engineer, in 1960, in Surrey, England. At age 3,Nicola began training in dance and music, as well as studying classical ballet, jazz and tap. Nicola also studied the piano, flute and guitar, and finally began to study acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Here, apart from developing her acting skills, she continued her hobbies of golf and music. It was during her time at drama school, that Nicola married the Broadway singer, Scott Kennedy, (although they later separated). Her final production at Webber Douglas was No, No, Nanette, in which she played lead.
Bryant was spotted by an agent, Terry Carney (William Hartnell's son-in-law), and asked to audition for the part of Peri in Docteur Who (1963), which she got. On leaving, she appeared in Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988), Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993), which was a Doctor Who spoof, as well as the highly successful Stranger videos and The Airzone Solution (also with Colin Baker).
In 1995, Nicola appeared as Martine in The Biz (1995), a children's series, which has run for 3 series. She also has sung with Colin Baker, Anthony Ainley, Nicholas Courtney and a number of British pop stars on the Doctor In Distress record.
Nicola lives in Notting Hill, where her understanding neighbours allow her to write music at all hours of the day and night.- IMDb mini biography by: Paul Leach
- SpouseScott Kennedy (divorced)
- Her beauty
- Big hazel eyes
- Pronounced cheekbones
- Voluptuous figure
- She has appeared in three different productions with Colin Baker in which she played a companion of his with the surname Brown: Docteur Who (1963) (Peri Brown), The Stranger series (Miss Brown) and The Airzone Solution (1993) (Elenya "Ellie" Brown).
- She suffered from frostbite and pneumonia while filming The Caves of Androzani: Part One (1984). This was because not long before that, the cast and crew were in sunny Lanzarote to film the episode Planet of Fire: Part One (1984). When they returned to London to film "Androzani", the weather on the location was unpleasantly cold. Furthermore, she had to wear the same summer outfit used in the previous episode, which contributed to her illness.
- She claimed to be American when auditioning for Doctor Who as she knew they were looking for a genuine American to play the role.
- She became a sex symbol from her role as Peri in Docteur Who (1963). Producer John Nathan-Turner wanted to exploit the effect she would have on men in particular and frequently put her in revealing leotards, shorts and heels. She received 300 fan letters a week when she was playing the part. The British tabloid The Sun described her as a "busty beauty" and a "time-travelling temptress".
- Considered going to university, reading law and becoming a barrister.
- [speaking in 1985 about men's reaction to her as Peri in Docteur Who (1963)] I think it must be something to do with the sexy tight costumes I wear. They are so tight they are sometimes uncomfortable - that's why I like wearing baggy clothes away from the series.
- I suppose it was a terrific gamble for John Nathan-Turner to pick a drama student like me fresh out of drama school for such an important role. Particularly as I had competition from both American and Canadian actresses who had flown over specially to audition. But I was a real fan of the series and had been ever since I could remember.
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