Anneke Wills
As the adventurous Polly, she brought a refreshing spark of 1960s modernity to the TARDIS, becoming one of Doctor Who's most beloved early companions.
Born 1941 (age 85)·British actress·Birthday: October 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Anneke Wills arrived in the TARDIS at a pivotal moment, joining the First Doctor at the very end of his era and then becoming a staple alongside the youthful, cosmic-hippie Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton. As Polly, a savvy secretary from swinging London, she was no damsel in distress; she was resourceful, fashionable, and often the one to put the kettle on amid alien invasions. Her chemistry with co-star Michael Craze, who played Ben, created a relatable, bickering-but-loyal duo that grounded the show's fantastical plots. Though her time on the series lasted just over a year, from 1966 to 1967, Polly left an indelible mark, representing a shift towards more contemporary, independent female characters in science fiction. Wills's career extended beyond the Doctor, with notable stage and television work, but it is her role in those foundational, often missing episodes of 'Doctor Who' that secured her a permanent place in the hearts of fans, a connection she has warmly nurtured at conventions for decades.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Anneke was born in 1941, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anneke Was Born
The biggest hits of 1941
#1 Movie
Sergeant York
Best Picture
How Green Was My Valley
Anneke's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1941Born
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1946Started school
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1954Became a teenager
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Could drive
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1959Could vote
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Turned 21
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1971Turned 30
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 40
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 50
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 60
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 70
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 80
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 85 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the companion Polly in 'Doctor Who' from 1966 to 1967, appearing in over 40 episodes alongside the First and Second Doctors.
- Her performance helped define the modern, proactive companion archetype in the series' early history.
- Co-starred in the cult classic film 'The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery' (1966).
Did You Know?
Many of her 'Doctor Who' episodes are missing from the BBC archives, believed to be lost.
She is the aunt of actress Susannah Harker ('Pride and Prejudice', 'House of Cards').
She later worked as a yoga teacher and published a memoir about her life and career.
“I was the swinging sixties girl who could rewire a Dalek.”
