Kate O'Mara

Kate O'Mara (born Francesca Meredith Carroll, 10 August 1939-30 March 2014 ) was an English actress who played in The Mark of the Rani and Time and the Rani.

In 1993, O'Mara reprised the Rani for the charity special Dimensions in Time, and in 2000 she played the role again for the BBV audio production, The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind.

Prior to being cast as the Rani, she was considered for the role of Tanha in Snakedance (TCH 36).

She was interviewed in the documentaries Lords and Luddites, The Last Chance Saloon, Hot Gossip and Talking about Regeneration.

Career
O'Mara's TV and film acting career dates back to the 1960s when she appeared in most of the major ITC productions such as Danger Man and The Saint, as well as The Avengers. She later also participated in a stage play based upon the Sydney Newman creation.

O'Mara made her Doctor Who debut as the renegade Time Lord the Rani in the 1985 story The Mark of the Rani. Between it and her second (and last regular) appearance in Time and the Rani, O'Mara made two dozen appearances as Cassandra 'Caress' Morrell on the American prime-time soap opera Dynasty, her best-known role internationally.

Personal life
She was the aunt of Tam Williams, the ex-wife of Jeremy Young and Richard Willis, the sister-in-law of Michael and Martin Cochrane and the former sister-in-law of Simon Williams.

Death
In 2014, plans were underway to bring back Kate O'Mara as the Rani for new Big Finish Productions audios, but O'Mara passed away a few weeks before recording began. Having been assured of O'Mara's desire that they continue the project without her and her blessing was given for a new incarnation to be introduced, Big Finish cast Siobhan Redmond as a new incarnation of the Rani. 

Season 22

 * The Mark of the Rani

Season 24

 * Time and the Rani

Charity mini-episode

 * Dimensions in Time

Spinoff audio production

 * The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind