Anneke Wills

Biography

Wills's father, Alaric Willys, was a captain in the British Army. Her mother, Anna, was Dutch, born in Rotterdam. Anneke is the granddaughter of Richard Raymond Willis VC.

Career

Deciding she wanted to be an actress she studied drama at the Arts Educational School and RADA in London and quickly became one of the busiest actresses of her generation, early roles included an appearance as Roberta in the second TV version of The Railway Children in 1957. Her other film roles included appearances in Some People (1962) and The Pleasure Girls (1965).

Her other television credits include appearances in The Avengers and as Evelyn in Strange Report (1969–70).

''Doctor Who''

In 1966, she took the role of Polly in Doctor Who. She appeared in the show until 1967 alongside William Hartnell and then Patrick Troughton. Her favourite story is The Smugglers.

In October 2013, she recorded an abridged version of Who's There?, a biography of Hartnell written by his granddaughter, Jessica Carney.

In November 2013, she appeared in the one-off 50th anniversary comedy homage The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.

She has been a popular guest at Doctor Who conventions, and has been employed by the BBC and Big Finish to record various audio and DVD projects related to the show.

In 2021, Wills was approached by Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall about reprising her role as Polly for the Thirteenth Doctor's final episode, "The Power of the Doctor", but was unavailable on the day of filming as she was maintaining her garden at her home in Dartmoor. "I heard it was quite brief so I'm glad I stayed and did my brambles instead," she told the Radio Times.

Writing

The first volume of her autobiography, Self Portrait, was published in 2007 by Hirst Books and a second volume, Naked, followed in 2009. Her latest book, Anneke Wills - In Focus, was published in May 2012 by Fantom Films.

Personal life

At 17, she began a relationship with Anthony Newley while working on the TV series The Strange World of Gurney Slade. Newley fathered Wills's first child, Polly, but left her to marry Joan Collins. During the 1960s Wills spent much of her time at the famous Troubadour Coffee Shop and the Establishment, and was part of the so-called "Chelsea Set".

In 1965, Wills married actor Michael Gough, She remarried twice.

In 2025, Wills was hospitalised with a broken hip after slipping and falling in her garden. "Thank god the farmers heard me calling out for help and, wrapping me in blankets as I lay on the icy ground, we all waited some hours for the ambulance to come," she wrote on Facebook. "I was whisked off to Torbay hospital with a broken hip and shoulder for ten days. I was lovingly cared for by the doctors and nurses [in what] was my first experience of the immense patience and kindness of the NHS care teams. I was humbled and grateful." Following her initial hospitalisation, she was transferred to a Mapleton Community Care Centre in Newton Abbot, staying there for four weeks before returning home. "[O]nce again, there were the angels, I will always be grateful to them all. Such friends," she continued.

Filmography

Film

Television

Audio drama

References

References

1. Wills, Anneke. (2007). "Self Portrait". Hirst Books.
2. "Anneke Wills".
3. Wills, Anneke. (2007). "Self Portrait". Hirst Books.
4. ’Self Portrait’ Anneke Wills, Autobiography 2007
5. (15 March 1957). "Children's Television: The Railway Children: 3: The Old Gentleman". The Radio Times.
6. [http://www.entertainment-focus.com/featured-slider/anneke-wills-interview-2 Profile], entertainment-focus.com; accessed 29 April 2015.
7. "The Big Issue - Anneke Wills".
8. "BFI Screenonline: Strange Report (1968-69)".
9. "Doctor Who companion Anneke Wills on achieving cultural immortality".
10. (5 November 2016). "Doctor Who The Power of the Daleks animation review". Radiotimes.com.
11. (15 October 2013). "Who's There? – Anneke Wills".
12. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03lv3mj The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot], bbc.co.uk; accessed 29 April 2015.
13. "The War Machines, Season 3, Doctor Who - The Fourth Dimension - BBC One".
14. "Anneke Wills and Terrence Hardiman are Charley's Family! - News - Big Finish".
15. "BBC - The Fourth Dimension".
16. Mulkern, Patrick. "Doctor Who's classic companions on their return: "It was a total joy" | Radio Times".
17. [https://drwhointerviews.wordpress.com/category/anneke-wills Profile], drwhointerviews.wordpress.com; accessed 29 April 2015.
18. "fantom films :: anneke wills".
19. Wills, Anneke. Self Portrait. Hirst Publishing 2007; {{ISBN. 978-0-9557149-0-0
20. Mentor, Toms. (8 August 2011). "Anneke Wills: Gurney Slade, Anthony Newley and me | Features". The Stage.
21. "About Anneke - Anneke Wills".
22. Harp, Justin. (21 April 2025). "'Humbled and Grateful': Doctor Who Star Anneke Wills Offers Health Update After 10-Day Hospitalization".