“When I have a bad day, sometimes I sit and watch The Sarah Jane Adventures.”
I recently had the chance to visit the offices of TopMob, and while there, I got to share some personal memories of my mum, the wonderful Elisabeth Sladen. It was a lovely opportunity to talk about her and her incredible life.
Elisabeth Sladen, the beloved actress famous for her role as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who, died in 2011. She would have turned 80 years old on February 1st, 2026.
Miller notes that Sarah reminds him a lot of his mother, possessing both a quiet strength and a playful, fun-loving side, as well as a natural warmth and caring nature.
My mum was a very straightforward person – what you saw was truly what you got. She didn’t tolerate foolishness, but she always handled things with a calm and gentle demeanor.
I always admired how she rooted for the little guy. Even on a show where she was clearly the star – like The Sarah Jane Adventures – she never acted like it. She had this wonderful, collaborative spirit, clearly learned from her theatre days, where she understood everyone on set played a vital role. She was just a genuinely lovely person, through and through.
When Miller was born, Sladen was already a popular and cherished actress thanks to her work on Doctor Who between 1973 and 1976, where she starred with Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.
Sarah Jane Smith was a groundbreaking companion, and many believe she paved the way for stronger female characters in science fiction. She was a passionate feminist who truly changed the role of companions in the show.
Growing up as the daughter of a famous Doctor Who companion meant Miller’s first experiences with science fiction were a bit unusual compared to most kids.
I first discovered the show at a fan convention when I was around six or seven years old. We also watched it occasionally at home, which helped me understand the context.
It was always a little odd, though. My mum was in this show, but when she was acting, she didn’t really look like herself anymore. It was a strange experience as a kid – seeing the same person sitting next to me on the couch, and then appearing on TV as someone else.
Around the same time, eight-year-old Sienna Miller began acting. In 1993, she and Keira Knightley both appeared on screen for the first time in an episode of the TV series Screen One, called Royal Celebration. Miller played Penny, the daughter of Minnie Driver’s character, Sally.
She explained that children don’t realize acting is someone’s profession. Apparently, Minnie Driver was very upset to learn her eight-year-old daughter was in the cast, feeling she was too young – a reaction she completely understands. However, she also said Minnie Driver was very kind and pleasant.
Being a child actor was enjoyable, but it quickly became a very professional experience. My parents realized it was moving too fast and needed to be reined in. I specifically remember my mom having a serious talk with me before a film screening, preparing me for some potentially difficult content. I’m relieved I don’t have to have those kinds of discussions with my own kids yet.
Although fans still loved it, Sarah Jane Smith’s time with Doctor Who seemed over. However, the show returned in 2005 with Russell T Davies at the helm, and he invited her back. David Tennant, who played the Tenth Doctor, was a big fan of hers and was thrilled she was joining him.
Okay, so revisiting the Doctor and Sarah Jane’s reunion in ‘School Reunion’ from 2006 is always a treat. She doesn’t immediately place him – and honestly, can you blame her after all his faces? But he absolutely recognizes her, and watching David Tennant’s face light up in that moment… well, it sparked this really strange rumour online. Apparently, people misinterpreted that pure joy as something else entirely! It’s a testament to Tennant’s performance, I guess, that it could be misread so completely.
“Online, someone had put that David didn’t know that my mum was going to be in that scene, which one of my favourite things ever to read on the internet,” Miller recalls.
The actors received the script and had their first table read. He anticipated this happening, but he’s such a talented and genuine performer that his true self came through in the moment. Russell, the show’s creator, excels at balancing respect for the show’s past and its fans with maintaining the quality and independence of the current season.
Even after Elisabeth Sladen reappeared for the show’s reunion, Doctor Who wasn’t finished with her character. This led to the creation of The Sarah Jane Adventures!
“They offered her the series and I think she just sort of thought, ‘Oh my god, what?!’ Miller recalls.
She was thrilled about The Sarah Jane Adventures and always sensed new opportunities were coming. Like many women, she balanced her career and family, and when I was growing up, her work options became limited. It’s tough for people in the entertainment industry to juggle caregiving responsibilities – there’s very little flexibility, and you often have to sacrifice a lot.
She always seemed to believe things would eventually work out, and she was especially pleased it happened with Sarah. Back then, almost 20 years ago, the BBC initially envisioned a different type of spin-off. Choosing a 60-year-old woman to lead a children’s show was a remarkably forward-thinking move. And we need more like it!
Miller occasionally revisits The Sarah Jane Adventures, fondly remembering it as something special. He says, “It’s just lovely. It’s amazing to have memories of a parent who’s gone, and I really cherish that.”
And, even today, Sarah Jane remains one of the best-loved companions of all time.
“I think that she was able to be so many things at once,” Miller explains.
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She was a complex character – both fearful and courageous, principled yet able to understand different perspectives. As a feminist figure, she was ahead of her time, but she remained authentically feminine and relatable. Throughout the years, she maintained a quiet inner strength without compromising who she was.
It’s refreshing to see a female character who isn’t simply defined by her gender. As she points out in the show, being a girl isn’t limiting – it’s just being. The character is well-rounded and complex, offering a positive role model who feels both inspiring and relatable.
For many fans, Sarah Jane and Sladen are irreversibly intertwined.
“I think it wasn’t until after she passed away that I realised quite how impactful the character was and the way that people felt about my mum,” Miller reflects.
I’ll never forget sitting with my dad in the kitchen the day after she died. When the news was announced on the Nine O’Clock News, my phone didn’t stop buzzing for about six months with people sending messages and sharing their thoughts about her.
It was a truly surprising moment. I don’t think anyone could have predicted it. We’d always known it was a possibility, but it didn’t really hit home until then – it felt completely new and significant.
Following her mother’s passing, Miller stepped away from performing for a while.
When my mother passed away while I was in drama school, I, like many people experiencing a significant loss, needed to suppress my grief for a while. It felt like locking it away to cope with everything.
I realized I couldn’t continue working the same way because trying to shut down one opportunity meant missing out on many others. It limited my access to the experiences I needed as an artist, so I shifted my focus to things like spending time with my family.
Then, a special opportunity arose. Miller was invited to reprise her role as Sarah Jane Smith in a series of audio dramas produced by Big Finish.
She described a wonderful feeling of reconnecting with her mother. She was thrilled to work on the project, and, like many actors, she happily accepted the job when it was offered.
In terms of what it actually took to play Sarah Jane, Miller “studied” her mum’s old performances.
When playing a character, you inevitably bring your own perspective to it – you can’t completely detach yourself. Initially, I focused on capturing the essence of the original Sarah Jane, as that’s what audiences would expect. But over time, it’s become more of a blend – a shared space where the character exists somewhere between how I envision her and how the other actor does. And that’s good – we probably each interpret her a little differently, and that’s natural.
I also try to find similarities between us. When I watch her perform, I notice little vocal habits she has – things you can’t really ignore. They influence how I portray Sarah, especially her breathing. But after doing this for a while and seeing such a positive response, I’ve felt more freedom to make my own creative choices as well.
When I began playing Sarah, I was worried about how audiences would react. I wondered if they’d dislike the portrayal. But people were incredibly kind and supportive, which was a pleasant surprise.
Looking back, I get the sense this role really happened because of personal circumstances. The actress shared that if her mother hadn’t passed away, and if her mother hadn’t initially been slated to play the part, she might never have taken it on herself. She admits that a different life, a different family story, could have led her down a completely different path. Ultimately, though, she feels it’s been a beautiful experience, both personally and as a way to connect with her mother’s memory. It’s a really touching story behind her involvement.
Regarding a potential return as Sarah Jane Smith, she believes the character has appeared in Doctor Who enough times. She’s enthusiastic about the show’s future direction, but feels Sarah Jane’s on-screen story has run its course.
During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, Davies penned the webcast ‘Farewell Sarah Jane,’ bringing together the characters to mourn her passing at a funeral.
Even though she hasn’t seen all of it, Miller highlights that the show provides a sense of comfort and stability. She finds it especially heartwarming that people continued creating Doctor Who and Sarah Jane Adventures content during the pandemic, a time when so much was uncertain, and that they came together to do so.
These programs exist because people naturally connect with characters and stories, especially during difficult times. It’s wonderful that Russell created something that fosters that connection.
I’ve been so fascinated by Ncuti Gatwa’s openness! He jokingly referred to himself as a ‘nepo baby,’ but he’s incredibly appreciative of the opportunity he’s had with Doctor Who. He doesn’t necessarily count himself as a lifelong fan, but what really struck me was how much he values the show’s fans – especially the LGBTQ+ community. He’s spoken about how important they’ve been, not just to him, but to his mum too, and it’s really lovely to see that acknowledged.
The Doctor Who fandom is incredibly important, especially as a chosen family and a safe space for many fans. It’s clear the show has a long history of support from its queer fanbase, who were instrumental in keeping it alive during challenging times – both originally and potentially now. Their dedication shouldn’t be underestimated.
She clarifies that while Sarah Jane isn’t necessarily a queer character, she sees her as asexual. It’s important to the character, she believes, that she finds fulfillment through relationships with others, but not through romance – something rarely seen with young, traditionally attractive female characters.
She explores themes of femininity, but it isn’t the most important part of who she is. Her bold fashion sense – those vests, for example – felt more about expressing herself than attracting attention from men. While the story includes male characters she might be romantically involved with, it doesn’t seem to be a central focus for Sarah’s character.
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I think most of us recognize Sarah’s true strength and character. I hesitate to say more, but she’s a powerful, feminine woman working in a traditionally male-dominated area. She broke a lot of barriers and found herself in spaces where women weren’t typically accepted back then. And honestly, a lot of the people she worked with were also trailblazers.
Characters like Liz Shaw and Jo Grant really highlight a core theme of Doctor Who: building your own family. This resonates deeply with many people, especially within the queer community, who often have to actively create that support system for themselves. The show wouldn’t be what it is without the enthusiastic support and connection it has with queer audiences.
Thinking about this special occasion, Miller shared, “It’s hard to believe she would have been eighty years old. Time really flies.”
We’ve received many tributes to Sladen from those who worked with her, especially her Doctor Who colleagues. However, very few people knew her as intimately as her daughter, Miller. When asked to share what she wants people to remember about her mother, she takes a moment to collect her thoughts.
She truly loved working on the show. Even when my mum was sick, she continued filming, not because anyone pushed her, but because she was passionate about it and deeply cared. I believe she’d be incredibly happy knowing she left a positive impact on others – that’s a wonderful legacy to have.
I still receive messages from people who say the character brings them a lot of comfort and inspires them. One person even told me they became a journalist because of Sarah, which is amazing to think about – to have that kind of impact on someone’s life! I believe she would be incredibly proud.
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Authors
Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, writing about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.
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2026-02-01 11:38