Trivia

She gave birth to a baby boy on May 12, 1965, from a brief liaison with David Orchard, who she met on the set of No Hiding Place (1959). Being already a single mother at the time of his birth, she gave the baby up. He was adopted by a married couple, Derek and Joy Linde and named Christopher Linde.

Lived alone in a 17th-century cottage in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset, England with her cat Perdita.

Was a vegetarian and animal rights activist.

She died from ovarian cancer in a nursing home in Sussex, UK.

She was seriously considered for a major role (Sable or Frankie) on The Colbys (1985) before being offered the role of Cassandra "Caress" Morell on Dynasty (1981).

She was one of several big name guest stars brought to Doctor Who (1963) in the 1980s by producer John Nathan-Turner. After first appearing opposite the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker, in The Mark of the Rani: Part One (1985), she was then brought back to introduce the Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, in Time and the Rani: Part One (1987), for which she was voted best actress by Doctor Who (1963) magazine readers that year. She then made her final appearance in the series when she was chosen as the principal villain in the Children in Need spoof Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993), which was made to mark the programme's 30th anniversary.

Married and divorced twice, her son Dickon came from an actor she had repeatedly refused to name during their respective lifetimes. Dickon was a set designer for The British Actor's Theatre Company which Kate founded in 1987.

Has usually been romantically involved with men much younger than her. Her second husband, actor Richard Willis, was 18 years her junior. A more recent partner, actor Mark Noble, was 20 years younger.

Up to late October 1986 she had made over 180 television appearances, 50 stage plays and 14 films and in those could only recall playing a good girl once.

Her father, John Carroll, was a Royal Air Force flying instructor; her mother, Hazel Bainbridge, was an actress. She lived mostly in boarding schools growing up due to her parents' long absences. Her younger sister, Belinda Carroll, is also an actress.

She was best known to American audiences for her role as Cassandra "Caress" Morell, the younger sister of Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty (1981).

Her autobiography, "Game Plan; A Modern Woman's Survival Kit" was released on hardcover in 1990 by Sidgwick & Jackson.

As at October 1986 she had made over 180 television appearances., 50 stage plays, 14 films and can only recall playing a good girl once.

She preferred working in the theatre and only did television work so that being higher paid it subsidised her theatre work.

Is not to be confused with contemporary American actress Kate Mara.

In show business since 1960.

Her son Dickon was the 6th generation of her family to act.

A memorial service was held for her at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 19th September 2014.

Married 2nd husband director Jeremy Young Jan 71 separated May 73 divorced 76.

Son Dickon born 1963.

Her mother is actress Hazel Bainbridge.

Her younger sister is actress Belinda Carroll.

Spent 3 years with the RSC.