- Born
- Birth nameCatherine Ann Manning
- Height5′ 1″ (1.55 m)
- Katy Manning trained as an actress at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1971, she became known to millions of British television viewers when she joined Doctor Who (1963) as the companion Jo Grant, which she played for three seasons opposite Jon Pertwee as the Doctor until 1973. Straight after, she hosted her own show, entitled Serendipity (1973) about arts and crafts, before appearing in Armchair Theatre (1956), Whodunnit? (1972) - also starring Jon Pertwee - and Target (1977) amongst others.
In 1982, she moved to Australia to live when her twin son and daughter were very young and has been a special guest at many Australian Doctor Who (1963) conventions. She continued her acting career and took part in many Australian stage productions, including "Run For Your Wife" and "Educating Rita", among others. After living in Australia for several years, she moved to the USA, but returned to Australia on a regular basis to take part in stage plays. She became an Australian citizen on 15 September 2004 and hosted her own show called 'Preview with Katy Manning' from 2001 to 2008. In 2010, she reprised her role as Jo Jones (nee Grant) in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007).
Manning has two children, twins born in 1978, with Dean Harris. She also famously appeared in the soft porn magazine "Girl Illustrated" in 1976, posing naked with a Dalek. Barry Crocker has been her partner since 1989. Manning is still most famous for her role in Doctor Who (1963) and has contributed to many documentaries and DVD commentaries connected to her time on the series. After moving back to the UK in 2009, she continues to appear on television and in both feature films and short films.
- IMDb mini biography by: Stuart Douglas <sdouglas@zoocater.abel.co.uk>
- ChildrenJonathanGeorgina
- ParentsJ. L. ManningAmy Sylvia Jenkins
- Highly energetic and friendly personality
- Her smile
- Was in a relationship with actor Stewart Bevan who played Professor Cliff Jones on her final Doctor Who serial The Green Death. They remained good friends until Bevan's death in 2022.
- Dated Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s.
- In common with her Doctor Who (1963) co-star Nicholas Courtney, she trained at Webber Douglas Drama School.
- Childhood friend of Liza Minnelli.
- Originally given a small role as a French au-pair girl in one episode of Man at the Top (1970), however she impressed the producers during rehearsals so they instead gave her a different substantially larger role in two episodes.
- [on The Dæmons: Episode One (1971)] I suppose it was quite frightening for children. You had churches being blown up, the villain posing as a kindly vicar and me, the hapless heroine nearly being sacrificed to 'the devil'. It didn't go down too well with people of the cloth.
- Life doesn't get easier but it does get funnier.
- I've been a naughty girl. I think I've been about as naughty as you can get.
- Jo [Doctor Who (1963)] was very endearing. Gutsy, fiercely loyal. I liked the fact she offered her life constantly for the Doctor's because she realised his work was so important.
- I lose things all the time. I once left my mother's ashes at a bus stop!
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