Born on 2 January 1948, Deborah Watling grew up in an acting family. She attended stage school after failing her O level exams, but left after three weeks and got herself an agent. She then landed the part of Alice in a BBC play "The Life of Lewis Carroll" (aka The Wednesday Play: Alice (1965)). This was followed by other roles, including film parts, with Cliff Richard in Take Me High (1973) and with David Essex in That'll Be the Day (1973). She was offered the role of Victoria in Docteur Who (1963) as Innes Lloyd had remembered the Radio Times cover for "The Life of Lewis Carroll" and asked Deborah to play the part. Following Doctor Who, Deborah opened her own boutique before landing a part in The Newcomers (1965). Since then she has appeared in numerous TV roles including Danger UXB (1979), Rising Damp: Hello Young Lovers (1978), and Doctor in Charge (1972) and has done much work in the theatre.