Pamela Salem, known for her long career in film, TV, and stage, has been remembered fondly after reports of her passing at age 80. Born in India in 1944, she studied in Germany and later trained at the Central School of Drama before working in repertory theatre. She built a strong reputation performing Shakespeare, Chekhov, and Pinter, but one of her standout screen roles was playing Miss Moneypenny in Never Say Never Again (1983). She was also well known for her voice work with Big Finish, the audio drama company.

Her Big Finish producer shared the news, saying, “Pamela Salem was lovely, and we all loved her,” and added, “Whenever she had a recording with Big Finish, she’d fly in from Miami by herself, with no fuss or drama.” He described her as someone who arrived “with the biggest hugs, the nicest smiles, and often gifts,” someone “always interested in everyone” and who “talked with joy about her home on Miami Beach.”

Pamela appeared in EastEnders from 1988 to 1989 as Joanne Francis, a member of “The Firm” sent to run Strokes Winebar, secretly used for illegal gambling. Though she and Den Watts clashed at first, they eventually worked well together.

Doctor Who fans remember her as Professor Rachel Jensen in “Remembrance of the Daleks,” and earlier in “The Robots of Death.” She later returned to the role in the spin-off Counter-Measures.

Her career also included roles in ER, The West Wing, the sitcom French Fields, and several cult sci-fi films. Pamela was married to actor Michael O’Hagan from 1983 until his death in 2017.