| The following article is written from an Out of Universe perspective. |
Sophie Aldred (born 20 August 1962) portrayed Ace in Doctor Who from Dragonfire-Ice Time, and reprised the role for The Lords of Time, LIVE 34 and the 2003 movie.
She then reprised the role in Seasons 42 and 43 from Everlasting War to Demons of the Past, as well as the mini-series Rebel Zero where Ace was the main character.
Biography
Prior to Doctor Who
She was born in Greenwich, London and raised in Blackheath. She shares her birthday with her co-star, Sylvester McCoy, who is 19 years her senior, and Anthony Ainley.
Sophie attended Blackheath High School and studied drama at the University of Manchester before embarking on a career in children's theatre.
Work on Doctor Who
In 1987, while she was working back chorus on Fiddler on the Roof, she was cast as Ace. The Doctor found Ace serving milkshakes on Iceworld in the story Dragonfire, at the end of which she joined the Doctor on his travels. Several stories (The Curse of Fenric, Survival, Ghost Light, Earth Aid and Ice Time) explored her character to an extent that previous companion characters had not seen.
After leaving at the conclusion of Ice Time, Aldred reprised her role in Blood and Iron, The Lords of Time and LIVE 34, she then returned for the 40th Anniversary movie and later the finale of Season 42 in 2005.
Aldred then portrayed Ace in the spin-off mini-series Rebel Zero before returning for Season 43 of the main show. Aldred made a brief cameo as Ace in the second movie.
After Doctor Who
Before and since Doctor Who, Aldred has had a varied and busy television career, particularly in children's programming, where she has presented educational programmes such as Corners, Melvin and Maureen's Music-a-grams and the long-running BBC series Words and Pictures. She has performed on radio and in the theatre.
Beginning in 2012, Aldred provided the lead voiceover role in the animated series Tree Fu Tom; her co-star for the first series was David Tennant.
Personal Life
Sophie Aldred married Vince Henderson on 12 July 1997. They have two sons, Adam and William.