Grace Jacqueline Hill (17 December 1929—18 February 1993) was a British actress known for her role as
Barbara Wright in the
BBC science-fiction television series
Doctor Who. As the history teacher of
Susan Foreman, the
Doctor's granddaughter, Barbara was the first
Doctor Who companion to appear on-screen in 1963, with Hill speaking the series' first words. She played the role for nearly two years, leaving the series in 1965 at the same time as fellow actor
William Russell (who played the companion
Ian Chesterton). Hill returned to
Doctor Who in 1980 for an appearance in the serial
Meglos, as the Tigellan priestess Lexa.