Jo Martin

Jo Martin is a British actress whose career spans more than three decades, beginning in the late 1980s and continuing robustly into the present day. Born on 29 April 1969 in Newham, London, she grew up in a Jamaican‑heritage household that arrived in the United Kingdom during the 1950s, an experience that has deeply informed her artistic perspective. After attending Portway Primary School and later Plashet All Girls Secondary School, Martin entered the world of acting, securing her first professional roles in the late 1980s and quickly establishing a reputation for versatility and emotional depth. Her breakthrough came with the BBC series The Crouches (2003‑2005), where she portrayed Natalie Crouch, a performance that highlighted her comedic timing and earned her a dedicated fan base. She continued to build her résumé with notable roles in Back to Life (2019‑2021) as Janice and Holby City (2019‑2022), where she played Max McGerry, demonstrating a seamless ability to transition between drama and comedy. In 2020, Martin achieved international recognition when she debuted as the enigmatic Fugitive Doctor in Doctor Who, first appearing in the episode “Fugitive of the Judoon.” Her portrayal of a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor was praised for its gravitas and nuance, earning critical acclaim and solidifying her status as a trailblazer for representation in science‑fiction. She reprised the role across multiple episodes, including the series finale “The Timeless Children,” the feature “The Power of the Doctor,” and a cameo in the 2025 special “The Story & the Engine.” Beyond television, Martin has contributed to audio drama, starring in The Fugitive Doctor Adventures produced by Big Finish, and has tackled socially relevant projects such as Tales from the Front Line (2020), a verbatim film exploring the challenges faced by teachers during the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Her performances in this piece were lauded for their subtlety and authenticity, reinforcing her reputation as an actor capable of delivering powerful, socially conscious work. Throughout her ongoing career, Jo Martin remains a dynamic presence in British entertainment, continually expanding her artistic horizons while inspiring audiences with her compelling portrayals.