Janet Mahoney, now professionally recognized by her stage name Janet Fielding, was born in Brisbane, Australia, in the year 1953. Following her academic pursuits, she acquired A levels in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and subsequently enrolled at Queensland University, where she initially ventured into the world of acting.
During her time at university, she worked alongside renowned English writer/director Albert Hunt, who in 1977 invited her to join him in one of his productions in England. This marked the beginning of her international career.
Upon settling in England, Janet Fielding joined the esteemed Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool, led by the visionary Ken Campbell. She took part in notable productions, including "The Warp" and "The End is Nigh". Her talent did not go unnoticed, as she landed a small yet significant role in an episode of the Hammer House of Horror (1980) series.
Her breakthrough came when she was cast as the Australian airline stewardess Tegan Jovanka in Tom Baker's final serial, Logopolis: Part One (1981),within the iconic British sci-fi series Doctor Who. She went on to become the longest-running companion of Peter Davison's Doctor, appearing in the show until Resurrection of the Daleks: Part Two (1984).
After departing from Doctor Who, Janet Fielding continued to appear in various television shows, including the ITV series Shelley (1979) and Minder (1979),as well as productions of "The Collector" and the pantomime "Aladdin" on stage.
In 1991, Janet Fielding decided to put her acting career on hold and dedicate her time to administrative work within the pressure group Women in Film and Television, where she remained for three-and-a-half years. She later transitioned into a directorial role at Marina Martin Associates, an actors' agency, representing notable clients such as the Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann.
