The dossier
Saving the world without losing herself
Martha Jones is a medical student who meets the Tenth Doctor during an attack on a London hospital. Her calm judgement and curiosity make her a strong travelling companion, even when she has little time to understand the dangers around her. She enters the TARDIS while the Doctor is still grieving his previous companion.
Martha's travels repeatedly test whether she can be seen as more than someone filling another person's absence. She helps save Earth during the Master's rule by travelling alone and carrying a message of resistance. Her decision to leave is important because she chooses her own future rather than waiting for the Doctor to return her feelings.
Freema Agyeman gives Martha warmth, intelligence, and growing self-possession. The performance makes her medical training and family ties feel central to how she responds to danger. Fans value Martha because her strength includes knowing when a relationship is no longer good for her.