Janet Fielding

The casting call for Tegan (an airline stewardess) in Doctor Who (1963) had a minimum height requirement of 5' 4" as British Airways had that requirement. In her audition with producer John Nathan-Turner, Fielding claimed that her height (5'2") was the minimum for Australian Airways, so she should be considered for the role. She eventually got the role and was very successful in it, and only later did in come out that she had completely made up the bit about being minimum height.

[on her bafflement at the continuing popularity of Doctor Who (1963)] You do find yourself wondering, because the affection endures: "So what is it that people are so very fond of?".