London born and raised, Helen is an intelligent, sceptical and very compassionate woman. Her intelligence translates to her work, and above all else she admires lexicology and linguistics.
Living in the 1960s she felt that society had never allowed her to be the best that she could be and it was after she was passed over for a promotion at the National Museum that she got accidentally roped in with the Eighth Doctor and Liv Chenka.
When they asked her to travel with them, she accepted the offer with open arms. Helen was pleased that her strengths were celebrated rather than feared whilst travelling with them and over time came to consider them as close to her as family.