Kim Roberts (actress)
Kimberley Ann Roberts is a Canadian actress best known for her roles as Christine in The Handmaids Tale (2017), Regina from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2017), Marnie in Schitt's Creek (2015), Neeva in The Strain (2014), Gloria in Lucky Seven (2013), Camilla in Being Erica (2010), Mazz in The Doodlebops (2004–05), Mrs. Arvin in I'm Not There (2007), Deborah in Saw III (2006) and Saw IV (2007) and Mrs. Bosco in The Cheetah Girls (2003).[1][2][3]
Kim Roberts | |
|---|---|
 Roberts in 2017 | |
| Born | Kimberley Ann Roberts |
| Alma mater | University of Western Ontario, York University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
Early life
Roberts' parents are from the Caribbean. Her mother, Josephine (née Charles), is from the creole island of Dominica and her late father, Oswald, was born in Jamaica.[4] They met and married in Toronto, Canada, where Roberts and her brother Mark were born. Roberts still has close ties to both islands. As a child, Roberts performed as a member of The Friendship Circle, a group of young singers and dancers directed by Lois Lilienstein of Sharon, Lois and Bram and her partner Louise. The ensemble toured locally, singing folk songs at schools and festivals like Mariposa, as well as appearing on Bram's television show. Under the direction of her older cousins, Roberts began her stage career as a leading lady in home productions put on for friends and parents. She attended a drama lab at the University of Toronto at age 12, which solidified her interest in the craft. While enrolled in the gifted program at Earl Haig Secondary School, Roberts was given special permission to enter the acting stream at Claude Watson School for the Arts. Roberts finished her studies at C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute. Her friendships with acting and scholastic alumni Rachael Crawford and Louis Ferreira were formed during these years.
Career
Roberts attended the University of Western Ontario majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy, with a view to becoming a lawyer. A theater class taken at York University one summer led to an invitation from Ron Singer, the chair of the Theater department, to study at York. Roberts accepted the invitation, but before completing her studies, auditioned for and was cast in the Company of Sirens touring production of, "No Problems Here." She performed as well as produced and directed for the company for the next three years.[5] Roberts branched out into film and television and became the first woman of African descent to portray the speaking heroine in a nationally televised Canadian commercial. The spot was for Benalyn cough syrup.[6][7] Since then, Roberts' resume has grown to include leading and recurring roles in over 100 different on-screen credits. She has shared screen and stage with the best of the artistic community, including Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, Jackie Chan, Lindsay Lohan, Eugene Levy, Debbie Gibson, James Garner, Julie Andrews, Robin Williams, Alfre Woodard, Mariah Carey, Wesley Snipes, Tom Selleck, Farrah Fawcett and more. She has been directed and produced by many industry luminaries, of note, Steven Spielberg, Maya Angelou, Todd Haynes, Sidney Lumet, and Peter Bogdanovich.[4]
Obsidian Theatre Company, Canada's premiere black theatre company, was founded in Roberts' home and she is one of twelve founding members.[8] Roberts narrated and performed The Book of Negroes for the CBC podcast ‘Between the Covers.’
While shooting In the Company of Spies, in 1999, Roberts became one of the first actors to shoot a scene in CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Extreme Measures | Home Nurse | |
| 1997 | Bad Day on the Block | 911 Operator | |
| 1997 | Critical Care | Intern #1 | |
| 1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | Dancer | |
| 1998 | Down in the Delta | Isabelle | |
| 1999 | Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story | Church Friend, 1983 | |
| 1999 | The Misadventures of Tron Bonne | Digger (English version, voice) | Video Game |
| 2000 | Chain of Command | Stephanie Ellis | |
| 2000 | Steal This Movie! | Auditor | |
| 2001 | Glitter | Mrs. Wilson | |
| 2002 | The Tuxedo | ER Nurse | |
| 2004 | Dawn of the Dead | Cora | |
| 2006 | Man of the Year | Make-Up Artist | |
| 2006 | One Way | Norah | |
| 2006 | Saw III | Deborah | |
| 2007 | Complete Idiot | Wanda | |
| 2007 | Charlie Bartlett | Dr. Linda Jenkins | |
| 2007 | I'm Not There | Mrs. Arvin | |
| 2007 | Saw IV | Nurse Deborah | |
| 2008 | Nurse.Fighter.Boy | Intern | |
| 2008 | Saving God | Dr. Munson | |
| 2013 | Carrie | Ms. Arlene Walsh (uncredited) | |
| 2014 | Dr. Cabbie | Courtroom Clerk | |
| 2015 | 'Remember | Paula | |
| 2015 | Fading Light (Short) | Ms. Thomas | |
| 2016 | A Man's Story (Short) | Léonie Eganda (Mother) | |
| 2018 | Love Jacked | Aunt Hilary |
Television
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Street Legal | Immigration Officer | Episode: Faking It |
| 1993 | E.N.G. | Nurse | Episode: Legacy |
| 1999 | Little Men | Sylvia Walker | Episode: Family Business |
| 1999 | The City | Secretary | Episode: Blindside! |
| 2000 | The Others | Nurse | Episode: Pilot |
| 2001 | Doc | Neighbour | Episode: Pilot: Part 1 |
| 2001 | The Associates | Delores | 5 Episodes |
| 2001 | Soul Food | Shelley | Episode: Fly Away Home (2001) |
| 2002 | Tracker | Miss Price | Episode: Dark Road Home |
| 2002 | Odyssey 5 | Dr. Egrari | 2 Episodes |
| 2002 | Get a Clue | Miss Stern | |
| 2003-2008 | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Mrs. Smith | 4 Episodes |
| 2004 | Wonderfalls | Peggy | Episode: Wax Lion |
| 2004 | Paradise Falls | The Doctor | 2 Episodes |
| 2005 | Air Emergency | Ruth Green | Episode: Runaway Train |
| 2005 | The Doodlebops | Mazz | 26 Episodes: |
| 2006 | True Crimes: The First 72 Hours | Church Lady Olive Williams | Episode: Frenzy (2006) |
| 2006 | The Path to 9/11 | Pan Am administrator | 2 Episodes |
| 2007 | Strangers in the Night | G.G. Gryce | |
| 2008 | The Trojan Horse | E.R. Nurse | Part One |
| 2009 | Turbo Dogs | Delivery Dog | Episode: Ruffing It |
| 2009 | Soul | Roslyn | 5 Episodes |
| 2009 | Da Kink in My Hair | Alisha | Episode: Honesty the Best Policy? |
| 2009 | Warehouse 13 | Smithsonian Tour Guide | Pilot |
| 2009 | Guns | Althea Beckford | 2 episodes |
| 2010-2013 | Rookie Blue | Nan / Anita Nash | 2 Episodes |
| 2010 | Wingin' It | Mrs. Carter | Episode: Cheer Me Up |
| 2010 | The Bridge | Marta Davin | Episode: Damned If You Do |
| 2010 | Blue Bloods | Judge Waters | Episode: Pilot |
| 2010 | Lost Girl | Esther | Episode: Oh Kappa, My Kappa |
| 2010 | Razzberry Jazzberry Jam | Mrs. Trumpet | Episode: Genre Busters |
| 2010 | Being Erica | Camilla | 5 Episodes |
| 2010 | The Ron James Show | Manager | New Year's Eve Edition |
| 2010 | Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures | Nurse Ronai | Episode: All Souls |
| 2011 | Suits | Glenda | Episode: Dirty Little Secrets |
| 2011 | Against the Wall | Alice | |
| 2012 | The L.A. Complex | Child Services Worker | |
| 2013 | Lucky 7 | Gloria | 4 Episodes |
| 2014 | Remedy | 'Auntie' Priscilla | Episode: The Little Things (2014) |
| 2014 | The Strain | Neeva | 2 Episodes |
| 2015 | Schitt's Creek | Marnie | Episode: Allez-Vous (2015) |
| 2015 | Single Ladies | DA Amelia Lawrence | Episode: Remix (2015) |
| 2017 | Ransom | Penny Williams / Mrs. Lewis | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs | Regina Devereaux | Episode: Virtu-Earl Reality |
| 2017 | The Handmaid's Tale | Christine | The Other Side |
| 2018 | Abby Hatcher | Mrs. Melvin | Main |
| 2020 | PAW Patrol | Mayor Goodway | Season 7-Present |
| 2018 | In Contempt | Judge Wells | 3 episodes |
| 2017-18 | Baroness von Sketch Show | Martha / Kim / Spa Woman #3 / | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Dino Dana | Dr. White | Episode: Dinosauroid/Dino Dana Says |
| 2019 | The Kindness of Strangers | Female Plainclothes | |
| 2018-19 | Killjoys | Ginny | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | When Hope Calls | Pearl Mayfair | 7 Episodes |
| 2019 | Abby Hatcher | Mrs. Melvin | 8 Episodes (Mrs. Melvin voice: 4 episodes) |
| 2020 | Is There a Killer in My Family? | Mrs. Palmer | |
| 2019-20 | Diggstown | Ona Reeves | 2 Episodes |
| 2020 | In the Dark | Pam Clarke | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Grand Army | Wanda | Episode: Superman This Shit (2020) |
Awards
Roberts received the Harold Award for theater in 1996.[9] She received the Real World Trailblazer award at the ReelWorld Film Festival in 2014 for her body of work in film and television.[10]
Personal life
Roberts was once romantically linked to jazz musician Christian McBride. She lived common law with Canadian actor Peter Bryant.
References
- "Kim Roberts Biography ((?)-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- "Actress KIM ROBERTS Lands on Global and FX Networks". Clichemag.com. February 7, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- "Saw IV (2007) Cast and Crew - Cast Photos and Info - Fandango". Fandango.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- Sunshine, Fannie (February 23, 2014). "Kim Roberts busy on TV and movie screens". TheIFP.ca. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- "La Femme Fatale: Interview with Kim Roberts - Addicted". Weraddicted.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- CATON, HILARY (April 11, 2013). "Kim Roberts hoping to get 'Lucky'". InsideToronto.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- "MsLabelled | Cast Bios - Rebecca Liddiard, Sara Hennessey, Richard Young, Spencer Robson, Shawn Ahmed, Sydney Kondruss, Barbara Mamabolo, Marni van Dyk, Nykeem Provo, Adamo Ruggiero, Xander Vintage & Jeanne Beker". Slice.ca. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- "History • Obsidian Theatre Company". Obsidiantheatre.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- "The Houses". Theharoldawards.ca. December 11, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- "Reel World Film Festival" (PDF). Docs.wixstatic.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
External links
- Kim Roberts at IMDb