Kim Roberts (actress)
{{short description|Canadian actress}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Kim Roberts, 2017, Toronto.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Roberts in 2017
| birth_date =
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Toronto, Canada
| years_active = 1991–present
| alma_mater = University of Western Ontario,
York University
| occupation = Actress
}}
Kim Roberts is a Canadian actress, best known for her roles as Mayor Goodway in Paw Patrol, Greta on The Sinner, Christine in The Handmaids Tale, Marnie in Schitt's Creek, Neeva in The Strain, Gloria in Lucky Seven, Camilla in Being Erica, Mazz in The Doodlebops, Mrs. Arvin in I'm Not There, Deborah in Saw III and Saw IV and Mrs. Bosco in The Cheetah Girls.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/71/Kim-Roberts.html|title=Kim Roberts Biography ((?)-)|website=Filmreference.com|accessdate=2017-07-11}}{{cite web|url=https://www.clichemag.com/celebrity-news/entertainment-celebrity-news/actress-kim-roberts-lands-on-global-and-fx-networks|title=Actress KIM ROBERTS Lands on Global and FX Networks|date=February 7, 2014|website=Clichemag.com|accessdate=2017-07-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fandango.com/sawiv_103184/castandcrew|title=Saw IV (2007) Cast and Crew - Cast Photos and Info - Fandango|website=Fandango.com|accessdate=2017-07-11}}
Early life
Roberts' parents are from the Caribbean. Her mother, Josephine is from the Creole island of Dominica and her late father, Oswald, was born in Jamaica.{{cite web|url=https://www.theifp.ca/news-story/4379187-kim-roberts-busy-on-tv-and-movie-screens/|title=Kim Roberts busy on TV and movie screens |website=TheIFP.ca|first=Fannie|last=Sunshine|date=February 23, 2014|accessdate=2017-07-11}} 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 TV 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.
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 a year later, 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 over the next three years.{{cite web|url=http://www.weraddicted.com/la-femme-fatale-interview-kim-roberts/|title=La Femme Fatale: Interview with Kim Roberts - Addicted|website=Weraddicted.com|accessdate=2017-07-11}} 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 Benylin cough syrup.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/2524290-kim-roberts-hoping-to-get-lucky-/|title=Kim Roberts hoping to get 'Lucky'|website=InsideToronto.com|first=HILARY|last=CATON|date=April 11, 2013|publisher=|accessdate=2017-07-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.slice.ca/mslabelled/cast/ |title=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 |website=Slice.ca |date= |accessdate=2017-07-11}} Since then, Roberts' resume has grown to include leading and recurring roles in over 200 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, Raven-Symoné, 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.
Obsidian Theatre Company, Canada's premiere black theatre company, was founded in Roberts' home and she is one of thirteen founding members.{{cite web|url=http://www.obsidiantheatre.com/about-us/history/|title=History • Obsidian Theatre Company|website=Obsidiantheatre.com|accessdate=2017-07-11}} Roberts narrated and performed The Book of Negroes for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s podcast Between the Covers.
While shooting In the Company of Spies, in 1999, Roberts became one of the first actors to shoot a scene inside CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
Personal life
Roberts was once romantically linked to jazz musician Christian McBride. She lived common law with Canadian actor Peter Bryant.
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996
| Home Nurse | |
| 1997
| 911 Operator | |
| 1997
| Intern #1 | |
| 1998
| Dancer | |
| 1998
| Isabelle | |
| 1999
| Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story | Church Friend, 1983 | |
| 1999
| data-sort-value="Misadventures of Tron Bonne, The" | The Misadventures of Tron Bonne | Digger (English version, voice) | Video Game{{cite video game | developer=((Capcom Production Studio 2)) | title=The Misadventures of Tron Bonne | publisher=Capcom | scene=Ending credits, 7:08:18 in, CAST | year=2000}} |
| 2000
| Stephanie Ellis | |
| 2000
| Auditor | |
| 2001
| Glitter | Mrs. Wilson | |
| 2002
| data-sort-value="Tuxedo, The" | The Tuxedo | ER Nurse | |
| 2004
| Cora | |
| 2006
| Make-Up Artist | |
| 2006
| One Way | Norah | |
| 2006
| Saw III | Deborah | |
| 2007
| Complete Idiot | Wanda | |
| 2007
| Dr. Linda Jenkins | |
| 2007
| Mrs. Arvin | |
| 2007
| Saw IV | Nurse Deborah | |
| 2008
| Intern | |
| 2008
| Dr. Munson | |
| 2013
| Carrie | Ms. Arlene Walsh (uncredited) | |
| 2014
| Courtroom Clerk | |
| 2015
| Remember | Paula | |
| 2015
| Fading Light (Short) | Ms. Thomas | |
| 2016
| data-sort-value="Man's Story, A" | A Man's Story (Short) | Léonie Eganda (Mother) | |
| 2018
| Aunt Hilary | |
| 2021
| Mayor Goodway (voice) | |
| 2023
| Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie | Mayor Goodway (voice) | |
| 2024
| Nancy | |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television |
| Year
! Series ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1993
| Immigration Officer | Episode: Faking It |
| 1993
| E.N.G. | Nurse | Episode: Legacy |
| 1999
| Sylvia Walker | Episode: Family Business |
| 1999
| data-sort-value="City, The" | The City | Secretary | Episode: Blindside! |
| 2000
| data-sort-value="Others, The" | The Others | Nurse | Episode: Pilot |
| 2001
| Doc | Neighbour | Episode: Pilot: Part 1 |
| 2001
| data-sort-value="Associates, The" | The Associates | Delores | 5 episodes |
| 2001
| Shelley | Episode: Fly Away Home (2001) |
| 2002
| Tracker | Miss Price | Episode: Dark Road Home |
| 2002
| Dr. Egrari | 2 episodes |
| 2002
| Miss Stern | |
| 2003-2008
| Degrassi: The Next Generation | Mrs. Smith | 4 episodes |
| 2004
| Peggy | Episode: Wax Lion |
| 2004
| The Doctor | 2 episodes |
| 2005
| Ruth Green | Episode: Runaway Train |
| 2005
| data-sort-value="Doodlebops, The" | The Doodlebops | Mazz | 26 episodes (first season only) |
| 2006
| True Crimes: The First 72 Hours | Church Lady Olive Williams | Episode: Frenzy (2006) |
| 2006
| data-sort-value="Path to 9/11, The" | The Path to 9/11 | Pan Am administrator | 2 episodes |
| 2007
| Strangers in the Night | G.G. Gryce | |
| 2008
| data-sort-value="Trojan Horse, The" | The Trojan Horse | E.R. Nurse | Part One |
| 2009
| Delivery Dog (voice) | Episode: Ruffing It |
| 2009
| Soul | Roslyn | 5 episodes |
| 2009
| Alisha | Episode: Honesty the Best Policy? |
| 2009
| Smithsonian Tour Guide | Pilot |
| 2009
| Guns | Althea Beckford | 2 episodes |
| 2010-2013
| Nan / Anita Nash | 2 episodes |
| 2010
| Mrs. Carter | Episode: Cheer Me Up |
| 2010
| data-sort-value="Bridge, The" | The Bridge | Marta Davin | Episode: Damned If You Do |
| 2010
| Judge Waters | Episode: Pilot |
| 2010
| Esther | Episode: Oh Kappa, My Kappa |
| 2010
| Mrs. Trumpet (voice) | Episode: Genre Busters |
| 2010
| Camilla | 5 episodes |
| 2010
| data-sort-value="Ron James Show, The" | 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
| Alice | |
| 2012
| data-sort-value="L.A. Complex, The" | The L.A. Complex | Child Services Worker | |
| 2013
| Lucky 7 | Gloria | 4 episodes |
| 2014
| Remedy | 'Auntie' Priscilla | Episode: The Little Things (2014) |
| 2014
| data-sort-value="Strain, The" | The Strain | Neeva | 2 episodes |
| 2015
| Marnie | Episode: Allez-Vous (2015) |
| 2015
| DA Amelia Lawrence | Episode: Remix (2015) |
| 2017
| Ransom | Penny Williams / Mrs. Lewis | 2 episodes |
| 2017
| Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs | Regina Devereaux (voice) | Episode: Virtu-Earl Reality |
| 2017
| data-sort-value="Handmaid's Tale, The" | The Handmaid's Tale | Christine | The Other Side |
| 2018
| Judge Wells | 3 episodes |
| 2017-18
| Martha / Kim / Spa Woman #3 / | 3 episodes |
| 2018
| Dr. White | Episode: Dinosauroid/Dino Dana Says |
| 2019
| data-sort-value="Kindness of Strangers, The" | The Kindness of Strangers | Female Plainclothes | |
| 2018-19
| Killjoys | Ginny | 3 episodes |
| 2019
| Pearl Mayfair | 7 episodes |
| 2019
| Mrs. Melvin (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 2020–present
| Mayor Goodway (voice) | late Season 7-present |
| 2020
| Is There a Killer in My Family? | Mrs. Palmer | |
| 2019-20
| Ona Reeves | 2 episodes |
| 2020
| Pam Clarke | 3 episodes |
| 2020
| Wanda | Episode: Superman This S**t (2020) |
| 2023
| Maggie | 2 episodes |
| 2023
| Mayor Goodway (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2023
| data-sort-value="Good Doctor, The" | The Good Doctor | Yara's Mom | Episode: "Second Chances and Past Regrets" |
Awards
Roberts received the Harold Award for theater in 1996.{{cite web|url=https://theharoldawards.ca/the-houses/|title=The Houses|date=December 11, 2010|website=Theharoldawards.ca|accessdate=2017-07-11}}
She received the Reelworld Trailblazer award at the ReelWorld Film Festival in 2014 for her body of work in film and television.{{cite web|url=http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/7c1c14_b994d83b93d84314ae1efb6b3a2883c2.pdf |title=Reel World Film Festival |website=Docs.wixstatic.com |accessdate=2017-07-11}} And in 2022 she received the Independent Leader Award at the Vaughan International Film Festival {{Cite web |title=Independent Leaders |url=https://www.vaughanfilmfestival.com/indieleaders |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=VFF |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm0731323}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Kim}}
Category:Canadian people of Dominica descent
Category:Canadian people of Jamaican descent
Category:Black Canadian actresses
Category:Canadian film actresses
Category:Canadian television actresses
Category:Canadian voice actresses
Category:Actresses from Toronto
Category:University of Western Ontario alumni
Category:Canadian women singers