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Vinette Robinson

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Vinette Robinson
Robinson in 2021
Born1981 (age 42–43)
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England[1][2][3]
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present

Vinette Robinson (born 1981)[4] is an English actress. She won a British Independent Film Award for her performance in the film Boiling Point (2021), a role she reprised in its spinoff series. On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC One series Waterloo Road (2009), Sherlock (2010–2014) and The A Word (2016–2017). She also guest starred in Black Mirror (2015) and as civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks in the Doctor Who episode "Rosa" (2018).

Early life

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Robinson was born to a Jamaican father and a British mother.[5][6] She grew up in Bradford. Robinson went to primary and secondary school in Bradford, then did drama in sixth form at Intake High School in Leeds,[7] along with weekly courses at the Scala School of Performing Arts theatre school in Leeds.[5][6][8][9]

Career

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Robinson began auditioning when she was thirteen years old; her first audition was for the role of Queen Amidala in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace; a part which ultimately went to Natalie Portman.[10][11] She made her television debut in The Cops at the age of 17.[12][13] Following this she spent three years at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, where she was awarded a Laurence Olivier Bursary from the Society of London Theatre.[14][15][16] She had a small role as the Jamaican girl in the 2004 film Vera Drake but was given an entire character backstory by the director Mike Leigh.[16]

Her first stage role was in the highly lauded National Theatre/Complicité production of Measure for Measure. Following this she was part of the Gunpowder season at the Royal Shakespeare Company where she played the tortured servant May in Rupert Goold's production of Speaking Like Magpies by Frank McGuinness. In 2006 she played Eve in an acclaimed production of Paradise Lost. Commenting on her nude scene, Sheila Tracy of The Stage wrote "one can not imagine the action working in any other way".[17] Her performance in Sugar Mummies that same year led New York magazine to list her as one of "London's hottest young stage actors" in 2007.[18] Following the conclusion of Sugar Mummies, she appeared in a short feature for Time Out, in which she and five other actors were described as "innovative young theatrical talent".[16]

In 2009 she played Josie Porritt in the BBC television series Hope Springs and appeared as newly qualified English teacher Helen Hopewell in eight episodes of Waterloo Road's fifth series. From December 2009 to January 2010, she starred as the maid Florence in Hampstead Theatre's Darker Shores. In a Daily Telegraph review that rated the play only two stars, Charles Spencer commended Robinson's performance as having "a warmth and emotional openness".[19] Kate Bassett for The Independent on Sunday also praised her, writing that she "copes admirably".[20] In 2010 she starred as police sergeant Sally Donovan in the BBC series Sherlock, continuing her role in the second and third series that aired in January 2012 and December 2013/January 2014.

In 2011 Robinson appeared in Philip Ridley's Tender Napalm, for which she received a "Best Female at The Offie" award. She then went on to play Ophelia in The Young Vic's production of Hamlet, for which she received the Clarence Derwent Award. Her role as Ophelia led to her inclusion in the New York Times Magazine article "Titans of the Stage".[21]

In 2016 she appeared in Hated in the Nation, an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.

In October 2018, Robinson appeared in the Doctor Who episode "Rosa", as civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks.[22] It was her second appearance in Doctor Who, following her portrayal of the character Abi Lerner in the 2007 episode "42".[23]

In 2019 Robinson appeared briefly in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as a pilot who receives a same-sex kiss, a first for the film franchise.[24] She appeared in the 2021 one-take film Boiling Point for which she received critical acclaim, as well as the BIFA for Best Supporting Actress. She portrays a sous chef to an insolent, alcoholic head chef over the course of one hectic night at a busy restaurant.

Theatre

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Year Title Role Director Performance history
2004 Measure for Measure Juliet National Theatre
2005 A New Way to Please You Footman Royal Shakespeare Company
Sejanus: His Fall High Priestess
Thomas More Lady Roper
Speaking Like Magpies May
2006 Paradise Lost Eve Headlong
Sugar Mummies Naomi Royal Court Theatre
2008 War & Peace Hélène/Mlle Bourienne Nancy Meckler and Polly Teale National tour, 7 February–11 May 2008
2009 Darker Shores Florence Kennedy Anthony Clarke Hampstead Theatre, 7 December 2009–16 January 2010
2011 Tender Napalm Unnamed female lead David Mercatali Southwark Playhouse
Hamlet Ophelia Ian Rickson Young Vic, 28 October 2011–21 January 2012[25]
2018 Emilia Emilia 2[26] Nicole Charles Shakespeare's Globe

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
2004 Vera Drake Jamaican Girl
2005 Imagine Me & You Zina
2011 Powder Hannah
2016 Morgan Dr. Brenda Finch
2019 Frankie Sylvia
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Pilot Tyce
2020 Say Your Prayers Imelda
2021 Boiling Point Carly
2023 The Pod Generation Alice
2025 The Thing with Feathers TBA Completed

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 City Central Girl Episode: "Justice to Be Done"
The Cops Sarah Midgely Episode: "Top of the Game"
1999 Children's Ward Joy Guest role; 2 episodes
Cold Feet Female Shop Assistant Episode #2.2
2000 Doctors Cath Bickerstaff Guest role; 2 episodes
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper Rita Rytka Episode: "Episode 1"
Fat Friends Young Shop Assistant Episode: "Face the Fat"
2001 Always and Everyone Teresa Episode: "Safe from Harm"
2003 Between the Sheets Tracy Ellis Miniseries; 6 episodes
2004 Murphy's Law Aimie Episode: "Jack's Back"
Blue Murder Andrea Episode: "Hit and Run"
Doctors Melanie Episode: "Daddy's Girl"
2005 Casualty Kirsty Evans Episode: "Truth Will Out"
2007 Doctor Who Abi Lerner Episode: "42"
Party Animals Kerry Recurring role; 2 episodes
Hustle Tina Episode: "A Designer's Paradise"
Doctors Katie Waters Episode: "Hero"
2008 The Passion Mina Episode: "Episode 2"
2009 Hope Springs Josie Porritt Series regular; 8 episodes
Waterloo Road Helen Hopewell Series regular; 8 episodes
2010–2014 Sherlock Sally Donovan Recurring role; 4 episodes
2014 Vera Corinne Franks Episode: "Castles in the Air"
Assistance Jenny Television film
2014 Death in Paradise Lauren Campese Episode: "An Artistic Murder"
The Red Tent Bilhah Miniseries; 2 episodes
2015 Black Work Zoe Nash Miniseries; 2 episodes
2016 Black Mirror Liza Bahar Episode: "Hated in the Nation"
Close to the Enemy Rita Miniseries; 5 episodes
2016–2017 Delicious Rosa Recurring role; 3 episodes
The A Word Nicola Daniels Series regular; 12 episodes
2017 Year Million Eva Miniseries; 5 episodes
2018 Doctor Who Rosa Parks Episode: "Rosa"
2019 I Am... Toni Episode: "I Am Kirsty"
A Christmas Carol Mary Cratchit Miniseries; 3 episodes
Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle Yvonne Episode: "Yvonne 1981"[27]
2021 The Amazing Mr. Blunden Mrs. Allen Television film
2022 Code 404 Professor Sarah McAllister Recurring role; 5 episodes
2022–2023 The Lazarus Project Janet Series regular; 10 episodes
2023 Six Four Michelle O'Neill Miniseries; 4 episodes
Boiling Point Carly Miniseries; 4 episodes
2024 The Gathering Natalie Recurring role; 2 episodes[28]
Inside No. 9 Val Episode: "Mulberry Close"
Suspect Louisa Episode: "Louisa"

Video games

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Year Title Role
2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition Sister Tanner (voice)

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Role Work Result
2012 Clarence Derwent Awards Best Female in a Supporting Role Ophelia Hamlet Won
2021 BIFA Best Supporting Actress Carly Boiling Point Won
2023 BAFTA Scotland Best Actress - Television Michelle O'Neill Six Four Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Frost, Caroline (23 March 2016). "Wise Words: 'The A Word' Star On The Lesson Of Rejection, And 'That Magical Moment'". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  2. ^ Clayton, Emma (5 November 2009). "Pair are class act in TV 'Road' show". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. ^ Strick, Katie (23 December 2019). "A Christmas Carol's Vinette Robinson is the rising star yet to come". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Robinson, Vinette 1981-". WorldCat. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  5. ^ a b "The Two Shot Podcast - #TSP047 - Vinette Robinson". twoshotpod.podbean.com. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b Lambert, Victoria (14 April 2016). "A-Word star Vinette Robinson: 'I wouldn't let someone darken my skin. This is who I am'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Pair are class act in TV 'Road' show". Telegraph & Argus. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Vinette Robinson Starred In THIS Major Show Before Playing Rosa Parks On 'Doctor Who'". Bustle. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. ^ "The Two Shot Podcast - Episode 47 - Actor Craig Parkinson interviews Vinette Robinson". Youtube. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  10. ^ McEwan, Cameron K. (14 June 2018). "Sherlock star reveals her first audition was for Star Wars prequels' Queen Amidala". Digital Spy.
  11. ^ "This Sherlock actress could have played Queen Amidala in Star Wars". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Vinette Robinson CV". SueTerryVoices. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Vinette Robinson CV". Curtis Brown. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  14. ^ Clark, Nick (25 October 2017). "Vinette Robinson: 'Playing Ophelia had an impact on me I can't fully explain' | Interviews". The Stage. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  15. ^ Staff (28 July 2002). "Lawrence (sic) Olivier bursaries". The British Theatre Guide. Retrieved on 19 November 2007.
  16. ^ a b c Staff (26 September 2006). "Theatre's bright young things". Time Out London. Retrieved on 19 November 2007
  17. ^ Tracy, Sheila (15 May 2006). "Reviews: Paradise Lost". The Stage. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011.
  18. ^ "A Guide to London's Hottest Young Stage Actors". New York magazine. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  19. ^ Spencer, Charles (9 December 2009). "Darker Shores at the Hampstead Theatre, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 March 2021.(subscription required)
  20. ^ Bassett, Kate (12 December 2009). "The colour of blood, the colour of money". The Independent. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  21. ^ Hattie Crisell; Nadav Lander (photographer) (1 March 2012). "Titans of the Stage". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  22. ^ Graham, Alison. "Doctor Who – Series 11 - Episode 3 Rosa". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. ^ Fullerton, Huw (21 October 2018). "This week's big Doctor Who guest star has actually been in the series before". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  24. ^ Sturges, Fiona (31 December 2021). "Vinette Robinson: 'The collective effort was magic – I've never felt that on a set'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  25. ^ Shenton, Mark (10 November 2011). "Hamlet". The Stage. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Shakespeare's Globe Announces Full Casting For Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's New Play Emilia". BroadwayWorld. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle". BBC Media Centre. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Channel 4 announces casting for new drama 'The Gathering' from World Productions". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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