Kim Thomson

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Kim Ellen Thomson (born 1964) is a British actress who has appeared on stage, television and film since the early 1980s in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Contents

Early life

Thomson was born in 1964, [1] although other sources have said in 1960 [2] and 1964, [3] in Scotland [3] or Bath, Somerset, England to a Scottish father and Irish mother. Her parents separated when she was three years old, and she was raised in Surrey by her father's parents, who were originally from Alloa. [4] [5] At the age of six, she was sent to a boarding school for five years. Much later she went on record to say boarding schools should be abolished. [6]

She trained as an actress at the Central School of Speech and Drama. [5]

Career

Thomason's most noticeable mainstream role was as Lesley Bainbridge in the BBC sitcom Brush Strokes . In 1987, Thomson appeared in the final episode of the TV series Tales of the Unexpected , as hotel maid Elly Somerton alongside Topol, who starred as the lead character Professor Max Kelada.

Thomson shared her first lead in Stealing Heaven (1988) with Derek de Lint and Denholm Elliott. In its review, the highly regarded monthly film journal Films and Filming wrote, "Kim Thomson's Heloïse moves with delicate poise, a heroine worthy of Rossetti or Burne-Jones, with vivacity and intelligence." [7] She played young Estella in the 1989 television series Great Expectations , directed by Kevin Connor, in which Miss Havisham was portrayed by Jean Simmons, who had played Estella in the 1946 film version. [8] Also in 1989, Thomson performed on stage as Cordelia in King Lear , directed by Jonathan Miller. The British Theatre Yearbook described Thomson's Cordelia as "exquisite in beauty, tender in care, full of youthful integrity." [9]

In 1991, she played Kitty Winter opposite Jeremy Brett in "The Illustrious Client," an episode of popular television series The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes . In 1992, Thomson was the leading lady of the TV series Virtual Murder , followed by another leading role in 1994's costume drama series, The Wanderer .

In 1997, Thomson took on the role of Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband , of which the Theatre Record stated, "Others have played this pure, cool, idealistic, demanding role with more authority and finesse, but she is simply right for it". [10] In 2001, she appeared as Irina in the West End theatre production of Uncle Vanya directed by Peter Gill. [11] In 2004, she played a society reporter in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).

During 2008, Thomson had a recurring role in ITV's detective show The Bill , as barrister Naomi Woods, wife of DC Jacob Banks. From 2009 to 2011, she was a regular cast member of the ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale in the role of Faye Lamb. [12]

Personal life

In 2010, Thomson graduated from the University of London with a degree in politics, philosophy and history. [4]

Film and television

Theatre

TheatrePlayRoleDirector
Phoenix Theatre Alan Bleasdale's Are You Lonesome Tonight? Priscilla Presley Robin Lefevre
Haymarket Theatre & Old Vic An Ideal Husband Lady Chiltern Peter Hall [ citation needed ]
Old Vic Theatre (1989) King Lear Cordelia Jonathan Miller [13]
Theatre Royal, Bath Present Laughter Joanna Dominic Dromgoole [ citation needed ]
Battersea Arts Centre The StrangerMadame Y Michael Billington [ citation needed ]
Battersea Arts CentreTraveller Without LuggageValentine Nicholas de Jongh [ citation needed ]
Field Day Theatre Company Uncle Vanya Elena Peter Gill [ citation needed ]
Watford Palace Theatre Wedding SongStella Michael Attenborough [ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ HIGHLAND FLING FILMS LTD incorporation document dated 30 June 2011, at companieshouse.gov.uk, accessed 6 July 2019: "Date of birth: 30/10/1959"
  2. ↑ "Kim Thomson." Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Vol. 76. Gale, 2007, pages 333–335.
  3. 1 2 "Latest News". OfficialKimThomson.co.uk.
  4. 1 2 Welch, Tricia (29 September 2010). "Kim Thomson" . Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 Steve Hendry (18 October 2009). "I'm delighted I swapped Hollywood for Emmerdale, says Kim Thomson". Daily Record . Scotland. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  6. ↑ Rick Fulton (1 March 2010). "Emmerdale star Kim Thomson: I've handed out a few slaps since I joined soap.. and received a few". Daily Record . Scotland. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  7. ↑ Films and Filming, Issues 413–422 (Hansom Books, 1989), pp. 44–45
  8. ↑ John Glavin, Dickens on Screen, p. 214
  9. ↑ David Lemmon, British Theatre Yearbook 1990, pp. 43–44
  10. ↑ Theatre Record, vol. 17, Issues 9–17 (1997), p. 975
  11. ↑ Plays international, vol. 17 (Chancery Publications Ltd., 2001), p. 9
  12. ↑ Daniel Kilkelly (30 January 2011). "Kim Thomson to leave 'Emmerdale'". digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  13. ↑ Stanley Wells, Shakespeare Survey Vol. 43 (Cambridge University Press, 2002), p. 194
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