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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.


Early life

Thomson was born on 1964, although other sources have said in 1960"Kim Thomson." ''Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television''. Vol. 76. Gale, 2007, pages 333–335. and 1964, in
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
or
Bath, Somerset Bath (Received Pronunciation, RP: , ) is a city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman Baths (Bath), Roman-built baths. At the 2021 census, the population was 94,092. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, Bristol, River A ...
, England to a Scottish father and Irish mother. Her parents split when she was three years old, and she was raised in
Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...
by her father's parents, who were originally from Alloa. 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. She trained as an actress at the Central School of Speech and Drama.


Career

Her most memorable role was that of Lesley Bainbridge in the BBC sitcom '' Brush Strokes'', which at its peak, was watched by over 15 million people with the British tabloids avidly following the storyline. In the 1987 episode of the TV series "Tales of the Unexpected" Thomson played the role of 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, ''Films and filming'' said "Kim Thomson's Heloïse moves with delicate poise, a heroine worthy of Rossetti or Burne-Jones, with vivacity and intelligence." The next year, 1989, she played Estella in a film of '' Great Expectations'' directed by Kevin Connor, with Jean Simmons, who had played Estella in the 1946 film, as Miss Havisham. Also in 1989 she was Cordelia on stage in ''
King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...
'', directed by Jonathan Miller, with the ''British Theatre Yearbook'' commenting "Kim Thomson's Cordelia can rarely have been equalled; she was exquisite in beauty, tender in care, full of youthful integrity." In 1991, she played Kitty Winter opposite
Jeremy Brett Peter Jeremy William Huggins (3 November 1933 – 12 September 1995), known professionally as Jeremy Brett, was an English actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes from 1984 to 1994 in 41 episodes of a Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV ...
in '' The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes'': "The Illustrious Client", and in 1992, Thomson was the leading lady of the TV series '' Virtual Murder'', and in 1994, she played another leading role in a
costume drama Costume is the distinctive style of clothing, dress and/or cosmetics, makeup of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, occupation, ethnicity, nationality, activity or epoch—in short, culture. The term also was traditionally used ...
series, '' The Wanderer''. Dozens more appearances in film and on television followed, often as a character actress, such as her role as a society reporter in '' The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement'' (2004). In 1997, she took on the part of Lady Chiltern in '' An Ideal Husband'', of which the ''Theatre Record'' said "Others have played this pure, cool, idealistic, demanding role with more authority and finesse, but she is simply right for it". In 2001, she was Irina in a new West End theatre production of '' Uncle Vanya'' directed by Peter Gill. During 2008, Thomson had a recurring role in ITV's detective show ''
The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...
'', as
barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...
Naomi Woods, wife of DC Jacob Banks. In March 2009, she became a regular cast member of the ITV1 soap opera ''
Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...
'', playing the role of Faye Lamb. At the end of 2009, she signed a new contract with the show. In January 2011, it was reported that she was leaving the show and would make her on-screen departure later in the year.


Personal life

In 2010, Thomson graduated from the
University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a collegiate university, federal Public university, public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The ...
with a degree in politics, philosophy and history.


Film and television

*'' The Lords of Discipline'' (1983) - Girlfriend *'' Party Party'' – Brenda (1983) *''Screamtime'' – Lady Anne (1983) *'' Cover Her Face'' – Sally Jupp (4 episodes, 1985) *''
Lovejoy ''Lovejoy'' is a British television comedy-drama mystery fiction, mystery series, based on the Lovejoy (novel series), novels by John Grant (Lovejoy), John Grant under the pen name Jonathan Gash. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over six ser ...
'' (1986) "The Firefly Cage" – Nicola Page *'' Brush Strokes'' – Lesley Bainbridge (1986) *'' The Life and Loves of a She-Devil'' – Elsie Flowers (1986) *'' The Ruth Rendell Mysteries'' – "Wolf to the Slaughter" - Linda Grover (1987) *'' A Killing on the Exchange'' (1987) *'' Stealing Heaven'' – Heloise (1988) *'' Tales of the Unexpected'' – Elly Somerton (1988) - episode (9/10) "Mr Know-All" *'' The Tall Guy'' – Cheryl (1989) *'' Minder'' – "Fatal Impression" Sylvie (1989) *'' Great Expectations'' – Estella (1989) *'' Jekyll & Hyde'' – Lucy Harris (1990) *''Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception'' — Cathy Bramwell (1990) *'' Inspector Morse'' – "The Sins of the Fathers" Helen Radford (1990) *'' Hands of a Murderer'' (TV film) – Sophie DeVere (1990) *'' Murder 101'' – Francesca Lavin (1991) *'' The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes'': "The Illustrious Client" (1991) – Kitty Winter *'' Virtual Murder'' – Samantha Valentine (1992) *'' The Wanderer'' – Beatrice (1994) *''Loved By You'' – Becky Edwards (1997) *'' The 10th Kingdom'' – Queen Riding Hood III (2000) *'' Midsomer Murders'' – Janet Reason (2001) *'' The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement'' (2004) – Elsie Kentworthy, reporter *'' Rosemary & Thyme'' (2006) – Andrea *'' Secret Diary of a Call Girl'' (2007) – Della *'' 1408'' (2007) – Desk Clerk *'' Messages'' (2007) – Frances Beale *'' The Street'' (2007) – Pat Tinsey *'' Judge John Deed'' (2007) – Marie Madsen *''
The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...
'' (2008) – Naomi Woods *'' New Tricks'' (2008) – Tiffany Barker *'' The Green Green Grass'' (2009) – Antonia Page *'' Taggart'' (2009) – Phyllis *''
Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...
'' – Faye Lamb (2009–2011) *'' Casualty'' (2009) – Amber *''
Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a Spin-off (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...
'' (2014) – Catherine O'Malley


Theatre


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Kim 1959 births Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Alumni of the University of London English film actresses English soap opera actresses English stage actresses English television actresses Living people Actresses from Bath, Somerset English people of Scottish descent English people of Irish descent