Roberta Brown is an American swordmaster and actress. She is known for her work on ''

Queen of Swords The Queen of Swords is a card in the suit of swords, part of the Minor Arcana set of the tarot. Interpretations * The Queen of Swords traditionally corresponds to the roles of widow, crone, and divorcée. She is seen to have very high standa ...

'' where she worked as a sword coach and onscreen as a sword double for female characters played by

Tessie Santiago Tessie Marie Santiago (born August 10, 1975 in Miami, Florida) is an American actress of Cuban and Spanish descent. Biography Family and education Tessie Santiago is a first generation American. Her parents and grandparents fled from Cuba aft ...

Bo Derek Bo Derek (born Mary Cathleen Collins; November 20, 1956) is an American actress and model. She began her career as a child model before deciding to pursue acting on the advice of a talent agent she met through actress Ann-Margret, who was acqua ...

, and Paulina Galvez. She has choreographed numerous fights and sword fights for other television series, theatre, and motion pictures.

Career

Brown took up fencing at college and continued her studies as an actress and stage combatant at the

Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, formerly the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, was a drama school, and originally a singing school, in London. It was one of the leading drama schools in Britain, and offered comprehen ...

(London), where she received a

Master of Fine Arts A Master of Fine Arts (MFA or M.F.A.) is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, dance, theatre, other performing arts and in some cases, theatre management or arts admi ...

equivalency. She became one of a limited number of female swordmasters who worked in theatre, film and television. She acted as fencing double for

Lucy Liu Lucy Alexis Liu (; born December 2, 1968) is an American actress, producer, and artist. Widely regarded as a trailblazer for Asian Americans in arts and entertainment, Asian American representation in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood, she is t ...

in the film

Charlie's Angels ''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts for ABC. It originally aired from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, airing for five seasons consisting of 115 episodes. It was produ ...

, and choreographed a scene in a TV episode of '' ER'' between

Noah Wyle Noah Strausser Speer Wyle (; born June 4, 1971) is an American actor, writer, producer and director. He rose to fame as John Carter in the NBC medical drama '' ER'' (1994–2009), receiving five Emmy Award nominations, three Golden Globe Award ...

and

Goran Visnjic Goran may refer to: Ethnic groups *Gorane, or Goran, an ethnic group of northern Africa *Goran (Kurdish tribe), an ethnic group of the Middle East *Gorani (ethnic group), an ethnic group of southeastern Europe Other uses *Göran, a Swedish name * ...

. She worked on the syndicated TV series ''

'' and as fight director on the TV film ''

Boudica Boudica or Boudicca (, from Brittonic languages, Brythonic * 'victory, win' + * 'having' suffix, i.e. 'Victorious Woman', known in Latin chronicles as Boadicea or Boudicea, and in Welsh language, Welsh as , ) was a queen of the Iceni, ancient ...

'' with

Alex Kingston Alexandra Elizabeth Kingston (born 11 March 1963) is an English actress. Active from the early 1980s, Kingston became noted for her television work in both Britain and the US in the 1990s, including her regular role as Elizabeth Corday, Dr. Eliz ...

. She was a theatre student at

Brandeis University Brandeis University () is a Private university, private research university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is located within the Greater Boston area. Founded in 1948 as a nonsectarian, non-sectarian, coeducational university, Bra ...

where she was introduced to fencing, and has been acclaimed as an outstanding alumna. She has practiced her craft for over ten years. She was brought onto the TV series ''Queen of Swords'' by the initial swordmaster and stunt co-ordinator

Anthony De Longis Anthony Charles De Longis (born March 23, 1950) is an American actor, stuntman, and fight choreographer. Early life De Longis was born in Glendale, California. He attended California State University, Northridge where he was initiated into t ...

to train

's stunt double Natalia Guijarro. She also doubled

in master shots and Paulina Gálvez wagon scene in the episode "The Witness". She has been a stunt double on ''

Masterpiece Theatre ''Masterpiece'' (formerly known as ''Masterpiece Theatre'') is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. It premiered on PBS on January 10, 1971. The series has presented numerous acclaimed British productions. Many of these ...

'' programs. Brown has choreographed for television series, theatre, and motion pictures. Among the actors she has trained, coached, and occasionally fenced onscreen are

Billy Campbell William Oliver Campbell (born July 7, 1959) is an American film and television actor. He first gained recognition for his recurring role as Luke Fuller in the TV series ''Dynasty'' and in '' The Rocketeer''. Then, he became known for playing R ...

, Tessie Santiago,

Peter Wingfield Peter Wingfield (born 5 September 1962) is a Welsh actor and anesthesiologist. He is known for his television roles, notably as Dan Clifford on ''Holby City'', Methos on '' Highlander: The Series,'' Dr. Robert Helm on '' Queen of Swords'', In ...

, Andrew Helm,

Valentine Pelka Valentine Pelka (born 23 February 1956) is an English actor who has starred in film and on television. Biography Pelka was born in Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, to a Polish engineer father (Tadeusz Pelka) and an Irish actress (Alma Her ...

Anthony Lemke Roger Anthony Lemke (born October 7, 1970) is a Canadian television and film actor, best known for portraying Three (Marcus Boone / Titch) on the science-fiction drama ''Dark Matter.'' In French Canada, Lemke is best known for playing David Rot ...

Patricia Arquette Patricia Arquette (; born April 8, 1968) is an American actress. She made her feature film debut as Kristen Parker in ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors'' (1987) and has since received several awards, including an Academy Award, two P ...

, Lucy Liu,

Elizabeth Gracen Elizabeth Ward Gracen (born Elizabeth Grace Ward, April 3, 1961) is an American actress and beauty pageant contestant who won the title of Miss America in 1982. Early life and education Elizabeth Grace Ward was born on April 3, 1961, in Oz ...

, Bob Golec,

Patrick Fabian Patrick Fabian (born December 7, 1964) is an American film, stage, and television actor. He is best known for his role as attorney Howard Hamlin in ''Better Call Saul'' (2015–2022). His film roles include '' End Game'' (2006), '' Cloud 9'' ( ...

, Mary Reinhardt, and

. Though never having trained him, she fenced with actor/swordmaster

onscreen. She has taught swordplay and

theatrical combat Stage combat, fight craft or fight choreography is a specialised technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet pr ...

in among other locations Howard Fine Acting Studio and The Lee Strasburg Institute (both

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

); Juan Angel Theatre and Teatro Libre (both Bogotá, Colombia); Graz

Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords ( shinai) as well as protective armor ( bōgu). It began as samurai warriors' customary swordsmanship ex ...

Club (

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

); Teatro Lope de Vega (

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

);

(London); Inosanto Academy,

College of the Canyons College of the Canyons (COC) is a public community college in Santa Clarita, California. It comprises the Santa Clarita Community College District. The college is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has campus loca ...

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

, and

West Los Angeles College West Los Angeles College (West L.A. College or WLAC) is a public community college in Culver City, Los Angeles County, California. It is part of the California Community Colleges System and the Los Angeles Community College District. It is accr ...

(all California). She is a recognized expert in many forms of martial arts, including short swords and

whip A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue thro ...

work. At the Beverly Hills Fencers' Club, Brown is Director of Theatrical Combat. The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' wrote of Brown: "She's dead serious about the importance of proper training and safety procedures." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote that "Roberta Brown's fight choreography heightens the brutal confrontations." '' Backstage West'' calls her oeuvre "disturbing and convincing." The ''Fight Master'' opined: "It is her solid experience, talent, and smarts that allow her to thrive in an otherwise male-dominated field."

Published works

Credits

Multimedia

* Women of Action Network (Action Consultant) *''

Mary Read Mary Read (died April 1721), was a pirate who served under John Rackham. She and Anne Bonny were among the few female pirates during the "Golden Age of Piracy". Much of Read's background is unknown. The first biography of Read comes from C ...

'' (Swordmaster)

Film and television

Fight direction/stunts

*''Lapse'' (2009/I) (fight director) *''

A Gothic Romance A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient G ...

'' (2004) (fight director) *''Boudica''/'' Warrior Queen'' (2003)

(stunt double: Alex Kingston)*''Boudica'' (2003) (fight director) (sword master) *''

Holes A hole is an opening in or through a particular medium, usually a solid body. Holes occur through natural and artificial processes, and may be useful for various purposes, or may represent a problem needing to be addressed in many fields of en ...

'' (2003) (bullwhip trainer) *''The Bacchae'' (2002) (whip choreographer) *''

'' (2000) (fencing choreographer) *''

'' (2000) (fencing double: Lucy Liu) (uncredited) *''

The District ''The District'' is an American crime drama and police procedural television series that aired on CBS from October 7, 2000, to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s police department. P ...

'' (2000) TV series (knife sword double/stunts) *''

'' (2000) TV series (stunt double: Bo Derek / Paulina Galvez / Tessie Santiago) (stunts: swords) *''

The X Show ''The X Show'' is a magazine, variety, and interview/talk program that aired on FX Network in the United States from May 1999 to April 2001. Running time was originally one hour, but this was later reduced to a half-hour. The show was 'guy-theme ...

'' (1999) TV series (fencing consultant) (unknown episodes) *''

A Walk in the Park "A Walk in the Park" is the eighth single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro from her third studio album '' Concentration 20'' (1997). The song was released as the album's lead single on November 27, 1996, by Avex Trax. It was written, compo ...

'' (1999) (fight director) *''

Prince Valiant ''Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur'', often simply called ''Prince Valiant'', is an American comic strip created by Hal Foster in 1937. It is an epic adventure that has told a continuous story during its entire history, and the full s ...

'' (1997) (swordplay coach) *''

Fist of the North A fist is the shape of a hand when the fingers are bent inward against the palm and held there tightly. To make or clench a fist is to fold the fingers tightly into the center of the palm and then to clamp the thumb over the middle phalanges; i ...

''(1995) (stunts) (uncredited) *'' Dragon Fury'' (1995) (stunts) *'' ER'' (1994) TV series (sword master) (unknown episodes) *'' Treasure Island: The Adventure Begins'' (1994) (TV) (dialect coach)

Actress

*''

'' (2004) .... Maria *'' The Hunted'' .... Raquel *''

Deadlock Deadlock commonly refers to: * Deadlock (computer science), a situation where two processes are each waiting for the other to finish * Deadlock (locksmithing) or deadbolt, a physical door locking mechanism * Political deadlock or gridlock, a si ...

'' (1997) .... Magil *'' Dragon Fury'' (1995) .... Warrior *'' Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story'' (1994) (TV) (uncredited) .... Medic

As herself

*''

The Story of the Costume Drama ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The' ...

'' .... Herself, Episode: "A Call to Arms" (2008) *''

'' .... Herself, Episode: "18 October 1999" (1999) *''

Home & Family ''Home & Family'' (formerly ''The Home and Family Show'') is an American daytime talk show. The series originally premiered on April 1, 1996, on The Family Channel, and was dropped by the network immediately prior to its 1998 relaunch as the Fo ...

'' .... Herself, Episode: "14 November 1996" (1996)

Theater swordmaster

*" Julius Cäsar in Murau".................Shakespeare in Styria, Austria *"

Romeo and Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

......................Open House Vienna Theatre (Schlosspark Pötzleinsdorf), Vienna Austria *"

Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...

"..................Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London UK *"Oman ... O Man!"..............

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

, Washington DC *"

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

".......................European Shakespeare Days, Austria *"

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...

"................ Globe Theater (Los Angeles) *"

".............European Shakespeare Days, Austria Days *"Names"........................ Lee Strasberg Theatre *" The Ugly Play"................

Santa Monica Playhouse Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

*"Hamlet"....................... Playhouse West *" Ravish".......................

New Dance Theatre New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz (South Korean band), The Boyz * New (album), ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** New (Paul McCartney song), "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * New (EP), ''New'' (EP), ...

*"15-Minute Hamlet"............. Shakespeare and Friends *" Maria Morevna"................ Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble *"

Fortinbras Fortinbras is a minor fictional character from William Shakespeare's tragedy ''Hamlet''. A Norwegian crown prince with a few brief scenes in the play, he delivers the final lines that represent a hopeful future for the monarchy of Denmark and i ...

"................... Howard Fine Theater *"Romeo and Juliet".............Shakespeare and Friends *"Twelfth Night"................ Gascon Center Theatre *" Hasta La Muerte"..............Gascon Center Theatre *"Improvimagic".................Hollywood's

Magic Castle The Magic Castle is a performance venue, restaurant, and clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts for magicians and magic enthusiasts in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, United States. The Academy was started in 1952 by ...

Horatio Hornblower Horatio Hornblower is a fictional officer in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, the protagonist of a series of novels and stories by C. S. Forester. He later became the subject of films and radio and television programmes, and ...

"........... Long Beach Pier *"

Richard the Lionheart Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'st ...

"........

Vienna's English Theatre Vienna's English Theatre (VET) is the oldest foreign-language theatre in Vienna, Austria. Founded in 1963, the theatre occasionally offers works in French or Italian. History It was founded in 1963 by the Austrian director Franz Schafranek and ...

, Austria *"Briar Patch".................. Ventura Court Theater *"

The Erpingham Camp ''The Erpingham Camp'' (1966) is a 52-minute television play by Joe Orton, which was later performed on stage. The play was originally produced by Associated-Rediffusion for inclusion in the ''Seven Deadly Sins'' series, representing pride. Dire ...

"........... The Drayton Arms, London

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Roberta 1965 births American action choreographers Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art American female fencers American film actresses American magicians People from Warwick, Rhode Island American stunt performers American television actresses Brandeis University alumni Living people 20th-century American sportswomen