Kim Thomson

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates 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,<ref>HIGHLAND FLING FILMS LTD incorporation document dated 30 June 2011, at companieshouse.gov.uk, accessed 6 July 2019: "Date of birth: 30/10/1959"</ref> although other sources have said in 1960<ref name="birthdate1960">"Kim Thomson." Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Vol. 76. Gale, 2007, pages 333–335.</ref> and 1964,<ref name= official>Template:Cite web</ref> in Scotland<ref name= official /> or Bath, Somerset, England to a Scottish father and Irish mother. Her parents split when she was three years old, and she was raised in Surrey by her father's parents, who were originally from Alloa.<ref name=express>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="dailyrecord2009">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="dailyrecord2010">Template:Cite news</ref>

She trained as an actress at the Central School of Speech and Drama.<ref name=dailyrecord2009 />

Career

Thomason's most memorable role was perhaps that of Lesley Bainbridge in the BBC sitcom Brush Strokes which, at its peak, was watched by over 15 million people while the British tabloids avidly followed its storyline. 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."<ref>Films and Filming, Issues 413–422 (Hansom Books, 1989), pp. 44–45</ref> 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.<ref>John Glavin, Dickens on Screen, p. 214</ref> 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."<ref>David Lemmon, British Theatre Yearbook 1990, pp. 43–44</ref>

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".<ref>Theatre Record, vol. 17, Issues 9–17 (1997), p. 975</ref> In 2001, she appeared as Irina in the West End theatre production of Uncle Vanya directed by Peter Gill.<ref>Plays international, vol. 17 (Chancery Publications Ltd., 2001), p. 9</ref> 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. She became a regular cast member of the ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale in March 2009, playing the role of Faye Lamb. At the end of that year, she signed a new contract with the show. In January 2011, it was announced that Thomson had quit the series, and she departed on 24 March of that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

In 2010, Thomson graduated from the University of London with a degree in politics, philosophy and history.<ref name=express/>

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 (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 (2008) – Naomi Woods
• New Tricks (2008) – Tiffany Barker
• The Green Green Grass (2009) – Antonia Page
• Taggart (2009) – Phyllis
• Emmerdale – Faye Lamb (2009–2011)
• Casualty (2009) – Amber
• Holby City (2014) – Catherine O'Malley

Theatre

Theatre	Play	Role	Director
Phoenix Theatre	Alan Bleasdale's Are You Lonesome Tonight?	Priscilla Presley	Robin Lefevre
Haymarket Theatre & Old Vic	An Ideal Husband	Lady Chiltern	Peter HallTemplate:Citation needed
Old Vic Theatre (1989)	King Lear	Cordelia	Jonathan Miller<ref>Stanley Wells, Shakespeare Survey Vol. 43 (Cambridge University Press, 2002), p. 194</ref>
Theatre Royal, Bath	Present Laughter	Joanna	Dominic DromgooleTemplate:Citation needed
Battersea Arts Centre	The Stranger	Madame Y	Michael BillingtonTemplate:Citation needed
Battersea Arts Centre	Traveller Without Luggage	Valentine	Nicholas de JonghTemplate:Citation needed
Field Day Theatre Company	Uncle Vanya	Elena	Peter GillTemplate:Citation needed
Watford Palace Theatre	Wedding Song	Stella	Michael AttenboroughTemplate:Citation needed

External links

• Template:IMDb name