{{Short description|British actress}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} '''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 in 1964,<ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07688096/filing-history 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>{{Cite web | url= http://www.officialkimthomson.co.uk | publisher= | website = OfficialKimThomson.co.uk |title= Latest News| date = | accessdate =}}</ref> in [[Scotland]]<ref name= official /> 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]].<ref name=express>{{cite news |title=Kim Thomson |url= http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/202499/Kim-Thomson-In-the-closet | first = Tricia | last= Welch |date=29 September 2010 |access-date=3 April 2011 }}</ref><ref name="dailyrecord2009">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/im-delighted-i-swapped-hollywood-for-emmerdale-1039620#5I8SCGA6CmMRTC51.97/ |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|location=Scotland |author=Steve Hendry |title=I'm delighted I swapped Hollywood for Emmerdale, says Kim Thomson |date=18 October 2009 |access-date=14 November 2010}}</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">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-interviews/2010/03/01/emmerdale-star-kim-thomson-i-ve-handed-out-a-few-slaps-since-i-joined-soap-and-received-a-few-86908-22077627/ |title=Emmerdale star Kim Thomson: I've handed out a few slaps since I joined soap.. and received a few |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|location=Scotland |author=Rick Fulton |date=1 March 2010 |access-date=14 November 2010}}</ref>
She trained as an actress at the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]].<ref name=dailyrecord2009 />
==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 (TV series)|Tales of the Unexpected]]'', as hotel maid Elly Somerton alongside [[Chaim Topol|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 [[Héloïse d’Argenteuil|Heloïse]] moves with delicate poise, a heroine worthy of [[Dante Gabriel Rossetti|Rossetti]] or [[Edward Burne-Jones|Burne-Jones]], with vivacity and intelligence."<ref>''Films and Filming'', Issues 413–422 (Hansom Books, 1989), pp. 44–45</ref> She played young [[Estella Havisham|Estella]] in the 1989 television series ''[[Great Expectations (1989 film)|Great Expectations]]'', directed by [[Kevin Connor (director)|Kevin Connor]], in which [[Miss Havisham]] was portrayed by [[Jean Simmons]], who had played Estella in the [[Great Expectations (1946 film)|1946 film]] version.<ref>John Glavin, ''Dickens on Screen'', p. 214</ref> Also in 1989, Thomson performed on stage as [[Cordelia (King Lear)|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 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (TV series)|The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes]]''. In 1992, Thomson was the [[leading lady]] of the TV series ''[[Virtual Murder (TV series)|Virtual Murder]]'', followed by another leading role in 1994's [[costume drama]] series, ''[[The Wanderer (1994 TV 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 (playwright)|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. From 2009 to 2011, she was a regular cast member of the ITV1 soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'' in the role of [[Faye Lamb]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Daniel Kilkelly | url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a301055/kim-thomson-to-leave-emmerdale.html | title= Kim Thomson to leave 'Emmerdale'| date= 30 January 2011| website= digitalspy.co.uk| accessdate = 3 April 2011}}</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== {{BLP unsourced section|date=February 2020}} *''[[The Lords of Discipline (film)|The Lords of Discipline]]'' (1983) - Girlfriend *''[[Party Party (film)|Party Party]]'' – Brenda (1983) *''[[Screamtime]]'' – Lady Anne (1983) *''[[Cover Her Face#Adaptations|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 (abbess)|Heloise]] (1988) *''[[Tales of the Unexpected (TV series)|Tales of the Unexpected]]'' – Elly Somerton (1988) - episode (9/10) "Mr Know-All" *''[[The Tall Guy]]'' – Cheryl (1989) *''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' – "Fatal Impression" Sylvie (1989) *''[[Great Expectations (1989 TV series)|Great Expectations]]'' – Estella (1989) *''[[Adaptations of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde|Jekyll & Hyde]]'' – Lucy Harris (1990) *''[[Perry Mason (TV film series)|Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception]]'' — Cathy Bramwell (1990) *''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' – "The Sins of the Fathers" Helen Radford (1990) *''[[Hands of a Murderer]]'' (TV film) – Sophie DeVere (1990) *''[[Murder 101 (1991 film)|Murder 101]]'' – Francesca Lavin (1991) *''[[The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (TV series)|The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes]]'': "The Illustrious Client" (1991) – Kitty Winter *''[[Virtual Murder (TV series)|Virtual Murder]]'' – Samantha Valentine (1992) *''[[The Wanderer (1994 TV series)|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 (film)|1408]]'' (2007) – Desk Clerk *''[[Messages (film)|Messages]]'' (2007) – Frances Beale *''[[The Street (British TV series)|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 (TV series)|Casualty]]'' (2009) – Amber *''[[Holby City]]'' (2014) – Catherine O'Malley
==Theatre== {{BLP sources section |date=February 2020}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Theatre ! Play ! Role ! Director |- | [[Phoenix Theatre (London)|Phoenix Theatre]] | [[Alan Bleasdale]]'s ''Are You Lonesome Tonight?'' | [[Priscilla Presley]] | Robin Lefevre |- | [[Haymarket Theatre]] & Old Vic | ''[[An Ideal Husband]]'' | Lady Chiltern | [[Peter Hall (theatre director)|Peter Hall]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |- | [[Old Vic Theatre]] (1989) | ''[[King Lear]]'' | [[Cordelia (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 Dromgoole]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |- | [[Battersea Arts Centre]] | ''The Stranger'' | Madame Y | [[Michael Billington (actor)|Michael Billington]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |- | Battersea Arts Centre | ''Traveller Without Luggage'' | Valentine | [[Nicholas de Jongh]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |- | [[Field Day Theatre Company]] | ''[[Uncle Vanya]]'' | Elena | [[Peter Gill (playwright)|Peter Gill]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |- | [[Watford Palace Theatre]] | ''Wedding Song'' | Stella | [[Michael Attenborough]]{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0861037|Kim Thomson}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Kim}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of London]] [[Category:English film actresses]] [[Category:English soap opera actresses]] [[Category:English stage actresses]] [[Category:English television actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from Bath, Somerset]] [[Category:English people of Scottish descent]] [[Category:English people of Irish descent]]