Nora Samosir

{{Short description|Singpoarean actress}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Nora Samosir | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Nora Anny Samosir | birth_date =  | birth_place = Singapore | death_date =  | death_place = | othername = | occupation = Actress<br>educator | years_active = 1979–present | spouse = | partner = | website = }} '''Nora Samosir''' is a Singaporean actress of Indonesian descent who won a 2002 Life Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress.<ref name="ASA">{{cite web |url=http://www.asa.org.sg/bios/norasamosir.htm |title=actors' directory: Nora Samosir |publisher=Association of Singapore Artists |accessdate=12 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615054221/http://www.asa.org.sg/bios/norasamosir.htm |archive-date=15 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="AWARD"/> She has been active in the Singapore theatre scene since 1979 and has worked in television and film.<ref name="ASA"/> Some of her more notable performances include ''The Swallowed Seed'' (2002)<ref name="QLRS3"/> and ''Revelations'' (2003)<ref name="QLRS4"> {{cite journal |last=Lord |first=Richard |date=July 2003 |title=Thinking Global, Acting Local – Singapore shows up at the Singapore Arts Fest |url=http://www.qlrs.com/emedia.asp?id=340 |journal=Quarterly Literary Review Singapore |volume=2 |issue=4}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Samosir is of Indonesian descent and speaks English, Malay and Indonesian fluently.<ref name="ASA"/> She studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, and graduated from York University, Toronto, Canada with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and has multiple qualifications in vocal training and voice studies.<ref name="NUS1"> {{cite web |title=A Workshop on Respiration, Phonation, and Articulation |url=http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ell/docs/sem05sep07.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520195515/http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ell/docs/sem05sep07.pdf |archivedate=20 May 2011 |accessdate=12 April 2009 |publisher=National University of Singapore |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Career == Her professional training is in acting and voice production, which she also taught at the National University of Singapore.<ref name="ASA" /> Samosir lectured in Theatre Studies and teaches voice production.<ref name="NUS2">{{cite web |title=Faculty of Arts & Social Studies |url=http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ell/faculty3_1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221045423/http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ell/faculty3_1.htm |archive-date=21 February 2009 |accessdate=12 April 2009 |publisher=National University of Singapore}}</ref> Samosir is currently a lecturer in the School of Dance & Theatre at LASALLE, where she lectures in Acting and Musical Theatre.<ref name="LASALLE1">{{cite web |title=Nora Samosir |url=https://www.lasalle.edu.sg/about/academics/nora-samosir |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127011324/https://www.lasalle.edu.sg/about/academics/nora-samosir |archive-date=27 January 2023 |accessdate=16 July 2023 |publisher=LASALLE College of the Arts}} </ref>

Samosir has done extensive work in Singapore with such groups as Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), Action Theatre, The Necessary Stage (TNS), Cake Theatre, Black Tent Theater, Music and Movement, and TheatreWorks (TW), as well as performing at venues such as National Museum of Singapore, Dublin Fringe Festival, National Theatre Festival (at the National School of Drama in Delhi), Asian Theatre Festival at Kyungsung University in Busan, Lyric Theatre, Festival of Perth, TheatreWorks Retrospective Festival, Kuala Lumpur, Adelaide Festival of Arts, and National Institute of Education.

She is a member of the Association of Singapore Actors,<ref name="ASA" /> the Singapore Drama Educators Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our members |url=http://www.sdea.org.sg/bios.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219221328/http://www.sdea.org.sg/bios.htm |archivedate=19 December 2008 |accessdate=13 April 2009 |work=Singapore Drama Educators Association}}</ref>

==Criticism and praise== In considering her role in ''Doubt'' (2006), Richard Lord of Quarterly Literary Review Singapore wrote that her portrayal of Sister Aloysius was unsympathetic and led to the audience believing in the innocence of Father Brendan as played by Lim Yu Beng.<ref name="QLRS1">{{cite journal |last=Lord |first=Richard |date=April 2006 |title=Shadows of the Doubt |journal=Quarterly Literary Review Singapore |page= 2 |volume=5 |issue=3 |url=http://www.qlrs.com/emedia.asp?id=528}}</ref> When speaking of her award-winning role of Claire in ''Proof'' (2002), Daniel Teo of Inkpot Reviews praised her performance and her precision,<ref name="TI1">{{cite web |url=http://inkpot.com/theatre/02reviews/02revproo.html |title=One is the lonliest number |last=Teo |first=Daniel |date=22 November 2002 |work=The Inkpot |accessdate=12 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008000638/http://inkpot.com/theatre/02reviews/02revproo.html |archive-date=8 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while Richard Lord of QLRS felt she exaggerated her character, but had shown better work in performance earlier that year."<ref name="QLRS2"> {{cite journal |last=Lord |first=Richard |date=January 2003 |title=Maps, Maths and Other Madness |journal=Quarterly Literary Review Singapore |volume=2 |issue=2 |url=http://www.qlrs.com/emedia.asp?id=284}}</ref> The following year in his review of ''Revelations'' (2003), Lord gave a mixed review of the production's "faulty structure", yet approved of Samosir's performance.<ref name="QLRS3"> {{cite journal |last=Lord |first=Richard |date=July 2003 |title=Thinking Global, Acting Local |journal=Quarterly Literary Review Singapore |volume=2 |issue=4 |url=http://www.qlrs.com/emedia.asp?id=340}}</ref> In 2003, Samosir was involved with ''Pulse'' (2003), an experimental series of 3 interlinked plays loosely based on an urban woman's diary. The series was reviewed by Matthew Lyon of Inkpot Reviews, who felt her performance in the second of the three was "the strongest of the whole series."<ref name="TI2"> {{cite web |url=http://www.inkpotreviews.com/2003reviews/0409,puls,ml.xml |title=The Heart of the Matter |last=Lyon |first=Matthew |work=The Inkpot |accessdate=13 April 2009}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Selected notable theatre appearances === *''Asian Boys Volume 1'' (2000) with The Necessary Stage *''Destinies of Flowers in the Mirror'' (2009) <ref> {{cite web |date=20 March 2009 |title=Stage: musical & opera |url=http://is-magazine.com/feature/stage-march-20-2009 |accessdate=12 April 2009 |work=IS Magazine}}</ref><ref name="ST1"> {{cite news |last=Chia |first=Adeline |title=Flawed reflections |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=1c1a95dd4bb60210VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e361758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD |accessdate=13 April 2009 |work=Straits Times}}</ref> *''Temple'' (2008) with Cake Theatre<ref>{{cite web |last=Toh |first=Amos |date=19 June 2008 |title=Urgent Devotion |url=http://inkpot.com/theatre/08reviews/0619,temp,at.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926125421/http://inkpot.com/theatre/08reviews/0619,temp,at.html |archive-date=26 September 2008 |accessdate=13 April 2009 |work=The Flying Inkpot}}</ref> *''120'' (2007) with the National Museum of Singapore<ref>{{cite web |title=''120'', Presented by National Museum of Singapore: A new production by TheatreWorks/Ong Keng Sen |url=http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/120years/event_120_detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001195539/http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/120years/event_120_detail.html |archive-date=1 October 2009 |accessdate=13 April 2009 |publisher=National Museum of Singapore}}</ref> *''Doubt'' (2006)<ref name="QLRS1" /> *''Queen Ping'' (2006) with Cake Theatre<ref>{{cite web |last=Yi-Sheng |first=Ng |date=12 May 2006 |title=The Palace of Wisdom |url=http://inkpot.com/theatre/06reviews/0512,queeping,ny.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008001846/http://inkpot.com/theatre/06reviews/0512,queeping,ny.html |archive-date=8 October 2008 |accessdate=13 April 2009 |work=The Flying Inkpot}}</ref> *''The Vagina Monologues'' (2004) with The Arts House<ref> {{cite journal |last=Lord |first=Richard |date=January 2005 |title=Negotiating Parts Unknown |journal=Quarterly Literary Review Singapore |volume=4 |issue=2}}</ref> *''Revelations'' (2003) with TNS<ref name="QLRS4" /> *''Pulse Version Theatre'' (2003) with TheatreWorks<ref name="TI2" /> *''Proof'' (2002) with Action Theatre<ref name="QLRS2" /> *''Fruit Plays'' (2002)<ref name="QLRS3" /><ref> {{cite journal |last=Lord |first=Richard |date=July 2002 |title=Action Speaks Louder With Words – Of soups, fruits and suits |url=http://www.qlrs.com/emedia.asp?id=222 |journal=Quarterly Literary Review Singapore |volume=1 |issue=4}}</ref> **''Human Heart Fruit'' by Stella Konand **''The Swallowed Seed'' by Jean Tay

=== Film === *''Singapore Shorts Vol. 2'' (Asian Film Archive's) (2008)<ref name="TWITCH1">{{cite web |date=17 November 2008 |title=DVD Review of Asian Film Archive's ''Singapore Shorts Vol. 2'' |url=http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/dvd-review-of-asian-film-archives-singapore-shorts-vol-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221173142/http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/dvd-review-of-asian-film-archives-singapore-shorts-vol-2 |archive-date=21 February 2009 |accessdate=13 April 2009 |publisher=Twitch Films}}</ref> *''Imelda Goes to Singapore'' (2008)<ref name="TWITCH1" /> *''Shanghai Lily'' (1999)<ref name="ASA" /> *''Passionflower'' (1986)<ref name="ASA" />

=== Television === *''Masters of the Sea'' (1994)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Classic dramas Triple Nine and Masters Of The Sea are coming to Netflix in November |url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/classic-dramas-triple-nine-and-masters-of-the-sea-are-coming-to-netflix-in-november-062656449.html}}</ref> *''Shiver'' (1997)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kwok |first=Amos |title=Shiver |url=http://www.amoskwok.com/shiver.html |access-date=13 April 2009}}</ref> *''Ah Girl'' (2001–2002)<ref name="talksmu">{{Cite web |title=MY LIFE IN THEATRE |url=https://www.smu.edu.sg/newsletter/89156}}</ref> *''Guru Paarvai'' (2004)<ref name="talksmu" /> *''Stories of Love'' (2008)<ref name="SIMU">{{Cite web |title=NUS Arts Festival 2014 {{!}} Festival Picks - White Rabbit Red Rabbit |url=https://www.nus.edu.sg/cfa/NAF_2014/f-white-rabbit-artist.html |access-date=2021-07-02 |website=www.nus.edu.sg}}</ref>

==Awards== *2002 Life Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Claire in Action Theatre's 2002 production of "Proof".<ref name="ASA"/><ref name="AWARD"> {{cite web |url=http://www.sph.com.sg/article.display.php?id=75 |title=The 3rd DBS Life! Theatre Awards 2002 |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings Limited |accessdate=12 April 2009}}</ref>

==Further reading== *''The lady of soul and her ultimate "S" machine'', by Tarn How Tan<ref> {{cite book |last=Tan |first=Tarn How |title=The lady of soul and her ultimate "S" machine |publisher=Sirius Books |year=1993 |pages=85 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nLRlAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Nora+Samosir%22&dq=%22Nora+Samosir%22}}</ref> *''PIE to SPOILT: a collection of plays'', by Tze Chien Chong {{ISBN|981-04-7667-1}}<ref> {{cite book |last=Chong |first=Tze Chien |title=PIE to SPOILT: a collection of plays |publisher=The Necessary Stage |year=2002 |pages=253 |isbn= 9789810476670|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ixVaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Nora+Samosir%22&dq=%22Nora+Samosir%22}}</ref> *''A history of amnesia: poems'', by Alfian Sa'at {{ISBN|981-04-3707-2}}<ref> {{cite book |last=Sa'at |first=Alfian |title=A history of amnesia: poems |publisher=Ethos Books |year=2001 |pages=86 |isbn= 9789810437077 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S89lAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Nora+Samosir%22&dq=%22Nora+Samosir%22}}</ref> *''Private parts and other playthings'', by Michael Chiang {{ISBN|981-3002-77-8}}<ref> {{cite book |last=Chiang |first=Michael |title=Private parts and other playthings |publisher=Landmark Books |year=1994 |pages=295 |isbn= 9789813002777 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4BRaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Nora+Samosir%22&dq=%22Nora+Samosir%22}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samosir, Nora}} Category:Singaporean actresses Category:Living people Category:Indonesian emigrants to Singapore Category:People of Batak descent Category:Year of birth missing (living people)