Kim Thomson


Kim Ellen Thomson 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 and 1964, in Scotland 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. 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

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 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." 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. 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."
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". In 2001, she appeared as Irina in the West End theatre production of Uncle Vanya directed by Peter Gill. In 2004, she played a society reporter in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
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.

Personal life

In 2010, Thomson graduated from the University of London with a degree in politics, philosophy and history.

Film and television

  • The Lords of Discipline - Girlfriend
  • Party Party – Brenda
  • Screamtime – Lady Anne
  • Cover Her Face – Sally Jupp
  • Lovejoy "The Firefly Cage" – Nicola Page
  • Brush Strokes – Lesley Bainbridge
  • The Life and Loves of a She-Devil – Elsie Flowers
  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries – "Wolf to the Slaughter" - Linda Grover
  • A Killing on the Exchange
  • Stealing Heaven – Heloise
  • Tales of the Unexpected – Elly Somerton - episode "Mr Know-All"
  • The Tall Guy – Cheryl
  • Minder – "Fatal Impression" Sylvie
  • Great Expectations – Estella
  • Jekyll & Hyde – Lucy Harris
  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception — Cathy Bramwell
  • Inspector Morse – "The Sins of the Fathers" Helen Radford
  • Hands of a Murderer – Sophie DeVere
  • Murder 101 – Francesca Lavin
  • The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: "The Illustrious Client" – Kitty Winter
  • Virtual Murder – Samantha Valentine
  • The Wanderer – Beatrice
  • Loved By You – Becky Edwards
  • The 10th Kingdom – Queen Riding Hood III
  • Midsomer Murders – Janet Reason
  • The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement – Elsie Kentworthy, reporter
  • Rosemary & Thyme – Andrea
  • Secret Diary of a Call Girl – Della
  • 1408 – Desk Clerk
  • Messages – Frances Beale
  • The Street – Pat Tinsey
  • Judge John Deed – Marie Madsen
  • The Bill – Naomi Woods
  • New Tricks – Tiffany Barker
  • The Green Green Grass – Antonia Page
  • Taggart – Phyllis
  • Emmerdale – Faye Lamb
  • Casualty – Amber
  • Holby City – Catherine O'Malley

    Theatre

TheatrePlayRoleDirector
Phoenix TheatreAlan Bleasdale's Are You Lonesome Tonight?Priscilla PresleyRobin Lefevre
Haymarket Theatre & Old VicAn Ideal HusbandLady ChilternPeter Hall
Old Vic Theatre King LearCordeliaJonathan Miller
Theatre Royal, BathPresent LaughterJoannaDominic Dromgoole
Battersea Arts CentreThe StrangerMadame YMichael Billington
Battersea Arts CentreTraveller Without LuggageValentineNicholas de Jongh
Field Day Theatre CompanyUncle VanyaElenaPeter Gill
Watford Palace TheatreWedding SongStellaMichael Attenborough