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Laila Robins

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Laila Robins
Born
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Education
OccupationActress
Years active1987–present
PartnerRobert Cuccioli (2000–present)

Laila Robins is an American stage, film and television actress. She has appeared in films including Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), An Innocent Man (1989), Live Nude Girls (1995), True Crime (1999), She's Lost Control (2014), Eye in the Sky (2015), and A Call to Spy (2019). Her television credits include regular roles on Gabriel's Fire, Homeland, and Murder in the First. In 2022, she portrays Pamela Milton in the final season of The Walking Dead.

Life and career

Robins was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Latvian American parents[1] Brigita (née Švarcs) and Jānis, whose surname was originally spelled Robiņš. Her father was a research chemist. Robins has three sisters.[citation needed] She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and attended the Yale School of Drama, earning a master of fine arts. Robins has been in a relationship with the actor Robert Cuccioli since 2000. They co-starred in Macbeth at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth,[2] among other plays.[3]

Film and television

Robins made her big screen debut starring opposite Steve Martin in the 1987 comedy film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.[4] She then starred opposite Tom Selleck in the 1989 crime thriller An Innocent Man; Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990); the sex comedy Live Nude Girls (1995) with Dana Delany and Kim Cattrall;[5] and True Crime (1999). On the small screen, Robins co-starred with James Earl Jones in the ABC crime drama series Gabriel's Fire, from 1990 to 1991, and guest-starred on Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Third Watch, Sex and the City, 30 Rock, and The Good Wife. She also played a younger version of Livia Soprano, the mother of mobster Tony Soprano, in the two episodes of HBO crime drama series The Sopranos.

In 2014, Robins starred as Martha Boyd, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, in the fourth season of Showtime drama series Homeland.[6] The following year, she was a regular cast member in the TNT drama series Murder in the First, and in 2016–2017, she had a recurring role in Quantico. In 2018 she starred in the short-lived ABC drama series Deception. She had a recurring role as Katarina Rostova in season 7 of the NBC series The Blacklist from 2019 to 2021. She also had recurring roles in In Treatment, Bored to Death, Mr. Mercedes, Dr. Death and The Boys. In 2022, Robins joined the cast of AMC drama series The Walking Dead as Governor of the Commonwealth, Pamela Milton.[7]

Theatre

Robins appeared on Broadway as Lady Utterword in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House (2006). Robins's other Broadway appearances were Frozen by Bryony Lavery (2004), The Herbal Bed by Peter Whelan (1998), and The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard (1985), directed by Mike Nichols. (Robins succeeded actress Glenn Close in the role).

Robins has appeared off-Broadway in Sore Throats by Howard Brenton, The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Mrs. Klein by Nicholas Wright (in which she also toured with Uta Hagen) (1995–1996), Burnt Piano by Justin Fleming, opposite Richard Thomas in Second Stage Theatre's Tiny Alice (2000). and The Film Society by Jon Robin Baitz, among others. She has also appeared in numerous regional theatre productions, such as the 1997 Fiftieth Anniversary production of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Robins also appeared as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in 2002. Robins is also a frequent performer at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, where she has starred in Macbeth, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard.

Charles Isherwood, critic for The New York Times, assessed her stage work as Ariadne in George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House (2006) opposite Swoosie Kurtz as follows: "...this expert comic actress [Kurtz] may not fit the textbook definition of siren, as Hesione is called, but she may just be the most seductive woman on a New York stage right now...unless that nod goes to Ms. Robins, who locates the essence of her character's shallow allure in a languid, liquid strut and a smile both entrancing and devouring".[8]

Robins has won or been nominated for several awards for her work including the Actors' Equity Foundation Joe A. Callaway Award (1995), for The Merchant of Venice,[9] the 2012 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Ensemble for Sweet and Sad,[10] the Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress (2004) for Frozen[11] and Outstanding Lead Actress (2007) for Sore Throats,[12] the 1997 Joseph Jefferson Award Best Actress for A Streetcar Named Desire at The Steppenwolf Theatre,[13] the Helen Hayes Award nomination, 1997 Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production for Mrs. Klein,[14] and the Drama League Award.[15]

Robins is a guest instructor at HB Studio.[16]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Planes, Trains and Automobiles Susan Page
1987 A Walk on the Moon Marty Ellis
1989 An Innocent Man Kate Rainwood
1990 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael Elizabeth Zaks
1995 Live Nude Girls Rachel
1996 Female Perversions Emma
1997 The Blood Oranges Catherine
1999 True Crime Patricia Findley
1999 Oxygen Frances Hannon
2000 Drop Back Ten Viv
2001 The Loneliness of Animals Annabella Short film
2002 Searching for Paradise Barbara Mattei
2003 Happy End Irene
2004 Jailbait Mother
2006 Slippery Slope Michaela Stark
2006 Things That Hang from Trees Miss Millie
2006 A Broken Sole Passenger
2006 The Good Shepherd Toddy Allen
2008 August Ottmar Peevo
2008 The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond Mrs. Fenstermaker
2009 Welcome to Academia Deborah
2010 Multiple Sarcasms Lauren
2012 The Letter Dr. Tynan
2013 Blumenthal Cheryl
2013 Concussion Woman #3
2013 Side Effects Banks partner #2
2014 She's Lost Control Irene
2015 Grey Lady The Duchess
2015 Valeria Shirley Short film
2015 Eye in the Sky Jillian Goldman
2016 A Woman, a Part Bernadette
2017 Island Zero Maggie
2017 Impossible Monsters Dean Gaslow
2018 The Rest of Us Dean Patterson
2019 A Call to Spy Pirani
2022 My Love Affair with Marriage Master of Ceremonies

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Equalizer Cindy Claussen Episode: "The Last Campaign"
1989 Dream Breakers Phoebe TV film
1990–1991 Gabriel's Fire Victoria Heller Main role
1992 Trial: The Price of Passion Charm Blackburn TV film
1995 The Wright Verdicts Rachel Episode: "Unlucky Star"
1996 Law & Order Diana Hawthorne Episode: "Trophy"
1997 Nothing Sacred Jeanne Cole Episode: "House of Rage"
1998 Law & Order Liann Crosby Episode: "Venom"
1999 Spenser: Small Vices Rita Fiore TV film
1999 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ellen Travis Episode: "A Single Life"
1999–2001 The Sopranos Young Livia Soprano 2 episodes
2000 Third Watch Sharon Reiner Episode: "Journey to the Himalayas"
2001 Witchblade Dominique Boucher 2 episodes
2001 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Kit Sternman Episode: "Enemy Within"
2004 Sex and the City Audra Clark Episode: "The Cold War"
2006 The Book of Daniel Nora Paxton 4 episodes
2009 30 Rock Gloria Baird Episode: "St. Valentine's Day"
2009 All My Children Claire Williams 3 episodes
2009 In Treatment Tammy Meswick Recurring role
2009–2010 Bored to Death Priscilla Antrem Recurring role
2010 God in America Anne Hutchinson Episode: "A New Adam/A New Eden"
2010 The Good Wife Paige Burchfield Episode: "Bad Girls"
2011 Damages Catherine's Doctor 1 episode
2011 Too Big to Fail Christine Lagarde TV film
2011 Blue Bloods Mrs. Lee Episode: "Friendly Fire"
2011 Person of Interest Anja Kohl Episode: "Foe"
2012 Dark Horse Miranda Teras TV film
2013 Onion News Empire Helena Zweibel TV film
2014 The Money Ruth Castman TV film
2014 That Hopey Changey Thing Marian Apple TV film
2014 Sweet and Sad Marian Apple TV miniseries
2014 Regular Singing Marian Apple TV miniseries
2014 Homeland Martha Boyd Main role
2015 Murder in the First Jamie Nelson Main role (season 2)
2016–2017 Quantico General Katherine Richards Recurring role
2018 Deception Special Agent Deakins Main role
2018 New Amsterdam Mrs. Ryland Episode: "Every Last Minute"
2019–2020 The Blacklist Katarina Rostova Guest (season 6); recurring role (season 7)
2019 The Handmaid's Tale Pamela Joy 1 episode
2019–present The Boys Colonel Grace Mallory Recurring role, 12 episodes
2021 The Equalizer CIA Director Suri Nance Episode: "The Milk Run"
2021 Dr. Death Amy Piel Recurring role, 5 episodes
2021–2022 The Walking Dead Pamela Milton Main role, 10 episodes
TBA The Crowded Room Susie Upcoming Apple TV+ series

Stage

  • The Real Thing (1985)...Annie (Replacement); Plymouth Theatre (Broadway)
  • Summer and Smoke (1986)...Alma Winemiller; Williamstown Theatre Festival (Williamstown, MA)
  • Bloody Poetry (1987)...Mary Shelley; Manhattan Theatre Club (Off-Broadway)
  • The Film Society (1988)...Nan Sinclair; Second Stage Theatre/McGinn-Cazale Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • The Lady from the Sea (1988)...Cast; Baltimore Center Stage (Baltimore, MD)
  • Maids of Honor (1990)...Monica Bowlin; WPA Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • The Extra Man (1992)...Laura; Manhattan Theatre Club (Off-Broadway)
  • The Women (1993)...Cast; Hartford Stage Company (Hartford, CT)
  • The Merchant of Venice (1995)... Portia; Joseph Papp Public Theater/Anspacher Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • Mrs. Klein (1996)...Melitta; National Tour
  • Mrs. Klein (1995)... Melitta; Lucille Lortel Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • Skylight (1997)...Kyra Hollis; Mark Taper Forum (Los Angeles, CA)
  • A Streetcar Named Desire (1997)...Blanche du Bois; Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago, IL)
  • The Herbal Bed (1998)...Susanna Hall; Eugene O'Neill Theatre (Broadway)
  • Fool for Love (1999)...May; McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ)
  • Tiny Alice (2000)...Cast; Second Stage Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • Hedda Gabler (2000)... Hedda Gabler; Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Burnt Piano (2001) ...Karen; HB Playwrights Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • Three Sisters (2001)...Masha; New Jersey Shakespeare Theatre (Madison, NJ)
  • Antony and Cleopatra (2002)...Cleopatra; Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Resurrection Blues (2002)...Emily; Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Fiction (2003)...Linda; McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ)
  • King John (2003)... Constance; New Jersey Shakespeare Theater (Madison, NJ)
  • Macbeth (2004)...Lady Macbeth; The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison, NJ)
  • Frozen (2004)...Agnetha; Circle in the Square Theatre (Broadway)
  • Frozen (2004)... Agnetha; MCC Theater (Off-Broadway)
  • Heartbreak House (2006)...Lady Utterwood; American Airlines Theatre (Broadway)[17]
  • A Street Car Named Desire (2008) The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison, NJ)
  • Noises Off (2009) The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison, NJ)
  • The Dance of Death (2013) The Red Bull Theater (New York, NY)
  • The Lion in Winter (2016) Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)

References

  1. ^ `Summer' star Robins has deep state roots, highbeam.com; accessed March 27, 2015.
  2. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Robins and Cuccioli Play Marrieds in Dietz Premiere, Fiction in NJ March 28" Archived 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, March 28, 2003, accessed April 29, 2011
    • Saltzman, Simon (2004). "Macbeth". CurtainUp. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
    • Nash, Margo (March 30, 2003). "Jersey Footlights". The New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  3. ^ Bowling, Suzanna. "Theatre News: Robert Cuccioli and Lalia Robins, New Federal Theatre Celebrates Black History Month, Broadway Profiles with Tamsen Fadal and 59E59 Theaters COVID Relief Grant recipient", Times Square Chronicles, February 19, 2021
  4. ^ Idasetima, Courtney (November 25, 2017). "The Cast of 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles,' Then and Now". The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ "Live Nude Girls". Rotten Tomatoes.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 3, 2014). "Laila Robins & Corey Stoll Join 'Homeland'".
  7. ^ "The Walking Dead Season 11 Casts The Boys' Laila Robins as Commonwealth Leader". ScreenRant. July 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "THEATER REVIEW; British Gentry, Fiddling While the Abyss Looms" October 12, 2006, The New York Times
  9. ^ The Merchant of Venice lortel.org, accessed September 23, 2016
  10. ^ Sweet and Sad lortel.org, accessed September 23, 2016
  11. ^ Frozen lortel.org, accessed September 23, 2016
  12. ^ Sore Throats lortel.org, accessed September 23, 2016
  13. ^ "Laila Robins Details" lortel.org, accessed September 23, 2016
  14. ^ Rose, Lloyd. "Arena Stage Tops Hayes Nominations" The Washington Post, March 20, 1997
  15. ^ "Drama League". dramaleague.org. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  16. ^ "Laila Robins, HB Studio, Chekhov Scene Study Classes in NYC".
  17. ^ Laila Robins, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz
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