Laila Robins

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Laila Robins

Born March 14, 1959
St. Paul, Minnesota

Laila Robins (born March 14, 1959) is an American stage, film and television actress.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal life

Robins was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Latvian-American parents[1] Brigita (née Svarcs) and Janis Robins, who was a research chemist.[2] She attended the Yale School of Drama,(MFA) and received her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, (BA).[3] 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; he was Macbeth, and she was Lady Macbeth.

[edit] Theatre

Robins recently appeared as Lady Utterword in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House (2006). Robins' 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), and The Film Society by Jon Robin Baitz, among others.

In 1997 she starred in the Fiftieth Anniversary production of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. Robin also appeared as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis in 2002. In 2000, she was cast opposite Richard Thomas in the stage revival of Tiny Alice. 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). Robins played opposite Swoosie Kurtz, and both were described as such: "...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".[4]

[edit] Film and television

Robins has had numerous film and television roles. In 2006, she played Nora Paxton in The Book of Daniel; she played Victoria Heller in Gabriel's Fire in 1990 on ABC; appeared in the television movie Dream Breakers in 1989; and in The Equalizer in 1998.

In 2006, she played Toddy Allen in The Good Shepherd, directed by Robert De Niro. She made her film debut in the 1987 picture, A Walk On The Moon.

[edit] Awards and nominations

Awards and Nominations:

  • 1995: Actors' Equity Foundation Joe A. Callaway Award, The Merchant of Venice ("Best Performance in a Classic Drama", for her work as Portia)
  • 1997: Helen Hayes Award nomination, Mrs. Klein
  • 1997: Jefferson Award, A Streetcar Named Desire and Mrs. Klein
  • 1997: Drama League Award, Skylight
  • 2004: Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress, Frozen.

[edit] Stage appearances

  • Heartbreak House (2006)...Lady Utterwood; American Airlines Theatre (Broadway)[5]
  • 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)
  • Fiction (2003)...Linda; McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ)
  • King John (2003)... Constance; New Jersey Shakespeare Theater (Madison, NJ)
  • Antony and Cleopatra (2002)...Cleopatra; Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Resurrection Blues (2002)...Emily; Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Three Sisters (2001)...Masha; New Jersey Shakespeare Theatre (Madison, NJ)
  • Tiny Alice (2000)...Cast; Second Stage Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • Hedda Gabler (2000)... Hedda Gabler; Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Fool for Love (1999)...May; McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ)
  • The Herbal Bed (1998)...Susanna Hall; Eugene O'Neill Theatre (Broadway)
  • Skylight (1997)...Kyra Hollis; Mark Taper Forum (Los Angeles, CA)
  • A Streetcar Named Desire (1997)...Blanche du Bois; Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago, IL)
  • Mrs. Klein (1995)... Melitta; Lucille Lortel Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • Mrs. Klein (1996)...Melitta; National Tour
  • The Merchant of Venice (1995)... Portia; Joseph Papp Public Theater/Anspacher Theatre (Off-Broadway)
  • The Women (1993)...Cast; Hartford Stage Company (Hartford, CT)
  • The Extra Man (1992)...Laura; Manhattan Theatre Club (Off-Broadway)
  • Maids of Honor (1990)...Monica Bowlin; WPA Theatre (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)
  • Bloody Poetry (1987))...Mary Shelly; Manhattan Theatre Club (Off-Broadway)
  • Summer and Smoke (1986)...Alma Winemiller; Williamstown Theatre Festival (Williamstown, MA)
  • The Real Thing (1985)...Annie (Replacement); Plymouth Theatre (Broadway)

[edit] Filmography

[edit] References

  1. ^ `Summer' star Robins has deep state roots.(VARIETY) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) - HighBeam Research
  2. ^ Laila Robins Biography (1959-)
  3. ^ University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
  4. ^ http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9B07E1DD1030F931A25753C1A9609C8B63&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FS%2FShaw%2C%20George%20Bernard
  5. ^ Laila Robins, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz

[edit] External links