Vinette Robinson (born 1981) is an English actress. She won a British Independent Film Award for her performance in the film Boiling Point (2021), a role she reprised in its spinoff series. On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC One series Waterloo Road (2009), Sherlock (2010–2014) and The A Word (2016–2017). She also guest starred in Black Mirror (2015) and as civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks in the Doctor Who episode "Rosa" (2018).

Early life and education Vinette Robinson was born in 1981 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to a Jamaican father and a British mother.

Robinson went to primary and secondary school in Bradford, then did drama in sixth form at Intake High School in Leeds. She also took weekly courses at the Scala School of Performing Arts theatre school in Leeds. She went on to train at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, where she was awarded a Laurence Olivier Bursary from the Society of London Theatre.Staff (28 July 2002). "Lawrence (sic) Olivier bursaries". The British Theatre Guide. Retrieved on 19 November 2007.Staff (26 September 2006). "Theatre's bright young things". Time Out London. Retrieved on 19 November 2007

Career Robinson began auditioning when she was thirteen years old; her first audition was for the role of Queen Amidala in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, a part that ultimately went to Natalie Portman. She made her television debut in an episode of the BBC Two police procedural The Cops at the age of 17. After graduating from drama school, she had a small role as the Jamaican girl in the 2004 film Vera Drake but was given an entire character backstory by the director Mike Leigh.

Her first stage role was in the National Theatre / Complicité production of Measure for Measure. Following this she was part of the Gunpowder season at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she played the tortured servant May in Rupert Goold's production of Speaking Like Magpies by Frank McGuinness. In 2006 she played Eve in a production of Paradise Lost. Commenting on her nude scene, Sheila Tracy of The Stage wrote "one can not imagine the action working in any other way". Her performance in Sugar Mummies that same year led New York magazine to list her as one of "London's hottest young stage actors" in 2007. Following the conclusion of Sugar Mummies, she appeared in a short feature for Time Out, in which she and five other actors were described as "innovative young theatrical talent".

In 2009 she played Josie Porritt in the BBC series Hope Springs and appeared as newly qualified English teacher Helen Hopewell in eight episodes of the BBC school drama Waterloo Roads fifth series. From December 2009 to January 2010, she starred as the maid Florence in Hampstead Theatre's Darker Shores. In a Daily Telegraph review that rated the play only two stars, Charles Spencer commended Robinson's performance as having "a warmth and emotional openness". Kate Bassett for The Independent on Sunday also praised her, writing that she "copes admirably". In 2010 she starred as police sergeant Sally Donovan in the BBC series Sherlock, continuing her role in the second and third series that aired in January 2012 and December 2013/January 2014.

In 2011 Robinson appeared in Philip Ridley's Tender Napalm, receiving The Offie for Best Female. She then went on to play Ophelia in The Young Vic's production of Hamlet, for which she received the Clarence Derwent Award. Her role as Ophelia led to her inclusion in the New York Times Magazine article "Titans of the Stage". In 2016 she appeared in Hated in the Nation, an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.

In October 2018, Robinson appeared in the Doctor Who episode "Rosa", portraying civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks. It was her second appearance in Doctor Who, following her portrayal of the character Abi Lerner in the 2007 episode "42". In 2019 Robinson appeared briefly in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as a pilot who receives a same-sex kiss, a first for the film franchise.

She appeared in the 2021 one-take film Boiling Point for which she received critical acclaim, as well as the BIFA for Best Supporting Actress. She portrays a sous chef to an insolent, alcoholic head chef over the course of one hectic night at a busy restaurant.

Acting credits Film Year Film Role NotesRef. 2004 Vera Drake Jamaican Girl 2005 Imagine Me & You Zina 2011 Powder Hannah 2016 Morgan Dr. Brenda Finch2019 Frankie Sylvia Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Pilot Tyce 2020 Say Your Prayers Imelda 2021 Boiling Point Carly 2023 The Pod Generation Alice 2025 The Thing with Feathers Amanda

Television Year Title RoleNotesRef.1998 City Central Girl Episode: "Justice to Be Done" The Cops Sarah Midgely Episode: "Top of the Game"1999 Children's Ward Joy Guest role; 2 episodes Cold Feet Female Shop Assistant Episode #2.22000 Doctors Cath Bickerstaff Guest role; 2 episodes This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper Rita Rytka Episode: "Episode 1" Fat Friends Young Shop Assistant Episode: "Face the Fat" 2001 Always and Everyone Teresa Episode: "Safe from Harm" 2003 Between the Sheets Tracy Ellis Miniseries; 6 episodes2004 Murphy's Law Aimie Episode: "Jack's Back" Blue Murder Andrea Episode: "Hit and Run" Doctors Melanie Episode: "Daddy's Girl" 2005 Casualty Kirsty Evans Episode: "Truth Will Out"2007-2018Doctor WhoAbi Lerner/Rosa ParksEpisodes: "42" and "Rosa"2007 Party Animals Kerry Recurring role; 2 episodes Hustle Tina Episode: "A Designer's Paradise" Doctors Katie Waters Episode: "Hero" 2008 The Passion Mina Episode: "Episode 2"2009 Hope Springs Josie Porritt Series regular; 8 episodes Waterloo Road Helen Hopewell Series regular; 8 episodes 2010–2014 Sherlock Sally Donovan Recurring role; 4 episodes2014 Vera Corinne Franks Episode: "Castles in the Air" Assistance Jenny Television film2014 Death in Paradise Lauren Campese Episode: "An Artistic Murder" The Red Tent Bilhah Miniseries; 2 episodes 2015 Black Work Zoe Nash Miniseries; 2 episodes2016 Black Mirror Liza Bahar Episode: "Hated in the Nation" Close to the Enemy Rita Miniseries; 5 episodes2016–2017 Delicious Rosa Recurring role; 3 episodes The A Word Nicola Daniels Series regular; 12 episodes 2017 Year Million Eva Miniseries; 5 episodes2019 I Am... Toni Episode: "I Am Kirsty" A Christmas Carol Mary Cratchit Miniseries; 3 episodes Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle Yvonne Episode: "Yvonne 1981" 2021 The Amazing Mr. Blunden Mrs. Allen Television film 2022 Code 404 Professor Sarah McAllister Recurring role; 5 episodes 2022–2023 The Lazarus Project Janet Series regular; 10 episodes2023 Six Four Michelle O'Neill Miniseries; 4 episodes Boiling Point Carly Miniseries; 4 episodes2024 The Gathering Natalie Recurring role; 2 episodes Inside No. 9 Val Episode: "Mulberry Close" Suspect Louisa Episode: "Louisa"2026 Silent Witness DI Fiona Mahler Episode: "Grace of God"

Theatre Year Title Role Director Performance historyRef. 2004 Measure for Measure Juliet National Theatre2005 A New Way to Please You FootmanRoyal Shakespeare Company Sejanus: His Fall High Priestess Thomas More Lady Roper Speaking Like Magpies May2006 Paradise Lost Eve Headlong Sugar Mummies Naomi Royal Court Theatre 2008 War & Peace Hélène/Mlle Bourienne Nancy Meckler and Polly Teale National tour, 7 February–11 May 2008 2009 Darker Shores Florence Kennedy Anthony Clarke Hampstead Theatre, 7 December 2009–16 January 20102011 Tender Napalm Unnamed female lead David Mercatali Southwark Playhouse Hamlet Ophelia Ian Rickson Young Vic, 28 October 2011–21 January 2012 2018 Emilia Emilia 2 Nicole Charles Shakespeare's Globe Video games Year Title RoleRef. 2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition Sister Tanner (voice)

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Role Work ResultRef. 2012 Clarence Derwent Awards Best Female in a Supporting Role Ophelia Hamlet 2021 BIFA Best Supporting Actress Carly Boiling Point 2023 BAFTA Scotland Best Actress - Television Michelle O'Neill Six Four

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