Barbara Rosenblat

Barbara Rosenblat in 2015

Barbara Rosenblat (born 17 July 1950) is a British actress. She is best known as a prolific narrator of audiobooks, for which AudioFile named her a Golden Voice.[1] She has also appeared on screen such as in the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black as the character Miss Rosa.

Early life

Rosenblat was born in London, England and was raised in New York City in a Jewish family.[2] She attended a Hebrew school as a child.[2]

Career

After returning to London for a family wedding, Rosenblat decided to stay in England.[2] Soon afterwards, she landed a part in a production of Godspell.[2] She continued to work in theatre, as well as various fields of entertainment in the UK such as radio, film and television.[3]

She later returned to the US, and worked at the Library of Congress narrating books for the blind for four years.[3]

On Broadway, she appeared in the musical The Secret Garden and the play Talk Radio.[3][4]

Awards and honors

AudioFile has named Rosenblat a Golden Voice narrator.[1]

Awards

Year Title Award Result Ref.
1996 Myst: The Book of Atrus by Rand and Robyn Miller with David Wingrove Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance Winner [5]
2000 Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Winner [6][7]
2001 Moment of Truth by Lisa Scottoline Audie Award for Mystery, Fiction Finalist [8]
2002 Lord of the Silent by Elizabeth Peters Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Finalist [9]
The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottoline Audie Award for Mystery, Fiction Finalist [9]
2003 The Bone Vault (2003) by Linda Fairstein Earphones Award Winner [10]
Bronx Primitive: Portraits in a Childhood by Kate Simon Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Finalist [11]
Jackdaws by Ken Follett Audie Award for Fiction (Abridged) Finalist [11]
The Nazi Officer's Wife (1999) by Edith Hahn Beer Listen Up Award for Narration (Female) Finalist [12]
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris Listen Up Award for Fiction Finalist [12]
2004 Guardian of the Horizon (2004) by Elizabeth Peters Earphones Award Winner [13]
The Nazi Officer's Wife (1999) by Edith Hahn Beer Audie Award for Biography or Memoir Winner [14]
Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Winner [14]
Stuffed by Patricia Volk Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Finalist [14]
2005 A Fugue in Hell's Kitchen by Hal Glazer Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Finalist [15]
The Serpent on the Crown (2005) by Elizabeth Peters Earphones Award Winner [16]
The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down by Neta Jackson Audie Award for Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction Finalist [15]
Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Finalist [15]
2006 Just Above a Whisper by Lori Wick Audie Award for Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction Finalist [17]
One Dangerous Lady by Jane Stanton Hitchcock Audie Award for Mystery (Fiction) Finalist [17]
Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline Listen Up Award for Mystery Finalist [18]
The Serpent on the Crown (2005) by Elizabeth Peters Audie Award for Mystery (Fiction) Winner [16][17]
Suite Francaise by Irène Némirovsky Listen Up Award for Fiction Finalist [18]
2007 Away by Amy Bloom Listen Up Award for Fiction Finalist [19]
Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline Listen Up Award for Mystery Finalist [19]
Leave a Candle Burning by Lori Wick Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Finalist [20]
Suite Francaise by Irène Némirovsky Audie Award for Literary Fiction Finalist [20]
Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance Finalist [20]
2008 Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline Audie Award for Thriller or Suspense Finalist [21]
Lady Killer (2008) by Lisa Scottoline Earphones Award Winner [22]
The Laughter of Dead Kings(2008) by Elizabeth Peters Earphones Award Winner [23]
2009 The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2006) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.) Listen Up Award for Fiction Finalist [24]
Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister Audie Award for Romance Finalist [25]
Lethal Legacy (2009) by Linda Fairstein Earphones Award Winner [26]
2010 Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies and Leslie Gold Audie Award for Biography or Memoir Winner [27]
Audie Award for Nonfiction Finalist [27]
The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2006) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.) Audie Award for Literary Fiction Finalist [27][28]
Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female Finalist [27]
Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss Audie Award for Children's Titles Up To Age 8 Winner [27]
Odyssey Award Winner [29][30]
A River in the Sky (2010) by Elizabeth Peters Earphones Award Winner [31]
2011 Judy Moody & Stink by Megan McDonald Audie Award for Children's Titles Up To Age 8 Finalist [32]
2012 The Chalk Girl (2012) by Carol O'Connell Earphones Award Winner [33]
The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty (1980) by Eudora Welty Audie Award for Short Stories or Collections Finalist [34]
The Witches of Lublin by Ellen Kushner, Elizabeth Schwartz, and Yale Strom Audie Award for Distinguished Achievement in Production Finalist [34]
Audie Award for Original Work Finalist [34]
Audie Award for Package Design Finalist [34]
2013 The Chalk Girl (2012) by Carol O'Connell Audie Award for Thriller or Suspense Finalist [33][35]
Death Angel (2013) by Linda Fairstein Earphones Award Winner [36]
2014 The Ballad of the Sad Café (1951) by Carson McCullers Audie Award for Short Stories or Collections Finalist [37]
Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout by Megan McDonald Audie Award for Children's Titles Up To Age 8 Finalist [37][38]
Unveiled by Francine Rivers Audie Award for Faith-Based Fiction and Nonfiction Finalist [37][38]
2015 Act of God (2015) by Jill Ciment Earphones Award Winner [39]
The Swords of Riverside by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman Audie Award for Audio Drama Finalist [40]
2016 Clockwork Lives by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance Finalist [41]
2022 Bourdain by Laurie Woolever Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance Finalist [42]

"Best of" lists

Year Title Award Ref.
2003 The Bone Vault (2003) by Linda Fairstein AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [10]
2004 Guardian of the Horizon (2004) by Elizabeth Peters AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [13]
Booklist Editors' Choice: Media [43]
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults [44][45]
2005 Let Me Go by Helga Schneider Booklist Editors' Choice: Media [46]
2006 Suite Francaise by Irène Némirovsky Booklist Editors' Choice: Media [47]
2008 Lady Killer (2008) by Lisa Scottoline AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [22]
Booklist Editors' Choice: Media [48]
The Laughter of Dead Kings(2008) by Elizabeth Peters AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [23]
Winter Study (2008) by Nevada Barr AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [49]
2009 Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies and Leslie Gold Booklist Editors' Choice: Media [50]
Dear America: My Secret War (2000) by Mary Pope Osborne AudioFile Best of Children [51]
The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2008) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.) AudioFile Best of Fiction [28]
Lethal Legacy (2009) by Linda Fairstein AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [26]
2010 206 Bones (2009) by Kathy Reichs AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [52]
Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss Notable Children's Recordings [53][54]
A River in the Sky (2010) by Elizabeth Peters AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [31]
2011 Silent Mercy (2011) by Linda Fairstein AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [55]
Crunch Time (2011) by Diane Mott Davidson AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [1]
2012 The Chalk Girl (2012) by Carol O'Connell AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [1]
2013 The Chalk Girl (2012) by Carol O'Connell RUSA Listen List [56]
Death Angel (2013) by Linda Fairstein AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [1]
2014 A Full Moon Is Rising (2013) by Marilyn Singer Notable Children's Recordings [57]
2015 Act of God (2015) by Jill Ciment AudioFile Best of Fiction [1]

Audiography

Rosenblat has narrated more than 400 audiobooks and has been praised for her range of performance in both British and American English accents. She has also narrated a vast range of books across various genres, from classics such as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland to the literary fiction of T. C. Boyle or short stories of Kurt Vonnegut to paranormal romance novels by Katie McAllister.

Rosenblat is known for her narrations of well-loved mystery series such as Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax series, Elizabeth Peters‘s Amelia Peabody series, and continues to carry many long-running contemporary crime fiction series including:

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Carry on England A.T.S.
1985 Turtle Diary American Woman
1986 The American Way Betsey Blankett
Haunted Honeymoon Reporter
Little Shop of Horrors Fifth Customer
1990 The Care of Time Barbara TV movie
1997 Malcolm and Melvin Mother (voice) Short film
Babe, He Calls Me
2009 Love Is Deaf Subway Lady
2016 Stranded at the Altar Joan the Shopkeeper Short film
For I Must Hold My Tongue Diane
2017 Lost Cat Corona Connie's Mom
2018 Run Maria
2019 Anya Dr. Rosalind Pfenning
MAD? Judy
Weathering with You Mrs. Mamiya, Fortune Teller (voices)
2023 The Boy and the Heron Utako (voice)
Hidden Dragon Madame Golden Claw (voice)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1976–1981 The Dick Emery Show Herself 2 episodes
1982 Play for Today Rosie Episode: "Under the Skin"
Never the Twain Mrs. Hardy Episode: "A Woman's Place..."
1983 Luna 2B2B Episode: "All the World's a Teletalk Linkup"
Philip Marlowe, Private Eye Lady Columnist Episode: "Smart Alek Kill"
1984 Tales of the Unexpected TV Interviewer Episode: "Have a Nice Death"
1989 Anything More Would Be Greedy Fran Dehring 3 episodes
Mini TV series
1997 The Cartoon Cartoon Show Mother (voice) 2 episodes
2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nurse Episode: "Rage"
2008 Click and Clack's As the Wrench Turns Sal (voice) Episode: "Campaign"
2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Selma Peters Episode: "Transitions"
2013–2015 Orange Is the New Black Miss Rosa 14 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2014 Girls Nurse Episode: "Flo"
Veep Diane Appleby Episode: "New Hampshire"
2015 Gotham Lidia Bicchieri 2 episodes
Benders Helga Episode: "Secrets and Lies"
Limitless Loretta Episode: "When Pirates Pirates Pirates"
2016 The Venture Bros. Battleaxe (voice) Episode: "Tanks for Nuthin"
2017 House of Cards Louise Talbert Episode: "Chapter 57"
2018 Homeland Attorney General Hoberman 2 episodes
The Looming Tower Elaine Kaufman 2 episodes
2020 Social Distance Connie Episode: “You Gotta Ding-Dong Fling-Flong the Whole Narrative”
2019–2020 The Bug Diaries Spider Mom, Bumblebee, Mrs. Water Bug (voices) 7 episodes
2022 Moon Knight Lagaro Episode: "The Friendly Type"
2022 Better Call Saul Judge Samantha Small Episode: "Saul Gone"
2024 Lego Monkie Kid Tortoise Guardian (voice) Episode: “The Storm Within”

Video games

Year Title Role
2005 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories DJ Reni Wassulmaier
2006 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Reni Wassulmaier
2015 Just Cause 3 Rosa Manuela
2018 Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Hazanui Karu

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "AudioFile Magazine Spotlight on Narrator Barbara Rosenblat". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Osterheldt, Jenee (14 June 2014). "Actress brings her dulcet voice to 'Orange Is the New Black,' to audiobooks and now to KC". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Porter, Mary Jean (19 April 1998). "She has quite a story to tell, hundreds in fact". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. ^ Furman, Phyllis (24 November 2008). "ADVICE THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU". New York Daily News. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  5. ^ "1996 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  6. ^ "2000 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  7. ^ Rosenblum, Trudi M. (19 June 2000). "PW: Independents Rule at Audie Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  8. ^ "2001 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b "2002 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b "THE BONE VAULT by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b "2003 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b Yamashita, Brianna; Maughan, Shannon (5 January 2004). "Listen Up Awards 2003". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  13. ^ a b "GUARDIAN OF THE HORIZON by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  14. ^ a b c "2004 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  15. ^ a b c "2005 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  16. ^ a b "THE SERPENT ON THE CROWN by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "2006 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  18. ^ a b Howell, Kevin; Maughan, Shannon (1 January 2007). "The 2006 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b Howell, Kevin; Maughan, Shannon (7 January 2008). "The Listen Up Awards The Best Audios of 2007". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "2007 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  21. ^ "2008 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  22. ^ a b "LADY KILLER by Lisa Scottoline Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  23. ^ a b "THE LAUGHTER OF DEAD KINGS by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  24. ^ Sehgal, Parul (4 January 2010). "The 2009 ListenUp Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  25. ^ "2009 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  26. ^ a b "LETHAL LEGACY by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  27. ^ a b c d e "2010 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  28. ^ a b "THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery Alison Anderson Trans Read by Barbara Rosenblat Cassandra Morris | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Rebecca Stead Wins Newbery; Jerry Pinkney Wins Caldecott". Shelf Awareness. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  30. ^ Odyssey Award: 2010. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2022 – via Booklist.
  31. ^ a b "A RIVER IN THE SKY by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  32. ^ "2011 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  33. ^ a b "THE CHALK GIRL by Carol OConnell Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  34. ^ a b c d "2012 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  35. ^ "2013 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  36. ^ "DEATH ANGEL by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  37. ^ a b c "2014 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  38. ^ a b "2014 Audie Finalists Announced". Publishers Weekly. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  39. ^ "ACT OF GOD by Jill Ciment Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  40. ^ "2015 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  41. ^ "2016 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  42. ^ "2022 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  43. ^ Booklist Editors' Choice: Media, 2004. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2022 – via Booklist.
  44. ^ "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  45. ^ "2004 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 15 March 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  46. ^ "2005 booklist editors choice media | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  47. ^ "2006 booklist editors choice media | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  48. ^ "2008 booklist editors choice media | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  49. ^ "WINTER STUDY by Nevada Barr Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  50. ^ Booklist Editors' Choice: Media, 2009. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2022 – via Booklist.
  51. ^ "DEAR AMERICA MY SECRET WAR by Mary Pope Osborne Read by Barbara Rosenblat Claire Slemmer | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  52. ^ "206 BONES by Kathy Reichs Read by Linda Emond | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  53. ^ Notable Children's Recordings: 2010. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2022 – via Booklist.
  54. ^ "2010 Notable Children's Recordings". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). 30 November 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  55. ^ "SILENT MERCY by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  56. ^ "The Chalk Girl | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  57. ^ Notable Children's Recordings: 2014. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2022 – via Booklist.