Clare Arnold

Background:

Canadian television and movie actress Kathleen Robertson was a kid star in her native country before making a name for herself in Hollywood. She is probably best-known for her role as the mocking Clare Arnold in the Fox worldwide hit “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1994-1997). The actress nabbed a Young Artist nod for portraying the genius daughter in “Maniac Mansion” (1990-93). On the silver screen, Robertson gained fame after playing roles in the Gregg Araki-helmed films, Nowhere (1997) and Splendor (1999). Additionally, she received further recognition with her Canadian Comedy-nominated performance, as Theo, in the anticipated sequel Scary Movie 2 (2001). Her more recent and forthcoming credits include the independent movie XX/XY (2002), the comedy Mall Cop (2004), the drama Until the Night (2004) and the thriller Hollywoodland (2006).

In addition to acting, the 5’ 4” actress is well-known for her romantic relationship with filmmaker Gregg Araki in late 1990s. Despite their 14 years age gap, the couple once became engaged (no longer together). The native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Robertson is now the resident of Los Angeles.


Kath

Childhood and Family:

Kathleen Robertson was born on July 8, 1973. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, she told her parents about her desire for acting at age the of 10 and began to take acting, dance and voice lessons, that same year. Kathleen, known simply by family and close friend as Kath, soon made her first public appearance in a local production of the Anne music hall. In addition to studying at Dance Centre as well as Bach Academy in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, she was also educated at a private school in Hamilton named Hilfield Strathallan College. On more personal note, Kath enjoys photography and oil painting. When not working, she likes visiting art galleries throughout the state.


Splendor

Career:

The nominee of Pretty Funny Female Performance at the Canadian Comedy Awards, Kathleen Robertson started her acting career as a youth in her native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with a role in a play of the Annie music hall (1983). The young Robertson followed it up by appearing in such Canada productions as the film Left Out (1985) and series “My Secret Identity” (1988) and “.B.C.’s Magic Hour” (1990), before earning her first notice as the intelligence daughter Tina Edison in “Maniac Mansion,” a comedy series about a family of discoverers which aired in the USA on “The Family Channel (1990-1993).
Costarring opposite Joe Flaherty, Deborah Theaker and Avi Phillips, she took home a 1992 Young Artist nomination for Best Young Actor Co-starring in an Off-Primetime or Cable Series.

Continuing to work at her native country, Robertson had supporting roles in such films as the action Blown Away (1992) for director Brenton Spencer, the thriller Liar’s Edge (1992, TV) and the romantic/thriller Lapse of Memory (1992), opposite John Hurt, Marthe Keller and Mathew Mackay. When she was invited to Los Angeles to attend the premiere of her latter film, 19-year-old Robertson decided to stay and try her chance in Hollywood.

The talented performer soon landed a role as a girl in jeopardy in the thriller Quiet Killer (1992), an excellent made-for-TV movie helmed by Sheldon Larry. A string of TV assignments followed, but it was her fine performance, as the fairly bitchy Clare Arnold in the syndicated series “Beverly Hills, 90210” that put the relatively Los Angeles newcomer Robertson on mainstream audiences. A recurring performer for 1993-94 seasons, she progressed to the regular cast in fall 1994 and remained with the Fox’s hit show until 1997, when she left for movie projects.

It was immediately paid off as director Gregg Araki had her costar as the arrogant, purple-haired lesbian Lucifer in his visually striking drama Nowhere (1997), opposite James Duval and Rachel True. The role made her famous, and she boosted up her profile with the reports of her romancing the director who had previously self-categorized as a gay man. After a feature role as a ticket girl in the comedy Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998, opposite Billy Zane, Christina Ricci and Andrew McCarthy) and a costarring role along side Natasha Henstridge and Luke Wilson in writer-director Bruce McCuloch’s Dog Park (1998), Robertson rejoined Araki for the comedy film Splendor (1999), where she memorably starred as Veronica, a young woman caught in the middle of a love triangle with the likes of Matt Keeslar and Johnathon Schaech.

2000-2001 saw roles in the Sundance favorite Psycho Beach Party (2000, opposite Lauren Ambrose and Thomas Gibson), the Sally Field-directed Beautiful (2000, starred Joey Lauren Adams and Minnie Driver), the comedy/romance Speaking of Sex (2001) starring James Spader for director John McNaughton, and the Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer starring vehicle I Am Sam (2001). Also in 2001, Robertson had a small role opposite Anna Faris, Marlon and Shawn Wayans, as well as James DeBello in the much anticipated installment to the Dimension Films’ highly successful Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001). Portraying Theo, Robertson received nominations at Young Artist Awards, and at Canadian Comedy Awards for Pretty Funny Female Performance in 2002.

Next up, Robertson starred with Mark Ruffalo in the Sundance-screened XX/XY (2002), was additionally featured in Adam Goldberg’s drama I Love Your Work (2003), teamed up with Derek Cecil in the comedy Mall Cop (2004), joined writer/director Gregory Hatanaka in the drama Until the Night (2004) and supported Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez in the sci-fi/ thriller Control (2004). Aside from the busy film schedule, the actress also took on TV roles, including as the infamous Canadian assassin Evelyn Dick in Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story (2002) and played Jeannie Falls in the Fox short-lived ensemble drama “Girl’s Club” (2002, starred with Gretchen Mol and Chyler Leigh).

After making a guest appearance as Darla Pearson in an episode of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” Robertson recently had a lead opposite Andrea Roth and Linden Ashby in the television action film Last Exit (2006), directed by John Fawcett. She is scheduled to appear as Carol Van Ronkel in the Paul Bernbaum-scripted thriller Hollywoodland (2006), along with Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane and Robin Tunney.


Awards:
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