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. 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. She attended a Hebrew school as a child.
Career After returning to London for a family wedding, Rosenblat decided to stay in England. Soon afterwards, she landed a part in a production of Godspell. She continued to work in theatre, as well as various fields of entertainment in the UK such as radio, film and television.
She later returned to the US, and worked at the Library of Congress narrating books for the blind for four years.
On Broadway, she appeared in the musical The Secret Garden and the play Talk Radio.
Awards and honors AudioFile has named Rosenblat a Golden Voice narrator.
Awards YearTitleAwardResultRef.1996Myst: The Book of Atrus by Rand and Robyn Miller with David WingroveAudie Award for Multi-Voiced PerformanceWinner2000Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen FieldingAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleWinner2001Moment of Truth by Lisa ScottolineAudie Award for Mystery, FictionFinalist2002Lord of the Silent by Elizabeth PetersAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleFinalist by Lisa ScottolineAudie Award for Mystery, FictionFinalist2003 (2003) by Linda FairsteinEarphones AwardWinnerBronx Primitive: Portraits in a Childhood by Kate SimonAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleFinalistJackdaws by Ken FollettAudie Award for Fiction (Abridged)Finalist (1999) by Edith Hahn BeerListen Up Award for Narration (Female)Finalist by Michael DorrisListen Up Award for FictionFinalist2004Guardian of the Horizon (2004) by Elizabeth PetersEarphones AwardWinner (1999) by Edith Hahn BeerAudie Award for Biography or MemoirWinnerAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleWinnerStuffed by Patricia VolkAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleFinalist2005 by Hal GlazerAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleFinalist (2005) by Elizabeth PetersEarphones AwardWinner by Neta JacksonAudie Award for Inspirational/Faith-Based FictionFinalistAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleFinalist2006Just Above a Whisper by Lori WickAudie Award for Inspirational/Faith-Based FictionFinalistOne Dangerous Lady by Jane Stanton HitchcockAudie Award for Mystery (Fiction)FinalistDirty Blonde by Lisa ScottolineListen Up Award for MysteryFinalist (2005) by Elizabeth PetersAudie Award for Mystery (Fiction)WinnerSuite Francaise by Irène NémirovskyListen Up Award for FictionFinalist2007Away by Amy BloomListen Up Award for FictionFinalistDaddy's Girl by Lisa ScottolineListen Up Award for MysteryFinalistLeave a Candle Burning by Lori WickAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleFinalistSuite Francaise by Irène NémirovskyAudie Award for Literary FictionFinalistAudie Award for Multi-Voiced PerformanceFinalist2008Daddy's Girl by Lisa ScottolineAudie Award for Thriller or SuspenseFinalistLady Killer (2008) by Lisa ScottolineEarphones AwardWinner(2008) by Elizabeth PetersEarphones AwardWinner2009 (2006) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.)Listen Up Award for FictionFinalistFire Me Up by Katie MacAlisterAudie Award for RomanceFinalistLethal Legacy (2009) by Linda FairsteinEarphones AwardWinner2010Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies and Leslie GoldAudie Award for Biography or MemoirWinnerAudie Award for NonfictionFinalist (2006) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.)Audie Award for Literary FictionFinalistFatally Flaky by Diane Mott DavidsonAudie Award for Solo Narration - FemaleFinalistLouise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry BlissAudie Award for Children's Titles Up To Age 8WinnerOdyssey AwardWinner (2010) by Elizabeth PetersEarphones AwardWinner2011 Judy Moody & Stink by Megan McDonaldAudie Award for Children's Titles Up To Age 8Finalist2012 (2012) by Carol O'ConnellEarphones AwardWinner (1980) by Eudora WeltyAudie Award for Short Stories or CollectionsFinalist by Ellen Kushner, Elizabeth Schwartz, and Yale StromAudie Award for Distinguished Achievement in ProductionFinalistAudie Award for Original WorkFinalistAudie Award for Package DesignFinalist2013 (2012) by Carol O'ConnellAudie Award for Thriller or SuspenseFinalistDeath Angel (2013) by Linda FairsteinEarphones AwardWinner2014 (1951) by Carson McCullersAudie Award for Short Stories or CollectionsFinalistStink and the Freaky Frog Freakout by Megan McDonaldAudie Award for Children's Titles Up To Age 8FinalistUnveiled by Francine RiversAudie Award for Faith-Based Fiction and NonfictionFinalist2015Act of God (2015) by Jill CimentEarphones AwardWinner by Ellen Kushner and Delia ShermanAudie Award for Audio DramaFinalist2016Clockwork Lives by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil PeartAudie Award for Multi-Voiced PerformanceFinalist2022Bourdain by Laurie WooleverAudie Award for Multi-Voiced PerformanceFinalist
"Best of" lists YearTitleAwardRef.2003 (2003) by Linda FairsteinAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense2004Guardian of the Horizon (2004) by Elizabeth PetersAudioFile Best of Mystery & SuspenseBooklist Editors' Choice: Media by Michael DorrisSelected Audiobooks for Young Adults2005Let Me Go by Helga SchneiderBooklist Editors' Choice: Media2006Suite Francaise by Irène NémirovskyBooklist Editors' Choice: Media2008Lady Killer (2008) by Lisa ScottolineAudioFile Best of Mystery & SuspenseBooklist Editors' Choice: Media(2008) by Elizabeth PetersAudioFile Best of Mystery & SuspenseWinter Study (2008) by Nevada BarrAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense2009Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies and Leslie GoldBooklist Editors' Choice: MediaDear America: My Secret War (2000) by Mary Pope OsborneAudioFile Best of Children (2008) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.)AudioFile Best of FictionLethal Legacy (2009) by Linda FairsteinAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense2010206 Bones (2009) by Kathy ReichsAudioFile Best of Mystery & SuspenseLouise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry BlissNotable Children's Recordings (2010) by Elizabeth PetersAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense2011Silent Mercy (2011) by Linda FairsteinAudioFile Best of Mystery & SuspenseCrunch Time (2011) by Diane Mott DavidsonAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense2012 (2012) by Carol O'ConnellAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense2013 (2012) by Carol O'ConnellRUSA Listen ListDeath Angel (2013) by Linda FairsteinAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense2014 (2013) by Marilyn SingerNotable Children's Recordings2015Act of God (2015) by Jill CimentAudioFile Best of Fiction
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: Kathy Reich’s Temperance Brennen series Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy Schultz series Linda Fairstein’s Alexandra Cooper series Lisa Scottoline’s Rosato & Associates series Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme series Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan series Carol O’Connell’s Kathleen Mallory series Jessica Ellicott’s Beryl and Edwina Mystery series
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) 2027 Hidden Dragon Madame Golden Claw (voice)
Television Year Title Role Notes 1976–1981 The Dick Emery Show Mrs. Goldberg 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 episodesMini TV series 1997 The Cartoon Cartoon Show Mother (voice) 2 episodes 2000 Hooked: Illegal Drugs & How They Got That Way Narrator 4 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 episodesScreen 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 Forger Episode: "The Friendly Type" 2022 Better Call Saul Judge Samantha Small Episode: "Saul Gone" 2023–2024 Synduality: Noir Mam (voice) 24 episodes 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
Barbara's Recent News - Audiofilemagazine.com
External links