Kristin Samuelson

Kristin's roles are often difficult women: strong, aloof, obnoxious, quirky, but unforgettable characters. She admits this might stem from her childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when she was notorious for beating up boys on the playground using a patent leather purse filled with rocks. Prim and ladylike on the outside, powerful and rugged on the inside describes her style.

She attended Boston's New England Conservatory and received a Master's degree in voice. After singing as soprano soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Seiji Ozawa and in Italy with conductor/ composer Hans Werner Henze, she decided to move to New York. She toured with the National Opera Company, playing Susanna and Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, and performed with various other opera companies. Also friendly with many composers, she collaborated frequently with them on their creations. She formed the acclaimed chamber group, American Voices, which premiered new works, as well as highlighted chamber pieces by Americans.

When her daughter graduated from high school, Kristin decided it was time to parlay her performing talents into an acting career. She started out in Orlando, FL, and her leap of faith was rewarded almost immediately. Encouraged, she relocated to New Orleans, where the booming Louisiana film industry rewarded her with roles on "Scream Queens" with Jamie Lee Curtis, on "Memphis Beat" with Alfrie Woodard, in "Jake's Road" with Eric Roberts, and in "Don't Kill It" with Dolph Lundgren.

She recently appeared in The Switch on the FashionOne TV channel in the recurring role, Vera Cohn, the leader of NYC's fashion scene. Has who seven Best Actress Awards for her role as the cunning Senator Stromberg in the pilot, Extradition.