Cobie Smulders
Who was Cobie Smulders?
Canadian actress best known for playing Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother and Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Cobie Smulders (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Cobie Smulders, born Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders on April 3, 1982, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, went to Lord Byng Secondary School before enrolling at the University of Victoria. She initially studied marine biology but switched to acting after being discovered as a model.
Smulders became well-known for playing Robin Scherbatsky, a Canadian news anchor and former teen pop star, in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother from 2005 to 2014. Her character became a key part of the show's ensemble cast, and the series was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 2000s and 2010s. This role helped establish her TV career and led to many opportunities in both TV and film.
In 2012, Smulders joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Maria Hill, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. She first appeared in The Avengers and has continued this role in several Marvel films and TV shows, including the Disney+ miniseries Secret Invasion in 2023. This role in one of the biggest film franchises in history boosted her profile in Hollywood.
Beyond her well-known roles, Smulders has shown versatility in different genres and mediums. Her film credits include the romantic drama Safe Haven (2013), the action thriller Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016), and voice work in The Lego Movie franchise. She’s also been active in television with roles in Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017), Friends from College (2017-2019), ABC's crime drama Stumptown (2019-2020), and FX's Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021). She also made her Broadway debut in the 2017 revival of Present Laughter, earning a Theater World Award.
Before Fame
Growing up in Vancouver, Smulders originally aimed to study marine biology and enrolled at the University of Victoria. Her journey into entertainment started unexpectedly when she was discovered as a model, which opened doors to acting. This shift from a science student to a performer shows how unpredictable entertainment careers can be.
In the early 2000s, television was full of ensemble comedies, and Smulders entered the industry when networks were looking for fresh talent for character-driven sitcoms. Her role in How I Met Your Mother came at a time when TV was beginning to explore more complex, ongoing stories within comedies, paving the way for her breakout role.
Key Achievements
- Starred as Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother for nine seasons (2005-2014)
- Joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Maria Hill, appearing in multiple films and Disney+ series
- Earned a Theater World Award for her Broadway debut in Present Laughter (2017)
- Successfully transitioned from television comedy to action films and dramatic roles
- Maintained concurrent starring roles across multiple major television series and film franchises
Did You Know?
- 01.She was originally cast as a last-minute replacement for another actress in How I Met Your Mother after the original pilot was filmed
- 02.Smulders is fluent in French and has Dutch ancestry, reflected in her given name Jacoba Francisca Maria
- 03.She overcame ovarian cancer in her twenties, undergoing multiple surgeries while filming How I Met Your Mother
- 04.Her character Robin Scherbatsky was specifically written to be Canadian after the producers learned of Smulders' nationality
- 05.She performed her own stunts in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films due to her athletic background