Barbara Rosenblat Explained

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.

Awards

Year	Title	Award	Result	Ref.
1996	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]
	by Lisa Scottoline	Audie Award for Mystery, Fiction	Finalist
2003	(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
	(1999) by Edith Hahn Beer	Listen Up Award for Narration (Female)	Finalist	^[12]
	by Michael Dorris	Listen Up Award for Fiction	Finalist
2004	Guardian of the Horizon (2004) by Elizabeth Peters	Earphones Award	Winner	^[13]
	(1999) by Edith Hahn Beer	Audie Award for Biography or Memoir	Winner	^[14]
		Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female	Winner
	Stuffed by Patricia Volk	Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female	Finalist
2005	by Hal Glazer	Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female	Finalist	^[15]
	(2005) by Elizabeth Peters	Earphones Award	Winner	^[16]
	by Neta Jackson	Audie Award for Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction	Finalist
		Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female	Finalist
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
	Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline	Listen Up Award for Mystery	Finalist	^[18]
	(2005) by Elizabeth Peters	Audie Award for Mystery (Fiction)	Winner
	Suite Francaise by Irène Némirovsky	Listen Up Award for Fiction	Finalist
2007	Away by Amy Bloom	Listen Up Award for Fiction	Finalist	^[19]
	Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline	Listen Up Award for Mystery	Finalist
	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
		Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance	Finalist
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]
	(2008) by Elizabeth Peters	Earphones Award	Winner	^[23]
2009	(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
	(2006) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.)	Audie Award for Literary Fiction	Finalist	^[28]
	Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson	Audie Award for Solo Narration - Female	Finalist
	Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss	Audie Award for Children's Titles Up To Age 8	Winner
		Odyssey Award	Winner	^[29] ^[30]
	(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	(2012) by Carol O'Connell	Earphones Award	Winner	^[33]
	(1980) by Eudora Welty	Audie Award for Short Stories or Collections	Finalist	^[34]
	by Ellen Kushner, Elizabeth Schwartz, and Yale Strom	Audie Award for Distinguished Achievement in Production	Finalist
		Audie Award for Original Work	Finalist
		Audie Award for Package Design	Finalist
2013	(2012) by Carol O'Connell	Audie Award for Thriller or Suspense	Finalist	^[35]
	Death Angel (2013) by Linda Fairstein	Earphones Award	Winner	^[36]
2014	(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	^[38]
	Unveiled by Francine Rivers	Audie Award for Faith-Based Fiction and Nonfiction	Finalist
2015	Act of God (2015) by Jill Ciment	Earphones Award	Winner	^[39]
	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	(2003) by Linda Fairstein	AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense
2004	Guardian of the Horizon (2004) by Elizabeth Peters	AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense
		Booklist Editors' Choice Media	^[43]
	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
		Booklist Editors' Choice Media	^[48]
	(2008) by Elizabeth Peters	AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense
	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]
	(2008) by Muriel Barbery with Alison Anderson (Trans.)	AudioFile Best of Fiction
	Lethal Legacy (2009) by Linda Fairstein	AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense
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]
	(2010) by Elizabeth Peters	AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense
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
2012	(2012) by Carol O'Connell	AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense
2013	(2012) by Carol O'Connell	RUSA Listen List	^[56]
	Death Angel (2013) by Linda Fairstein	AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense
2014	(2013) by Marilyn Singer	Notable Children's Recordings	^[57]
2015	Act of God (2015) by Jill Ciment	AudioFile 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)
	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		Nurse	Episode: "Rage"
2008	Click and Clack's As the Wrench Turns	Sal (voice)	Episode: "Campaign"
2009		Selma Peters	Episode: "Transitions"
2013–2015	Orange Is the New Black		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		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		DJ Reni Wassulmaier
2006		Reni Wassulmaier
2015	Just Cause 3	Rosa Manuela
2018		Azanui Karu

References

• Barbara's Recent News - Audiofilemagazine.com
• Web site: Actors You've Never Heard of Are Becoming the Ones Heard Most. 15 January 2005. The New York Times.

Notes and References

1. Web site: AudioFile Magazine Spotlight on Narrator Barbara Rosenblat . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
2. News: Osterheldt . Jenee . Actress brings her dulcet voice to 'Orange Is the New Black,' to audiobooks and now to KC . 13 May 2019 . Kansas City Star . 14 June 2014.
3. News: Porter . Mary Jean . She has quite a story to tell, hundreds in fact . 13 May 2019 . The Pueblo Chieftain . 19 April 1998.
4. News: Furman . Phyllis . ADVICE THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU. . 13 May 2019 . New York Daily News . 24 November 2008.
5. Web site: 1996 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 5 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170505081511/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/1996-audies . dead .
6. Web site: 2000 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 2 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221002152856/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2000-audies . dead .
7. Web site: Rosenblum . Trudi M. . June 19, 2000 . PW: Independents Rule at Audie Awards . 2022-10-02 . Publishers Weekly. en.
8. Web site: 2001 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 1 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220901162318/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2001-audies . dead .
9. Web site: 2002 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 2 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221002152853/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2002 . dead .
10. Web site: THE BONE VAULT by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
11. Web site: 2003 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 1 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220901162320/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2003-audies . dead .
12. Web site: Yamashita . Brianna . Maughan . Shannon . January 5, 2004 . Listen Up Awards 2003 . 2022-10-02 . Publishers Weekly. en.
13. Web site: GUARDIAN OF THE HORIZON by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
14. Web site: 2004 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 21 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220821025106/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2004-audies . dead .
15. Web site: 2005 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 21 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210621030115/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2005-audies . dead .
16. News: THE SERPENT ON THE CROWN by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
17. Web site: 2006 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 31 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831175007/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2006-audies . dead .
18. Web site: Howell . Kevin . Maughan . Shannon . January 1, 2007 . The 2006 Listen-Up Awards . 2022-10-02 . Publishers Weekly. en.
19. Web site: Howell . Kevin . Maughan . Shannon . January 7, 2008 . The Listen Up Awards The Best Audios of 2007 . 2022-10-02 . Publishers Weekly. en.
20. Web site: 2007 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 31 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831175008/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2007-audies . dead .
21. Web site: 2008 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 26 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826031715/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2008-audies . dead .
22. Web site: LADY KILLER by Lisa Scottoline Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
23. Web site: THE LAUGHTER OF DEAD KINGS by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
24. Web site: Sehgal . Parul . January 4, 2010 . The 2009 ListenUp Awards . 2022-10-02 . Publishers Weekly. en.
25. Web site: 2009 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 30 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030154954/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2009-audies . dead .
26. Web site: LETHAL LEGACY by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
27. Web site: 2010 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 26 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826031716/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2010-audies . dead .
28. Web site: THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery Alison Anderson Trans Read by Barbara Rosenblat Cassandra Morris Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
29. Web site: 2010-01-19 . Rebecca Stead Wins Newbery; Jerry Pinkney Wins Caldecott . 2022-10-02 . Shelf Awareness.
30. Book: 2010-01-18 . Odyssey Award: 2010 . 2022-10-01 . Booklist.
31. News: A RIVER IN THE SKY by Elizabeth Peters Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
32. Web site: 2011 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 22 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922015807/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2011-audies . dead .
33. Web site: THE CHALK GIRL by Carol OConnell Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
34. Web site: 2012 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 15 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180615214540/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2012 . dead .
35. Web site: 2013 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 20 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173322/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2013-audies . dead .
36. Web site: DEATH ANGEL by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
37. Web site: 2014 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 10 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210310041733/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2014-winners-circle . dead .
38. Web site: February 18, 2014 . 2014 Audie Finalists Announced . 2022-10-02 . Publishers Weekly. en.
39. Web site: ACT OF GOD by Jill Ciment Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
40. Web site: 2015 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 29 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220829201037/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2015-winners-circle . dead .
41. Web site: 2016 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 23 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160623223709/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2016-winners-circle . dead .
42. Web site: 2022 Audie Awards® . 2022-10-02 . . 29 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221029230311/https://www.audiopub.org/winners/2022-audies . dead .
43. Book: 2005-01-01 . Booklist Editors' Choice: Media, 2004 . 2022-10-02 . Booklist.
44. Web site: February 18, 2010 . A Yellow Raft in Blue Water Awards & Grants . 2022-10-02 . American Library Association.
45. Web site: 2007-03-15 . 2004 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults . 2022-10-02 . Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) . en.
46. Web site: October 4, 2009 . 2005 booklist editors choice media Awards & Grants . 2022-10-02 . American Library Association.
47. Web site: October 4, 2009 . 2006 booklist editors choice media Awards & Grants . 2022-10-02 . American Library Association.
48. Web site: October 4, 2009 . 2008 booklist editors choice media Awards & Grants . 2022-10-02 . American Library Association.
49. Web site: WINTER STUDY by Nevada Barr Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
50. Book: 2010-01-01 . Booklist Editors' Choice: Media, 2009 . 2022-10-02 . Booklist.
51. Web site: DEAR AMERICA MY SECRET WAR by Mary Pope Osborne Read by Barbara Rosenblat Claire Slemmer Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
52. Web site: 206 BONES by Kathy Reichs Read by Linda Emond Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
53. Book: 2010-03-01 . Notable Children's Recordings: 2010 . 2022-10-02 . Booklist.
54. Web site: 1999-11-30 . 2010 Notable Children's Recordings . 2022-10-02 . Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) . en.
55. Web site: SILENT MERCY by Linda Fairstein Read by Barbara Rosenblat Audiobook Review . 2022-10-02 . AudioFile Magazine . en.
56. Web site: January 29, 2013 . The Chalk Girl Awards & Grants . 2022-10-02 . American Library Association.
57. Book: 2014-03-15 . Notable Children's Recordings: 2014 . 2022-10-02 . Booklist.