Jacoba Francisca Maria "Cobie" Smulders (born April 3, 1982) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her starring role as Robin Scherbatsky in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014) and as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero franchise, from the film The Avengers (2012) until the Disney+ limited series Secret Invasion (2023).
Smulders' other films include Safe Haven (2013), The Lego Movie (2014), Results (2015), The Intervention (2016), Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016), and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). She also starred in the Netflix comedy drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017), the Netflix comedy series Friends from College (2017–2019), the ABC crime drama series Stumptown (2019–2020), and the FX true crime series Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021).
Smulders made her theater debut in the off-Broadway production of the Nora Ephron play Love, Loss, and What I Wore in 2010. She then made her Broadway debut in the revival of the Noël Coward comedy Present Laughter (2017) earning a Theater World Award.
Early life and education
Smulders was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to a Dutch father and a British mother. She was raised in White Rock, British Columbia, and later moved to the affluent West Point Grey neighbourhood to attend high school at Lord Byng Secondary School. She was named after her great-aunt, from whom she gained the nickname "Cobie". Smulders describes herself as "a fluent listener" of French. She has four sisters. Smulders was also a member of the Girl Guides of Canada as a child, participating as a Brownie (Girl Guide program for 7- to 10-year-olds). In her youth, Smulders aspired to be a marine biologist. She took an interest in theatre throughout high school and briefly studied at the University of Victoria before returning to acting.
Modeling
Smulders worked in modeling, which she later said she "kind of hated", adding that the experience made her hesitant about pursuing acting as a career: "You know, you go into these rooms, and I've had the experience of people judging you physically for so long and I was over that but, then it was like... 'Oh no, I have to actually perform. I have to do well, and I have to have a voice... and I have to have thoughts now.'
Career
2002–2016: Early roles and breakthrough
Smulders made her professional acting debut in 2002, with guest appearances in the UPN science fiction comedy series Special Unit 2 and the Showtime science fiction drama series Jeremiah. She subsequently made multiple appearances on television, including in the Fox supernatural drama series Tru Calling (2003), the WB superhero series Smallville (2003), and the Global space opera series Andromeda (2005). Smulders' first role as a series regular was in the short-lived 2003 ABC adventure drama series Veritas: The Quest, which ran for one season. She made her film debut in 2004 with a supporting role in the action film Walking Tall. She then had a supporting role in the 2005 comedy film The Long Weekend. That same year, she had a recurring role as Leigh Ostin in the Showtime drama series The L Word.
In 2005, Smulders was cast as television reporter and former teen pop star Robin Scherbatsky in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The series concluded in 2014 after nine seasons, winning 10 Emmy Awards throughout its run. For her performance, she garnered wide recognition and earned a People's Choice Award nomination. In 2009, she appeared in the comedy film The Slammin' Salmon. She then appeared in the 2010 pilot episode of the HBO comedy-drama series How to Make It in America. In June 2010, Smulders made her off-Broadway debut in Delia and Nora Ephron's play Love, Loss, and What I Wore at the Westside Theatre. She went on to star in the 2012 political comedy film Grassroots.