Smulders was born inVancouver, British Columbia, to aDutch father and a British mother. She was raised inWhite Rock, British Columbia, and later moved to the affluentWest Point Grey neighbourhood to attend high school atLord Byng Secondary School. She was named after her great-aunt, from whom she gained the nickname "Cobie".[3] Smulders describes herself as "a fluent listener" of French.[4] She has four sisters.[5] Smulders was also a member of theGirl Guides of Canada as a child, participating as a Brownie (Girl Guide program for 7- to 10-year-olds).[6] In her youth, Smulders aspired to be a marine biologist.[4] She took an interest in theatre throughout high school and briefly studied at theUniversity of Victoria before returning to acting.[4]
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.'"[7]
Smulders made her professional acting debut in 2002, with guest appearances in theUPN science fiction comedy seriesSpecial Unit 2 and theShowtime science fiction drama seriesJeremiah. She subsequently made multiple appearances on television, including in theFox supernatural drama seriesTru Calling (2003), theWB superhero seriesSmallville (2003), and theGlobal space opera seriesAndromeda (2005). Smulders' first role as a series regular was in the short-lived 2003ABC adventure drama seriesVeritas: The Quest, which ran for one season. She made her film debut in 2004 with a supporting role in the action filmWalking Tall. She then had a supporting role in the 2005 comedy filmThe Long Weekend. That same year, she had a recurring role as Leigh Ostin in the Showtime drama seriesThe L Word.
In 2017 she made herBroadway debut portraying Joanna Lyppiatt in the revival ofNoël Coward's comedyPresent Laughter oppositeKevin Kline. Marilyn Stasio ofVariety praised Smulders in the role writing, "Smulders has a graceful, Cowardian air in the role, and makes Susan Hilferty’s costumes look even more fabulous."[18] David Rooney ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Smulders looks sensational; she’s the epitome of late-’30s elegance...she carries herself with poise and assurance".[19] For her performance she was honored with aTheatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway debut. Her performance was filmed withGreat Performances and shown onPBS.[20]
Also in 2017, she portrayed the recurring character of "Mother", also known as Mrs. Quagmire, in theNetflix black comedy drama seriesA Series of Unfortunate Events, based on the book seriesof the same name.[21] That same year, she appeared in the comedy filmsLiterally, Right Before Aaron andKilling Gunther. From 2017 to 2019, she starred in the Netflix comedy seriesFriends from College, in the main role of Lisa Turner.[22] In 2018, she starred in the lead role of Joanne Skye in the comedy-drama filmSongbird, also alternatively titledAlright Now. The film was improvised, and shot in the course of five days.[23] She then reprised her role as Wonder Woman in the 2019 animated sequel filmThe Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.
In 2019, she guest starred as Young Lucille Bluth in three episodes of the Netflix sitcomArrested Development and appeared in an episode of the HBO anthology seriesRoom 104. She also starred as Dexedrine "Dex" Parios, aPTSD-stricken military veteran turned private detective, in theABC crime drama seriesStumptown, which premiered on September 25, 2019 to positive reviews.[24] She received aCritics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Superhero Series nomination for her performance. The series was cancelled after one season due to production delays caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic (It had originally been renewed for a second season).[25] In 2020, Smulders starred in the romantic drama filmCicada and voiced a guest appearance in the Fox animated sitcomThe Simpsons.
In 2015, Smulders revealed she had been diagnosed withovarian cancer at age 25, while shooting season three ofHow I Met Your Mother in 2007. She had surgery to remove two tumors from her ovaries, but the cancer had spread to herlymph nodes, resulting in the need for multiple operations over the course of two years.[36][37] In August 2019, Smulders revealed she is inremission.[38]
In 2020, Smulders announced that she had become an American citizen, while still retaining her Canadian citizenship. She stated that part of her motivation to become an American citizen was due to the2020 presidential election.[39]
^León, Anya (July 3, 2009)."It's a Girl for Cobie Smulders".People.Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. RetrievedOctober 27, 2020.TheHow I Met Your Mother actress welcomed Shaelyn Cado in May.
.jpg)
.jpg)
