# Amber Chardae Robinson
**Amber Chardae Robinson** (born 1989) is an American actress best known for playing Virginia, a feminist bookstore owner revealed to be an FBI agent, in the Apple TV+ period comedy *Palm Royale*. Her screen credits also include *Judas and the Black Messiah*, *Stuber*, *Moving On*, *Loot*, and *80 for Brady*, and she has worked off-Broadway and in regional theater.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amber_chardae_robinson) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amber-chardae-robinson/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1989, Jefferson, Texas[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amber_chardae_robinson) |
| Training | B.A. Theatre, Prairie View A&M University, 2012; M.F.A. Acting, Columbia University, 2015[3](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/amber-chardae-robinson/) |
| Signature role | Virginia in Apple TV+'s *Palm Royale*, seasons 1 (2024) and 2 (2025)[4](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-768816/filmografia/) |
| First screen role | Mary Fields (Stagecoach Mary) in AMC's *Hell on Wheels*, 2015[5](https://lrmonline.com/news/amber-chardae-robinson/) |
| Film credits | *Stuber* (2019), *Always a Bridesmaid* (2019), *Judas and the Black Messiah* (2021), *Moving On* (2022), *Loot* (2022), *80 for Brady* (2023)[6](https://watch.plex.tv/de/person/amber-chardae-robinson) |
| Stage | Taysha Hunter in *Black Cypress Bayou* at the Geffen Playhouse, February 10 to March 17, 2024[3](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/amber-chardae-robinson/) |
## Early life and training
Robinson was born in [Jefferson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jefferson), Texas, according to Rotten Tomatoes and TV Insider[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amber_chardae_robinson) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amber-chardae-robinson/), while her Geffen Playhouse biography states she was born and raised in [Port Arthur, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/port-arthur-texas)[3](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/amber-chardae-robinson/). She earned a B.A. in Theatre from [Prairie View A&M University](https://www.edgepedia.org/prairie-view-a-and-m-university) in 2012 and an M.F.A. in Acting from Columbia University in 2015[3](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/amber-chardae-robinson/).
Her stage work includes off-Broadway productions of *The Comedy of Errors*, *Light*, *Fen*, and *A Midsummer Night's Dream* with Classic Stage Company, and a regional *A Midsummer Night's Dream* with the California Shakespeare Company[3](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/amber-chardae-robinson/).
## Screen career
Robinson's first screen role came in 2015 on AMC's western series *Hell on Wheels*, where she played [Mary Fields](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-fields), the historical figure known as Stagecoach Mary, in the show's fifth season[5](https://lrmonline.com/news/amber-chardae-robinson/) • [4](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-768816/filmografia/). Through the late 2010s she accumulated guest and supporting parts: Whitney in a 2018 episode of *The Neighborhood*, the title role of Amber in the 2019 comedy *Stuber*, and Janelle Devereaux in *Always a Bridesmaid* (2019)[6](https://watch.plex.tv/de/person/amber-chardae-robinson). In 2020 she played Jordan in an episode of *[Brews Brothers](https://www.edgepedia.org/brews-brothers)*, and in 2021 she appeared as Betty Coachman in *Judas and the Black Messiah*, the Shaka King film about [Fred Hampton](https://www.edgepedia.org/fred-hampton)[4](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-768816/filmografia/) • [6](https://watch.plex.tv/de/person/amber-chardae-robinson).
**2022 and 2023.** Robinson played Joie in the comedy film *Moving On*, which carries a 73 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest-rated title listed on her profile there[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amber_chardae_robinson). The same year she appeared as Tanya in four episodes of the Hulu comedy *Loot* and as Theresa Wallace in an episode of *So Help Me Todd*[4](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-768816/filmografia/). In 2023 she played Hot Wings Woman in *80 for Brady*[6](https://watch.plex.tv/de/person/amber-chardae-robinson).
## Palm Royale
Robinson's most prominent role is Virginia in *Palm Royale*, Apple TV+'s comedy set in [Palm Beach, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/palm-beach-florida), in 1969, adapted from Juliet McDaniel's novel *Mr. and Mrs. American Pie* and starring [Kristen Wiig](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristen-wiig), Laura Dern, Carol Burnett, and [Allison Janney](https://www.edgepedia.org/allison-janney)[5](https://lrmonline.com/news/amber-chardae-robinson/) • [7](https://apnews.com/article/ca0f6de45fd3d2bc1c86fef22d7262b9). The first season premiered on March 20, 2024, with new episodes weekly through May 8, 2024[8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u4d8XGTZ5U).
In season one, Virginia is a Black feminist bookstore owner who struggles to fit into Palm Beach high society; Robinson described the character as "the alarm clock" of the show and its moral compass, someone who lives in reality while the other characters inhabit a fantasy[9](https://www.lpm.org/music/2024-06-09/palm-royales-amber-chardae-robinson-on-balancing-race-class-comedy-in-the-apple-tv-series). She drew on her own experience of growing up in the South to play the part[10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/royale-treatment-amber-chardae-robinson-190100290.html).
The second season, beginning November 12, 2025, revealed that Virginia is in fact FBI Agent Virginia Lyons, working undercover; Robinson said she had learned the secret midway through filming the first season, and that the reveal had been planned for the season one finale before being held back[11](https://www.tvinsider.com/1228952/palm-royale-virginia-fbi-ann-deputy-mindy-cohn-amber-chardae-robinson/) • [12](https://www.tvmaze.com/characters/1107989/palm-royale-virginia). In season two, Virginia deputizes society editor Ann Holiday ([Mindy Cohn](https://www.edgepedia.org/mindy-cohn)) to investigate the attempt on President Nixon's life, forming a detective duo of outsiders[11](https://www.tvinsider.com/1228952/palm-royale-virginia-fbi-ann-deputy-mindy-cohn-amber-chardae-robinson/) • [13](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/tvs-best-dynamic-duo-is-on-palm-royale/). Robinson has said she modeled Virginia's revolutionary spirit on figures such as [Angela Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/angela-davis), Audre Lorde, and [Billie Holiday](https://www.edgepedia.org/billie-holiday)[14](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/palm-royale-stars-mindy-cohn-amber-chardae-robinson-talk-season-2).
## Theater
In early 2024, between filming *Palm Royale* and its promotion, Robinson played Taysha Hunter in *Black Cypress Bayou* at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, running February 10 through March 17, 2024[3](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/amber-chardae-robinson/) • [9](https://www.lpm.org/music/2024-06-09/palm-royales-amber-chardae-robinson-on-balancing-race-class-comedy-in-the-apple-tv-series).
## References
1. [Amber Chardae Robinson, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amber_chardae_robinson)
2. [Amber Chardae Robinson, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amber-chardae-robinson/)
3. [Amber Chardae Robinson, Geffen Playhouse](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/amber-chardae-robinson/)
4. [Amber Chardae Robinson : Filmografía, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-768816/filmografia/)
5. [Amber Chardae Robinson Talks About Playing A Voice For Women In Palm Royale, LRM Online](https://lrmonline.com/news/amber-chardae-robinson/)
6. [Amber Chardae Robinson, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/de/person/amber-chardae-robinson)
7. ['Palm Royale' features Carol Burnett, Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney and new-to-comedy Ricky Martin, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/ca0f6de45fd3d2bc1c86fef22d7262b9)
8. [Palm Royale Interview, MovieZine on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u4d8XGTZ5U)
9. [Palm Royale's Amber Chardae Robinson: "Black women in the 60s didn't get to choose the fantasy life", Louisville Public Media](https://www.lpm.org/music/2024-06-09/palm-royales-amber-chardae-robinson-on-balancing-race-class-comedy-in-the-apple-tv-series)
10. ['Royale' treatment: Amber Chardae Robinson excited to get 'real' in Apple TV+ series, Albuquerque Journal via Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/royale-treatment-amber-chardae-robinson-190100290.html)
11. ['Palm Royale': Amber Chardae Robinson and Mindy Cohn Talk Virginia FBI Twist, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1228952/palm-royale-virginia-fbi-ann-deputy-mindy-cohn-amber-chardae-robinson/)
12. [Virginia, Palm Royale, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/characters/1107989/palm-royale-virginia)
13. [TV's Best Dynamic Duo Is on 'Palm Royale', The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/tvs-best-dynamic-duo-is-on-palm-royale/)
14. ['Palm Royale' stars Mindy Cohn, Amber Chardae Robinson talk Season 2, FOX 5 Atlanta](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/palm-royale-stars-mindy-cohn-amber-chardae-robinson-talk-season-2)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Ro to R*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license