[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alex_kingston_2820.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300: ''[[Series/DoctorWho Hello, sweetie.]]'']]

->''"To be given the gift of life is extraordinary and the best thing we can do is live it as fabulously as we can."''

Alexandra Elizabeth Kingston (born 11 March 1963) is an English actress best known as Dr. Elizabeth Corday (''Series/{{ER}}'') and as Prof. River Song (''Series/DoctorWho''). Born in Surrey, England, she graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and went on to join the Creator/RoyalShakespeareCompany.

She has also been seen as Mrs. Bennett in ''Series/LostInAusten'', as awesome defense attorney Miranda [[HilariousInHindsight Pond]] in ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', and as Inspector Fiona Banks in ''Series/FlashForward2009''. She played Literature/MollFlanders in two separate adaptations, and had a minor role in ''Series/PrivatePractice'' as Marla, who romances Sheldon, where she put on a very solid [[FakeAmerican American accent]].

With River Song a major part of the sixth series of ''Series/DoctorWho'' to the point of fans finally knowing her identity, Kingston has become even more recognizable worldwide, as the show gains momentum outside the Commonwealth (at this point, she mentioned in an interview that she was surprised she's recognized more for ''Who'' than for ''ER''). 2011 also saw her star in the miniseries ''Marchlands'', which tells the story of three families in three eras that occupied one particular house and the supernatural events that result. She appeared on the CW's ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' as Dinah Lance, Laurel's mother. Since Creator/JohnBarrowman is a regular on ''Arrow,'' this has led to more than a few ''Who'' fans eager at the possibility of a [[https://twitter.com/Team_Barrowman/status/300104943287799808 Jack Harkness-River Song]] teamup that hasn't yet happened on the ''other'' show they shared.

2012 saw her in the revived ''Series/UpstairsDownstairs'', as Sir Hallam's aunt Dr Blanche Mottershead, a bisexual [[AdventurerArchaeologist archaeologist]]. In a September 2012 episode of ''Series/WhoDoYouThinkYouAre'', she found that she has English, German, and Jewish ancestors, one of whom owned a whorehouse, leading her to joke she had found her inner Jew and her inner whore on the same day.
----
!!Associated Tropes:

* EightiesHair: As she said in "Let's Kill Hitler," the hair just never stops.
* ActionGirl: She played [[UsefulNotes/{{Boudica}} Queen Boudica]] and mentioned one of her favorite parts of playing River is getting to do stunts (something that was denied to her during her time on ''ER'') and during episodes of ''Series/DoctorWhoConfidential'' always seemed very giddy and excited any time she got to do something physical.
* FanCommunityNickname: Her fans, especially her female fans, have taken to calling themselves "Kinglets".
* ShakespearianActors: She was a member of the Creator/RoyalShakespeareCompany and, in 2013, she starred as Lady Macbeth opposite Creator/KennethBranagh in the National Theatre's production of ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''.
----