Ever had that weird feeling while watching a show where you see two people and think, "Wait, are they related?" If you were watching A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix, the answer wasn't just "yes"—it was "obviously." Jacqueline and Joyce Robbins are the identical twin powerhouses who have spent decades carving out one of the most unique niches in Hollywood and the Canadian film scene.
Honestly, they’re everywhere.
You might know them as the White-Faced Women from Lemony Snicket's world, or maybe you recognize them from that bizarrely unsettling 2006 remake of The Wicker Man. They’ve built a career on being "the twins," but their story is way more interesting than just looking alike.
The Teachers Who Chose the Spotlight
Most people don't realize these two didn't start in a Hollywood trailer. They actually spent about 15 years as schoolteachers in Calgary.
Think about that.
Imagine having a teacher, and then seeing her identical double walk down the hallway. It must have been a trip for those kids. They both graduated from the University of Calgary in the early 70s with education degrees and BAs. But the acting bug was always there, biting hard.
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They weren't just "dabbling." They were helping found things like the Storybook Theatre and working with the Calgary Faculty of Medicine to teach communication skills to med students. It’s that classic "stable job with a pension" life that they eventually traded for the chaotic uncertainty of professional acting.
They moved to Vancouver in 2006. Why? Because that’s where the work was. Since then, they’ve become staples of "Hollywood North."
Breaking the "One Character" Rule
Here’s a cool bit of trivia: their most famous role in A Series of Unfortunate Events wasn't even written for twins.
Originally, the script called for one White-Faced Woman.
But when Jacqueline and Joyce showed up to the audition together and asked to read the part as a pair, the director, Barry Sonnenfeld, basically threw the original plan out the window. They were so naturally synchronized and eerie that he rewrote the role to accommodate both of them.
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That’s how you get a job. You don't just show up; you change the vision of the project.
They beat out a staggering amount of competition—reportedly 14,000 people auditioned for various roles in that series—to secure their spots. Their chemistry isn't just "twin magic"; it's years of refined craft.
A Filmography That Goes Everywhere
If you look at their IMDb pages, it’s like a scavenger hunt of cult classics and mainstream hits.
- The Wicker Man (2006): They played the Blind Twins. Creepy? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
- Psych: Fans of the show remember them as Birdie and Beatrice Turkle in the "Heeeeere’s Lassie" episode.
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Most recently, Joyce appeared as Atropos, one of the Fates, in the 2024 series.
- Joe Pickett: They had a recurring stint as the Bouvier sisters.
They’ve also done the "Hallmark circuit," appearing in movies like Christmas in Evergreen. It’s a wide range. One day they’re playing mystical weavers of fate in a Disney+ blockbuster, and the next they're the quirky neighbors in a cozy holiday flick.
Why Their Persistence Matters
The industry is notoriously tough on older actors, and even tougher on women.
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Jacqueline and Joyce have been very vocal about the need for better female roles and equal pay. They aren't just there to be background dressing or "creepy twins" tropes. They bring a level of professionalism that only comes from decades of being "prepared, courteous, and respectful"—their own words of advice for anyone starting out.
They once joked in an interview that they started as "womb mates," became "roommates," and will likely end up as "tomb mates." It’s that kind of humor and grounded perspective that keeps them working.
They’ve even popped up in music videos, like Tom Cochrane’s "Life Is a Highway." Seriously, go back and watch it. You’ll see them.
What's Next for the Robbins Sisters?
As of 2026, they aren't slowing down. They recently had a world premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival for a project called Wishful Thinking, starring alongside big names like Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman.
It's a reminder that talent doesn't have an expiration date.
If you're a fan of their work or just curious about their journey, the best way to support veteran actors like Jacqueline and Joyce Robbins is to actually seek out the independent projects they champion.
How to Follow Their Work:
- Check the Credits: Next time you see a pair of twins in a Netflix show or a Canadian-filmed drama, stick around for the credits. It’s almost certainly them.
- Watch the Shorts: They’ve starred in several award-winning short films like Mina.Minerva, which explores senior twins facing a health crisis. These smaller projects often show off their acting chops way more than a big-budget cameo.
- Support Local Theatre: Both sisters remain deeply connected to the Vancouver and Calgary theatre scenes. If you’re in the PNW, keep an eye on local playbills.
There is a genuine craft to what they do. It’s easy to dismiss "twin acting" as a gimmick, but staying relevant in this business for fifty years—starting in 1976 with Robert Altman’s Buffalo Bill and the Indians—requires more than just a matching face. It requires a lot of heart.