Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders (born April 3, 1982) is a Canadian actress and model. She is best known for starring as Robin Scherbatsky in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014). Smulders has also portrayed S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill in six Marvel Cinematic Universe films, beginning with The Avengers (2012).