Judy Morris
Encyclopedia
Judy Morris is an Australian actress, film director and screenwriter, well known for the variety of roles she played in 54 different television shows and films, but most recently for co-writing a musical epic about the life of penguin
s in Antarctica which became Happy Feet
, Australia's largest animated film project to date.
production which aired about 1957 on the Mutual Broadcasting System
in the United States. She then performed in two other roles in the USA, at the age of 10 on the The Loretta Young Show
, and in 1960, at the age of 13, on The Chevy Mystery Show hosted on that occasion by Vincent Price
.
. Impressing casting agents, she was cast in numerous well known television series, including (see drop-down filmography list for further details) seven episodes in Division 4
, four episodes in Matlock Police
and three episodes in the Homicide series.
During this time she also moved to more provocative (for its time) television, especially in the sex series of Alvin Purple
, and then under the direction of Tim Burstall
as Sybil the babysitter in Libido: The Child (one of four parts of a portmanteau film that showed various aspects of human sexuality). In this part Morris awakens the sexuality of the boy that she is babysitting. For her part, Morris won the 1973 Australian Film Industry (AFI) Best Actress in a Lead Role.
Morris then played the part of "Sam" in the 1978 movie In Search of Anna, before receiving top billing as the wife "Jill Cowper" in the 1979 black comedy The Plumber
, which began its life as a small 6 week television series, directed by Peter Weir
but following its success was produced as a DVD titled "The Mad Plumber".
(1980), Strata (1983), Phar Lap
(1983) and played the part of "Catherine Faulkner", the mother of the main character, "Kat Stanton", (played by Nicole Kidman
) in Bangkok Hilton
(1989).
During and after this work she also played the role of "Liz Beare", the daughter in law of "Maggie Beare" (played by Ruth Cracknell
) in the Mother and Son
series that ran from 1984 to 1994.
Following this, amongst other work, she was cast in the role of "Mrs Muggleton" in eight episodes of the Spellbinder (1995) television series.
and Dick King-Smith
to write Babe: Pig in the City
in 1998.
An episode of Dinotopia
in 2002 and then most recently co-wrote the story to the film Happy Feet
(along with Warren Coleman, John Collee
, and once again, George Miller). Happy Feet was the first Australian animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
, and for her part in writing it Morris was nominated for an Annie Award.
She recently wrote the screenplay for Fred Schepisi's upcoming film, The Eye of the Storm
, based on the novel of the same name
.
Emperor Penguin
The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. The male and female are similar in plumage and size, reaching in height and weighing anywhere from . The dorsal side and head are black and sharply delineated from the white belly,...
s in Antarctica which became Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Happy Feet is a 2006 American-Australian computer-animated family film with music, directed and co-written by George Miller. It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released...
, Australia's largest animated film project to date.
Television roles as a child actor
Morris’s first role came at the age of 10 when she was part of the cast of the television episode "Picture of the Magi" a Family TheatreFamily Theater
Family Theater was a dramatic anthology radio show which aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System in the United States from February 13, 1947 to September 11, 1957.-Production background:...
production which aired about 1957 on the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
in the United States. She then performed in two other roles in the USA, at the age of 10 on the The Loretta Young Show
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
, and in 1960, at the age of 13, on The Chevy Mystery Show hosted on that occasion by Vincent Price
Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...
.
Late '60s to late '70s
Returning to Australia, Morris's next role was not to come until she reached the age of 20 when, in 1967, she worked in the television series, BellbirdBellbird (TV series)
Bellbird was an Australian soap opera set in a small Victorian rural township. The series was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at its Ripponlea TV studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Victoria. The series was produced between 28 August 1967 and December 1977...
. Impressing casting agents, she was cast in numerous well known television series, including (see drop-down filmography list for further details) seven episodes in Division 4
Division 4
Division 4 was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 300 episodes....
, four episodes in Matlock Police
Matlock Police
Matlock Police was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1975....
and three episodes in the Homicide series.
During this time she also moved to more provocative (for its time) television, especially in the sex series of Alvin Purple
Alvin Purple (TV series)
Alvin Purple was an Australian television situation comedy series made by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1976.The series followed continued adventures of the title character, previously featured in successful sex comedy feature films Alvin Purple and Alvin Purple Rides Again .Graeme...
, and then under the direction of Tim Burstall
Tim Burstall
Tim Burstall was an Australian film director, writer and producer, best known for the motion picture Alvin Purple....
as Sybil the babysitter in Libido: The Child (one of four parts of a portmanteau film that showed various aspects of human sexuality). In this part Morris awakens the sexuality of the boy that she is babysitting. For her part, Morris won the 1973 Australian Film Industry (AFI) Best Actress in a Lead Role.
Morris then played the part of "Sam" in the 1978 movie In Search of Anna, before receiving top billing as the wife "Jill Cowper" in the 1979 black comedy The Plumber
The Plumber
The Plumber is a 1979 Australian film. Written and directed by Peter Weir, The Plumber was originally made and broadcast as a television film in Australia in 1979 but was subsequently released to theaters in several countries beginning with the United States in 1981...
, which began its life as a small 6 week television series, directed by Peter Weir
Peter Weir
Peter Lindsay Weir, AM is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office...
but following its success was produced as a DVD titled "The Mad Plumber".
Early '80s to present
The 1980s brought further success. She starred in Maybe This TimeMaybe This Time
Maybe This Time is an American sitcom which aired on ABC from September 1995 to February 1996. Created by veteran TV creator Michael Jacobs and his longtime colleague, Bob Young....
(1980), Strata (1983), Phar Lap
Phar Lap (film)
Phar Lap is a 1983 film about the Australian racehorse Phar Lap. The film starred Tom Burlinson and was written by famous Australian playwright David Williamson.-Plot:...
(1983) and played the part of "Catherine Faulkner", the mother of the main character, "Kat Stanton", (played by Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
) in Bangkok Hilton
Bangkok Hilton
Bangkok Hilton is a three-part Australian mini-series, made in 1989 by Kennedy Miller Productions and directed by Ken Cameron. The title of the mini-series is, in the story, the nickname of a fictional Bangkok prison in which the protagonist is imprisoned.-Plot:Bangkok Hilton begins as Hal Stanton...
(1989).
During and after this work she also played the role of "Liz Beare", the daughter in law of "Maggie Beare" (played by Ruth Cracknell
Ruth Cracknell
Ruth Cracknell AM was an Australian theatre and television character actress who appeared in many comedy roles. She was known variously as "Crackers", "Dame Crackers" and "Dame Ruth" throughout a career spanning 56 years....
) in the Mother and Son
Mother and Son
Mother and Son is a Logie Award-winning Australian television sitcom produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 16 January 1984 until 21 March 1994. The show stars Ruth Cracknell, Garry McDonald, Henri Szeps and Judy Morris...
series that ran from 1984 to 1994.
Following this, amongst other work, she was cast in the role of "Mrs Muggleton" in eight episodes of the Spellbinder (1995) television series.
Writing and directing
Morris wrote and directed the comedy Luigi's Ladies in 1989. Later she teamed up with George MillerGeorge Miller (producer)
George Miller is an Australian film director, screenwriter, producer, and former medical doctor. He is most well known for his work on the Mad Max movies, but has been involved in a wide range of projects, including the Oscar-winning Happy Feet and "Babe" family films.Miller is the older brother...
and Dick King-Smith
Dick King-Smith
Ronald Gordon King-Smith OBE, Hon.M.Ed. , better known by his pen name Dick King-Smith, was a prolific English children's author, best known for writing The Sheep-Pig, retitled in the United States as Babe the Gallant Pig, on which the movie Babe was based...
to write Babe: Pig in the City
Babe: Pig in the City
Babe: Pig in the City is a 1998 sequel to the 1995 film Babe. It occurs in the fictional city of Metropolis. Due to the unexpected darker and more mature subject matter , the film was not received as well as the first Babe film was, as it flopped at the box office and reviews were generally...
in 1998.
An episode of Dinotopia
Dinotopia
Dinotopia is a fictional utopia created by author and illustrator James Gurney. It is the setting for the book series with which it shares its name. Dinotopia is an isolated island inhabited by shipwrecked humans and sentient dinosaurs who have learned to coexist peacefully as a single symbiotic...
in 2002 and then most recently co-wrote the story to the film Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Happy Feet is a 2006 American-Australian computer-animated family film with music, directed and co-written by George Miller. It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released...
(along with Warren Coleman, John Collee
John Collee
John Gerald Collee is a Scottish screenwriter who has written scripts for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Happy Feet, and Creation. Collee practised medicine and wrote several novels before he became a full-time screenwriter...
, and once again, George Miller). Happy Feet was the first Australian animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is one of the annual awards given by the Los Angeles-based professional organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
, and for her part in writing it Morris was nominated for an Annie Award.
She recently wrote the screenplay for Fred Schepisi's upcoming film, The Eye of the Storm
The Eye of the Storm (2011 film)
The Eye of the Storm is an Australian drama film directed by Fred Schepisi. It is an adaptation of Patrick White's novel of the same name. It stars Geoffrey Rush, Charlotte Rampling and Judy Davis...
, based on the novel of the same name
The Eye of the Storm
The Eye of the Storm is the ninth published novel by the Australian novelist and 1973 Nobel Prize-winner, Patrick White. It tells the story of Elizabeth Hunter, the powerful matriarch of her family, who still maintains a destructive iron grip on those who come to farewell her in her final moments...
.
Awards
Morris has been nominated for several awards in her career including:- 1973 Nominated and won Australian Film InstituteAustralian Film InstituteThe Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
(AFI) award for Best Actress in a Lead Role for Libido: The Child.Libido (1973 film)Libido is a 1973 Australian drama film comprising 4 segments written and directed as independent stories, but screened together as one piece, exploring a common theme of instinctive desire and contemporary sexuality.John B... - 1977 Nominated by the AFI for the Best Actress in a lead role for her work in The Picture Show Man.
- 1980 Nominated by the AFI for Best Actress in a lead role for Maybe This Time.
- 1986 Nominated by the AFI for Best Actress in a lead role for The More Things Change.
- 2007 Nominated for an Annie Award for the Best writing in an Animated Production for Happy Feet.
See also
- Alvin PurpleAlvin PurpleAlvin Purple was a 1973 Australian comedy film starring Graeme Blundell, written by Alan Hopgood and directed by Tim Burstall.It received largely negative reviews from local film critics. Despite this it was a major hit with Australian audiences...
- Bangkok HiltonBangkok HiltonBangkok Hilton is a three-part Australian mini-series, made in 1989 by Kennedy Miller Productions and directed by Ken Cameron. The title of the mini-series is, in the story, the nickname of a fictional Bangkok prison in which the protagonist is imprisoned.-Plot:Bangkok Hilton begins as Hal Stanton...
- Division 4Division 4Division 4 was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 300 episodes....
- Happy FeetHappy FeetHappy Feet is a 2006 American-Australian computer-animated family film with music, directed and co-written by George Miller. It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released...
- Homicide
- Matlock PoliceMatlock PoliceMatlock Police was an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1975....
- Mother and SonMother and SonMother and Son is a Logie Award-winning Australian television sitcom produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 16 January 1984 until 21 March 1994. The show stars Ruth Cracknell, Garry McDonald, Henri Szeps and Judy Morris...