Samantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier

Soldier Soldier

Soldier Soldier is a British television drama series. The title comes from a traditional song of the same name.Produced by Central Television and broadcast on the ITV network, it ran for a total of seven series and 82 episodes from 1991 to 1997...

and Boon

Boon

-Places:* Boon Township, Warrick County, Indiana, United States of America* Boon Township, Michigan, USA* Boon Lake Township, Minnesota, USA* Boon Lay, Singapore* Boon Tat Street, Singapore* Boon Keng MRT Station, Singapore-People:...

before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea

This Is the Sea (film)

This Is the Sea is an Irish film, released in 1997, directed and written by Mary McGuckian and produced by Michael Garland. It is a romance film, focusing on the relationship between the character Hazel Stokes, played by Samantha Morton, and Malachy McAliskey, played by Ross McDade. The two...

, playing the character of Hazel Stokes. After a string of roles in low-budget and television films, she landed the role of Hattie in 1999's Sweet and Lowdown

Sweet and Lowdown

Sweet and Lowdown is a 1999 American comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen which tells the story of a fictional arrogant, obnoxious, alcoholic jazz guitarist named Emmet Ray who regards himself as perhaps the best guitarist in the world, or second best, after his idol, Django Reinhardt...

, for which she received the attention from Hollywood, the critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...

.

Morton subsequently starred in 2002's Minority Report

Minority Report (film)

Minority Report is a 2002 American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and loosely based on the short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. It is set primarily in Washington, D.C...

and Morvern Callar

Morvern Callar (film)

Morvern Callar is a 2002 British film directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Samantha Morton in the title role. It is based on Alan Warner's 1995 novel Morvern Callar.-Plot synopsis:...

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