SAMANTHA MORTON

'Samantha Morton' (born May 13, 1977) is an Oscar-nominated English actress.
Morton began her career as a child actor. At 13 she joined the Central Junior Television Workshop. At 16 she moved to London and appeared in plays at the Royal Court Theatre, also securing an early break as a guest star in an episode of ''Cracker''. Although she applied to institutions such as RADA, she received no further formal training.[1]
She eventually starred in television productions like ''Jane Eyre'' and ''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling''.
Starring roles in ''Band of Gold'' (1995), and the film ''Under the Skin'' in 1997, raised her profile in the UK. The latter impressed Woody Allen so much he cast her in his film ''Sweet and Lowdown'' for which she would receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1999.
In 2002 she won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress for her work in ''Morvern Callar'', followed by a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for ''In America'' in 2003.
Morton played the Moors Murderess Myra Hindley in a television film ''Longford'' (2006). Set between 1967 and 1997, the film depicts the relationship between the infamous child killer and Lord Longford, the politician who spent years campaigning for her release. Morton was severely criticised by the relatives of the children who were killed by Hindley and Ian Brady but she insisted, "It is my duty as a performer to raise issues...we're afraid to look at".[2] Morton received a 2007 Emmy nomination for her performance in the film.
She also appears in the music video for The Horrors' "Sheena Is A Parasite" which has been banned from MTV for its use of strobe lighting.

Contents

Selected Credits

Background

External links

Selected Credits

★ ''Cracker'' (1994) (TV)... Joanne Barnes

★ ''Band of Gold'' (1995) (mini series)... Tracy Richards

★ ''Emma'' (1996) (TV)... Harriet Smith

★ ''Jane Eyre'' (1997) (TV)... Jane Eyre

★ ''Under the Skin'' (1997)... Iris Kelly

★ ''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'' (1997) (mini series)... Sophia Western

★ ''Sweet and Lowdown'' (1999)... Hattie

★ ''Jesus' Son'' (1999)... Michelle

★ ''Pandaemonium'' (2000)... Sara Coleridge

★ ''U2: The Best of 1990-2000'' (2002) (V)... Mermaid (video "Electrical Storm")

★ ''Minority Report'' (2002)... Agatha

★ ''Morvern Callar'' (2002)... Morvern

★ ''In America'' (2003)... Sarah

★ ''Code 46'' (2003)... Maria Gonzales

★ ''Enduring Love'' (2004)... Claire

★ ''Farmers on E'' (2005)

★ ''The Libertine'' (2005)

★ ''Longford'' (2006) (TV)...Myra Hyndley

★ ''Expired'' (2007)...Claire - (awaiting release)

★ '' (2007)... Deborah Curtis - (awaiting release)

★ '' (2007)... Mary Queen of Scots - (awaiting release)

★ ''Mister Lonely'' (2007)... Marilyn Monroe - (awaiting release)

★ ''Synecdoche, New York'' (2007) - (pre-production)

Background

Morton was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England and went to West Bridgford Comprehensive School. She spent part of her childhood in care.
She has a daughter, Esme (born in 2000), with actor Charlie Creed-Miles. Morton is engaged to filmmaker Harry Holm, son of actor Ian Holm. It was recently announced that both Holm and Morton are expecting their first child in January 2008.

External links

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