Judy Morris

Judy Morris, born Judith Ann L'Armand on 17 February 1947 in Queensland, Australia, is a distinguished Australian character actress, film director, and screenwriter whose career spans over six decades. Her entrance into the entertainment world began at the tender age of ten, when she appeared in the Family Theater television episode "Picture of the Magi" in 1957, followed by roles on the Loretta Young Show and The Chevy Mystery Show, establishing her early promise as a child performer. Returning to Australia, Morris secured a regular spot on the iconic ABC series Bellbird in 1967, which opened doors to a prolific television career that included multiple episodes of Division 4, Matlock Police, Homicide, Over There, and Certain Women, showcasing her versatility across genres. In film, she earned critical acclaim with the 1970 portmanteau feature 3 to Go and won the 1973 Australian Film Institute Best Actress award for her daring role in Libido: The Child, a testament to her willingness to tackle provocative material. The late 1970s and 1980s saw Morris in notable titles such as In Search of Anna, The Plumber, Phar Lap, and the cult classic Bangkok Hilton, where she played Catherine Faulkner opposite Nicole Kidman, reinforcing her status as a reliable supporting talent. Transitioning behind the camera, she wrote and directed the comedy Luigi's Ladies (1989) and co‑wrote the beloved family film Babe: Pig in the City (1998). Her most celebrated achievement came with co‑writing the Oscar‑winning animated feature Happy Feet (2006), which also garnered an Annie Award nomination. Continuing her screenwriting success, Morris penned the adaptation of The Eye of the Storm (2011). Throughout her expansive career, she has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt, whether embodying complex characters on screen or crafting engaging stories behind the scenes, making her an enduring figure in Australian cinema.