Samantha Morton
Biography
Samantha Jane Morton is an English actress and musician born on May 13, 1977, in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. She is recognized for her performances in independent films, frequently appearing in period dramas that explore dark and tragic themes. Throughout her career, Morton has earned significant critical recognition, including a BAFTA Fellowship, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She has also received nominations for two Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She is noted for her ability to portray complex characters, establishing herself as a prominent performer in both film and television.
Career overview
Samantha Morton began her acting career in British television in 1991 after training as a member of the Central Junior Television Workshop in Nottingham. Her early television credits include appearances in the ITV series Band of Gold, which aired from 1995 to 1996, and the 1997 BBC miniseries The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling. During this same period, she transitioned into film with roles in productions such as Emma in 1996 and Jane Eyre in 1997.
Morton gained international acclaim for her work in cinema, earning Academy Award nominations for her performances in Woody Allen's 1999 film Sweet and Lowdown and Jim Sheridan's 2002 film In America. Her filmography includes a diverse range of projects, and she has been described as one of the finest actors of her generation. With 76 known acting credits, she continues to be a notable figure in the entertainment industry, maintaining a career that spans several decades across both film and television mediums.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Odyssey (2026) as Circe
- Anemone (2025) as Nessa
- 2073 (2024) as Ghost
- The Burning Girls (2023) as Reverend Jack Brooks
- The Whale (2022) as Mary
- The Serpent Queen (2022) as Catherine de Medici
- Tales of the Walking Dead (2022) as Dee
- She Said (2022) as Zelda Perkins
- Save the Cinema (2022) as Liz Evans
- Dead Talk Live (2020) as Self - Guest
- I Am... (2019) as Kirsty
- I Am... (2019) Story
- Two for Joy (2018) as Aisha
- Harlots (2017) as Margaret Wells
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) as Mary Lou Barebone
- Rillington Place (2016) as Ethel Christie
- Artists in Love (2016) as Host
- The Last Panthers (2015) as Naomi
- Cider with Rosie (2015) as Annie Lee
- The Harvest (2015) as Katherine
- Decoding Annie Parker (2014) as Annie Parker
- Miss Julie (2014) as Kathleen
- Her (2013) Associate Producer
- The Frame (2013) as Maria Gonzales
- The Frame (2013) as Vija Kinsky
- Angels & Ghosts (2013) as Amber Crick (voice)
- John Carter (2012) as Sola
- Cosmopolis (2012) as Vija Kinsky
- Citizens of Cosmopolis (2012) as Self
- The Walking Dead (2010) as Alpha
- Miliband of Brothers (2010) as Self - Narrator
- The Unloved (2009) Director
- The Unloved (2009) Writer
- The Messenger (2009) as Olivia Pitterson
- Shadow Play: The Making of Anton Corbijn (2009) as Self
- Synecdoche, New York (2008) as Hazel
- Mister Lonely (2008) as Marilyn Monroe
- The Daisy Chain (2008) as Martha Conroy
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Would I Lie to You? (2007) as Self
- Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) as Mary, Queen of Scots
- Control (2007) as Debbie Curtis
- Max & Ruby - A Merry Bunny Christmas (2007) as Ruby
- Expired (2007) as Claire Barney
- Longford (2006) as Myra Hindley
- River Queen (2005) as Sarah O'Brien
- Lassie (2005) as Sarah Carraclough
- Max & Ruby's Halloween (2005) as Ruby (voice)
- The Libertine (2004) as Elizabeth Barry
- Max & Ruby's Christmas (2004) as Ruby (voice)
- Enduring Love (2004) as Claire
- Code 46 (2003) as Maria Gonzales
- In America (2003) as Sarah
- Max & Ruby (2002) as Ruby
- V Graham Norton (2002) as Self
- Minority Report (2002) as Agatha
- Morvern Callar (2002) as Morvern Callar
- Pandaemonium (2001) as Sara Coleridge
- Eden (2001) as Sam
- Jesus' Son (2000) as Michelle
- Sweet and Lowdown (1999) as Hattie
- Dreaming of Joseph Lees (1999) as Eva
- The Last Yellow (1999) as Jackie
- The View (1997) as Self
- Jane Eyre (1997) as Jane Eyre
- This Is the Sea (1997) as Hazel Stokes
- The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling (1997) as Sophie Western
- Under the Skin (1997) as Iris Kelly
- Emma (1996) as Harriet Smith
- The Future Lasts A Long Time (1996) as May
- Band of Gold (1995) as Tracy Richards
- The Vet (1995) as Amanda Mulholland
- Peak Practice (1993) as Abbey / Pauline Jones
- Cracker (1993) as Joanne Barnes
- The Token King (1993) as Vicky Hooper
- Soldier Soldier (1991) as Clare Anderson
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Entertainment System Is Down
- Love and War