Julia Morris
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Julia Morris (born 1968) is an Australian writer, comedian, television presenter and television producer who has worked extensively in Australian and British television.
Morris attended Santa Sabina College in Strathfield NSW.
In Australia, she is best known as one of the stars of the popular sketch series Full Frontal.
In 2000 she relocated to the United Kingdom, but returned to Australia with her family in 2007.
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[edit] Television
Morris's first television appearance was in 1985 as a contestant on the talent show New Faces. She performed "Holding Out for a Hero", a Jim Steinman song made famous by Bonnie Tyler.
From 1993, she was a member of the ensemble cast of the hit Australian sketch comedy series Full Frontal. The series also launched the careers of film actor Eric Bana and comedian Shaun Micallef.
Her television roles in Australia include presenter of Great Aussie Bloopers, and guest presenter on the stunt series Who Dares Wins and the action series Gladiators. She frequently appeared on the variety programmes The Midday Show and Good Morning Australia. Since her return to Australia she has appeared in the hit comedy series Thank God You're Here on channel Ten.
She was also a regular panelist on the daily advice program Beauty and the Beast and later one of the presenters of the live variety series In Melbourne Tonight.
In the UK, she made an appearance in the first series of QI within an episode notable for being Alan Davies's first victory.
Radio work includes guesting on Parsons and Naylor’s Pull-Out Sections.
On July 25, 2007, she returned to Australia (although only possibly for that night) to take part in an episode of season three of Thank God You're Here, with fellow Full Frontal performer Shaun Micallef, as well as comedians Tony Martin and Eddie Ifft.
She was the celebrity contestant on the February 6, 2008 episode of Deal or No Deal.
Julia won the third season (2008) of the Australian reality singing series It Takes Two, partnered by season 1 winning Mentor David Hobson.
[edit] Live performance
She is a former manager of Sydney's Comedy Store venue. She also studied at Sydney's Ensemble Actor's Studio.
In January 1996 she supported American comedian Mark Curry (Hangin' with Mr. Cooper) on part of his North American tour. During that tour she also performed with Richard Pryor at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, California.
In 1998 she toured in the critically acclaimed Australian production of the Broadway musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
In December 1999 she hosted the premiere of the film Bicentennial Man at Sydney's Fox Studios. She and the film's star, American comedian Robin Williams, performed a 45 minute stand-up tag-team.
In 2004 she appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe in Henry Naylor's play Hunting Diana.
During the 2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival in March/April Julia will be performing her solo show Shoosh, please!, at the Melbourne Town Hall.
[edit] Personal life
- In 1998 she drove in the Celebrity Race of the 1998 Australian Grand Prix.
- Morris married British comedian Dan Thomas in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve, 2005. Julia Morris has one daughter, Ruby Charlotte Thomas who was born in December 2006. Morris is reportdly expecting her second child.
[edit] Title
In December 2003 Morris acquired the title Lady of the Manor of Gosforth. According to her website, the title was bought off the internet. The title was intended to reflect Morris's hometown, the Australian city of Gosford, but was spelt incorrectly on the paperwork.
It has no legal standing (The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act, 1925 prohibits the sale of British titles, with the exception of Scottish feudal baronies; see [1]) but Morris exploits its comic value in her stand-up show, introducing herself as Lady Julia Morris.
[edit] Awards
- 2001 - Herald Angel Award for Excellence in Live Performance.
- 2004 - Time Out Comedy Performer of the Year.
