Judy Davis
| Judy Davis | |
|---|---|
 Davis in January 2012 | |
| Born |
23 April 1955 Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse(s) | Colin Friels (1984–present) |
| Children | 2 |
Judy Davis (born 23 April 1955) is an Australian film, television and stage actress. She has won seven Australian Academy Awards (AACTA) and two British Academy Awards (BAFTA).
Early in her career, Davis starred on stage opposite Mel Gibson in Romeo and Juliet in 1978. Her other theatre roles include Edith Piaf in Piaf at the Perth Playhouse (1980), Insignificance at the Royal Court London (1982), the title role in Hedda Gabler with the Sydney Theatre Company (1986), Hapgood in Los Angeles (1989) and Irina in The Seagull at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney (2011).
She first came to attention on screen for her role as the fiery Sybylla Melvyn in the 1979 film My Brilliant Career, which won her two BAFTA Awards. She received Academy Award nominations for A Passage to India (1984) and Husbands and Wives (1992). For her television work she has won three Emmy Awards, for Serving in Silence (1995), the title role in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) and The Starter Wife (2007). Her other films include, Winter of Our Dreams (1981), Heatwave (1983), High Tide (1987), Impromptu (1991), Naked Lunch (1991), Absolute Power (1997), Deconstructing Harry (1997), The Reagans (2003) The Break-up (2006) and The Eye of the Storm (2011). She was the last person that River Phoenix worked with.
Personal life
Davis was born in Perth, and had a strict Catholic upbringing.[1][2] She was educated at Loreto Convent and the Western Australian Institute of Technology, and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1977. She has been married to actor and fellow NIDA graduate Colin Friels since 1984. They have two children, son Jack and daughter Charlotte.[3]
Career
First coming to prominence for her role as Sybylla Melvyn in the coming-of-age saga My Brilliant Career (1979),[4] for which she won BAFTA Awards for Best Actress and Best Newcomer, Judy Davis also played the lead in the Australian New Wave classics Winter of Our Dreams (1981) (as a waif-like heroin addict) and Heatwave (1982) (as a radical tenant organizer).
Her international film career began in 1981 when she played the younger version of Ingrid Bergman's Golda Meir in the television docudrama A Woman Called Golda, followed by the role of a terrorist in the British film Who Dares Wins (1982).[4]
In 1984, she was cast as Adela Quested in David Lean's final film A Passage to India, an adaptation of E. M. Forster's novel, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.[4] She returned to Australian cinema for her next two films, Kangaroo, as a German-born writer's wife, and Hightide, as a foot-loose mother who attempts to reunite with her teenage daughter who is being raised by the paternal grandmother. She earned Australian Film Institute Awards for both roles, and a National Society of Film Critics award for Hightide's brief American theatrical run. In 1990, she played a cameo in Woody Allen's Alice.
In 1991, she was featured in Joel Coen's Barton Fink, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and in David Cronenberg's adaptation of the hallucinogenic novel Naked Lunch. She won an Independent Spirit Award for her work as mannish woman author George Sand in Impromptu and returned to E. M. Forster territory in Where Angels Fear to Tread. She portrayed real-life World War II heroine Mary Lindell in the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation One Against the Wind. In 1992, she played a major role in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives as one half of a divorcing couple. For this performance she earned both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.
Other roles have included the mysterious, schizophrenic mother of a teenager in boarding school in On My Own (1993), the lifelong Australian Communist Party member reacting to the downfall of the Soviet Union in Children of the Revolution (1996), two more Allen films, Deconstructing Harry (1997) and Celebrity (1998), a highly-strung White House chief of staff in Absolute Power (1997), a supportive mother in Swimming Upstream (2003) and supporting roles in two 2006 films, The Break-Up and Marie-Antoinette.
She co-starred with Kevin Spacey in the 1994 comedy film The Ref, portraying a married couple whose relationship is on the rocks, with Denis Leary playing a thief who counsels their marriage.
Much of her recent work has been on television, where she has a collection of Emmy Award nominations. She won her first Emmy for portraying the woman who gently coaxes rigid militarywoman Glenn Close out of the closet in Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story, with subsequent nominations for her repressed Australian outback mother in The Echo of Thunder (1998), her portrayal of Lillian Hellman in Dash and Lilly (1999), her frigid society matron in A Cooler Climate (1999) and her interpretation of Nancy Reagan in the controversial biopic The Reagans (2003).
She earned a second Emmy for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the 2001 television biographical film Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows.[5] In July 2006, she received her ninth Emmy nomination for her performance in the television film A Little Thing Called Murder. Her tenth nomination came in 2007 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in the U.S. miniseries The Starter Wife for which she was awarded the Emmy. In August 2007, she appeared opposite Sam Waterston in an episode of ABC's anthology series Masters of Science Fiction. She appeared on the TV mini-series, Diamonds from 2008–2009.
In 2011, Davis appeared in a television drama film, Page Eight, for which she was nominated for an Emmy. She played Dorothy de Lascabanes in The Eye of the Storm, an adaptation of Patrick White's novel of the same title, for which, in 2012, she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She has a major role as Woody Allen's psychiatrist wife in his To Rome with Love.
In 2013, Davis co-starred with Helena Bonham Carter and Callum Keith Rennie in The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet. She reprised her role of Jill Tankard in 2014's Salting the Battlefield. She is also due to star in "The Surrealist" which is about Salvador Dali. She co-stars with Kate Winslet in The Dressmaker which began filming in 2014.
Stage
Davis's stage work has been limited, and mostly confined to Australia. Early in her career, she played Juliet opposite Mel Gibson's Romeo. In 1978, she appeared in Visions by Louis Nowra at the Paris Theatre Company in Sydney. In 1980, she portrayed French chanteuse Edith Piaf in Stephen Barry's production of the Pam Gems play Piaf at the Perth Playhouse.[6] She played both Cordelia and the Fool in a 1984 staging of King Lear by the Nimrod Theatre Company, and also starred in its productions of Strindberg's Miss Julie, Chekhov's The Bear, Louis Nowra's Inside The Island and, in 1986, the title role of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler for the Sydney Theatre Company
In 2004, she starred in and co-directed Howard Barker's play Victory, as a Puritan woman determined to locate her husband's dismembered corpse.[7] Other stage directorial efforts include Sheridan's The School For Scandal and Barrymore by William Luce[8] (all three for the Sydney Theatre Company). She created the role of The Actress in Terry Johnson's Insignificance at the Royal Court in London,[9] receiving an Olivier Award nomination, and appeared in a brief 1989 Los Angeles production of Tom Stoppard's Hapgood.
In 2011, she portrayed the role of fading actress Irina Arkadina in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull at Sydney's Belvoir St Theatre.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | High Rolling | Lynn | |
| 1979 | My Brilliant Career | Sybylla Melvyn | BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer Nominated — Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| 1981 | Hoodwink | Sarah | Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 1981 | Winter of Our Dreams | Lou | Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 13th Moscow International Film Festival - Award for Best Actress[10] |
| 1982 | Who Dares Wins | Frankie Leith | Also entitled The Final Option |
| 1983 | Heatwave | Kate Dean | |
| 1984 | A Passage to India | Adela Quested | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress |
| 1986 | Kangaroo | Harriet Somers | Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| 1987 | High Tide | Lilli | Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress |
| 1988 | Georgia | Nina Bailley/Georgia White | Nominated — Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| 1990 | Alice | Vicki | |
| 1991 | Barton Fink | Audrey Taylor | London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1991 | Impromptu | George Sand | Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female |
| 1991 | Where Angels Fear to Tread | Harriet Harriton | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1991 | Naked Lunch | Joan Lee/Joan Frost | London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1992 | On My Own | The Mother | Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated — Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 1992 | Husbands and Wives | Sally | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated — New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1993 | Dark Blood | Buffy | (completed in 2012) |
| 1994 | Ref, TheThe Ref | Caroline Chasseur | |
| 1994 | New Age, TheThe New Age | Katherine Witner | |
| 1996 | Children of the Revolution | Joan Fraser | Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actor - Female |
| 1997 | Deconstructing Harry | Lucy | |
| 1997 | Absolute Power | Gloria Russell | Nominated — Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress - Suspense |
| 1997 | Blood and Wine | Suzanne Gates | |
| 1998 | Celebrity | Robin Simon | |
| 2001 | Man Who Sued God, TheThe Man Who Sued God | Anna Redmond | |
| 2001 | Gaudi Afternoon | Cassandra Reilly | |
| 2003 | Swimming Upstream | Dora Fingleton | Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Supporting Actor - Female Nominated — Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — IF Award for Best Actress |
| 2006 | Break-Up, TheThe Break-Up | Marilyn Dean | |
| 2006 | Marie Antoinette | Comtesse de Noailles | |
| 2011 | Eye of the Storm, TheThe Eye of the Storm | Dorothy de Lascabanes | AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress Nominated — Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actress - Leading Role Nominated — IF Award for Best Actress |
| 2012 | To Rome with Love | Phyllis | |
| 2013 | The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet | Jibsen | |
| 2015 | The Dressmaker | Molly Dunnage | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Water Under the Bridge | Carrie Mazzini | |
| 1982 | Woman Called Golda, AA Woman Called Golda | Golda Myerson/Meir | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1983 | Merry Wives of Windsor, TheThe Merry Wives of Windsor | Mistress Ford | BBC Television Shakespeare |
| 1986 | Rocket to the Moon | Cleo Singer | |
| 1991 | One Against the Wind | Mary Lindell | Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1995 | Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story | Dianne | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1998 | The Echo of Thunder | Gladwyn Ritchie | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1999 | Dash and Lilly | Lillian Hellman | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1999 | Cooler Climate, AA Cooler Climate[11] | Paula Tanner | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie[12] Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie[11] |
| 2001 | Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows | Judy Garland | American Film Institute Award for Actor of the Year – Female – Movie or Mini-Series Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress in a Picture Made for Television Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie |
| 2003 | Reagans, TheThe Reagans | Nancy Reagan | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2003 | Coast to Coast | Maxine Pierce | |
| 2006 | Little Thing Called Murder, AA Little Thing Called Murder | Sante Kimes | Satellite Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie |
| 2007 | Starter Wife, TheThe Starter Wife | Joan McAllister | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Mini-Series Nominated — Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actress Nominated — Prism Award for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2007 | Masters of Science Fiction: A Clean Escape | Dr. Deanna Evans | |
| 2009 | Diamonds | Senator Joan Cameron | Nominated — Gemini Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2011 | Page Eight | Jill Tankard | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 2014 | Salting the Battlefield | Jill Tankard |
Other awards
- 1994 Film Critics Circle of Australia Award Special Achievement Award ("* For her outstanding body of Australian and international work and for her considerable contribution to the profession of screen acting.")
- Nominations
- 1982 Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play (Insignificance)
- 2004 Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play (Victory)
References
- ↑ Maslin, Janet (22 February 1980). "New Face: Judy Davis Don't Call Her Sybylla; A Last-Minute Replacement 'I'm Not Good at Reading Scripts' Elizabeth Swados at Club". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ↑ Rovi, Hal Erickson. "Judy Davis Biography". TV Squad. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ↑ Colin Friels biography at IMDb
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ryan Gilbey (25 April 2013). "Judy Davis: 'I never wanted celebrity'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ↑ Bernard Weinraub (10 December 2000). "The Rewards And the Risks of Playing an Icon". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ↑ Allen, Paul Stephen Barry (obituary) The Guardian, London, 9 November 2000
- ↑ Fitzgerald, Michael The Restoration of Judy at Time Magazine, 24 April 2004
- ↑ Kerry O'Brien (9 August 1999). "Judy Davies takes on directing". ABC 7.30 report. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ↑ "Society of West End Theatre Awards 1982" at West End Theatre.com
- ↑ "13th Moscow International Film Festival (1983)". MIFF. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "6th Annual SAG Awards Nominees". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ↑ "The Starter Wife – Character Profiles & Bios – Judy Davis as Joan McAllister". USANetwork.com. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
External links
- Judy Davis in The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in the Twentieth Century
- Judy Davis at the Internet Movie Database
- Judy Davis at the TCM Movie Database
- Judy Davis at AllMovie
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