Tara Morice

Tara Morice (born 23 June 1964) is an Australian actress, singer and dancer.

Tara Morice
Morice in 2012
Born (1964-06-23) 23 June 1964[1]
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, dancer
Years active1980–present

Background

Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Morice also lived in Sydney, Alice Springs and Adelaide as a child. She is a fifth-generation Australian and is of English, Irish, Scottish, Latvian, French and Jewish ancestry.[2] She appeared in a short film for the Tasmanian Film Corporation in 1980, The ABC of Unions.[3] She made her stage debut at Australia's oldest theatre, the Theatre Royal in Hobart in The Diary of Anne Frank, aged 16. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Australian History and English from the Australian National University and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1987.

Career

She has worked extensively on stage in Australia, including productions for the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare Company, Griffin Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre Company, State Theatre of South Australia, Queensland Theatre Company, Malthouse and the Ensemble. She played Fran in Strictly Ballroom when it premiered as a stage play in 1988, and she was a member of Baz Luhrmann's Six Years Old Company.[4] She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role in Fat Swan at the 2012 Helpmann Awards and a Victorian Green Room Award for The Venetian Twins in 1990.

Her first film appearance was as Fran in the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom (directed by Baz Luhrmann), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Actress in a Leading Role[5] and an Australian Film Institute award. Morice also appeared on the film's soundtrack, singing a duet of Time After Time with Mark Williams.

Morice has also appeared in the feature films Metal Skin, Hotel Sorrento, Hildegarde, Moulin Rouge!, Candy, Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance, Oranges and Sunshine, Dance Academy: The Movie and Peter Rabbit 2. Her many short films include the Oscar nominated Miracle Fish.

Her television work includes roles in Answered by Fire, After the Deluge, Salem's Lot and McLeod's Daughters. Morice had a starring role in the series of three Dogwoman telemovies with Magda Szubanski in 2000. She also plays Miss Raine in Series 1, 2 and 3 of Dance Academy for ABC/ZDF.

She wrote and directed the documentary My Biggest Fan, about her correspondence and friendship with an American great-grandmother, Mildred Levine, who wrote to her after seeing Strictly Ballroom. The film premiered at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and was broadcast on the SBS network in Australia in 2008.[6]

Morice has a daughter, Ondine Morice Pearce, who was the stills photographer (at age 11) on My Biggest Fan.[7]

She re-recorded Time After Time for Baz Luhrmann's album Something for Everybody and sang on the Strictly Ballroom, Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance and My Biggest Fan soundtracks.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Strictly Ballroom Fran Feature film
1994 Metal Skin Savina Feature film
1995 Hotel Sorrento Pippa Moynihan Feature film
1997 Square One Margot Feature film
2000 Dogwoman: Dead Dog Walking Pauline O'Halloran TV film
Dogwoman: A Grrrl's Best Friend Pauline O'Halloran TV film
2001 Dogwoman: The Legend of Dogwoman Pauline O'Halloran TV film
Moulin Rouge! Prostitute Feature film
My Husband, My Killer Margaret Inkster TV film
Hildegarde Kim Powell
2003 After the Deluge Dianne TV film
2004 Loot Karen Doakes TV film
2005 Second Chance Edwinda TV film
2006 Candy Aunt Katherine Feature film
2007 Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance Marianne Mockumentary film
September Jennifer Hamilton Feature film
2008 Close Distance Rivka Short film
2009 Miracle Fish Mum Short film
2010 Oranges and Sunshine Pauline Feature film
2013 101 Cupcakes Agnes Harvey Short film
2014 Smithston Mrs. Smithston Short film
2017 Dance Academy: The Movie Lucinda Raine Feature film
2021 Peter Rabbit 2 Officiant Feature film
The Butter Scene Short film
2022 The Home Team Glenrose Rose Short film
2023 Carmen Marie Feature film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Police Rescue Jenny TV series, episode: "Mates"
1997 Big Sky Linda TV series, episode: "Blind Spot"
1998 Water Rats Anne Milner TV series, episode: "Diminished Responsibility"
A Difficult Woman Susan Taylor TV miniseries
1999 Wildside Rachel Duncan TV series, episode: "2.11"
2000 Something in the Air Candy Rogers TV series
2000-03 Grass Roots Julie Dunkley TV series
2004 Salem's Lot Joyce Petrie TV miniseries
2005 Blue Heelers Melanie Anderson TV series
McLeod's Daughters Michelle Hall-Smith TV series, episodes: "Out of Time", "Betwixt and Between"
2006 Answered by Fire Helen Waldman TV miniseries
2010 Home and Away Joanna Scott TV series
2010-13 Dance Academy Miss Raine TV series
2013 The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting Special Guest TV series, episodes: "1.4", "1.5"
Whitlam: The Power and the Passion Margaret Whitlam (Voice) TV miniseries, episode: "Part 2"
2015 Winter Judith Johansson TV series
2016 Rake Pauline TV series, 1 episode
2023 Ten Pound Poms Ward Sister Mulligan TV series, 2 episodes
While the Men are Away TV series, 4 episodes

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
1979The Venetian TwinsColombinaQueensland Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company[8]
1981The Diary of Anne FrankAnne FrankTheatre Royal, Hobart
1985The Cherry OrchardNIDA Theatre
1986TharkNIDA Theatre
1986The Winter’s TaleEmilia / DorcasNIDA Parade Theatre
1987Under a Weeping SkyNIDA Parade Theatre
1987The Big Shiny Frock ShowNIDA Parade Theatre
1987A Journey Through Peer GyntNIDA Parade Theatre, Canberra Theatre
19881841Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Festival, Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1988HaircutWharf Studio Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
1988Strictly BallroomFranWharf Studio Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1988AngelsWharf Studio Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
1989After DinnerStables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
1990The Venetian TwinsColumbinaSuncorp Theatre, Brisbane & University of Sydney with Queensland Theatre Company, Playhouse, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company


Nominated for a Green Room Award for Female Actor in a Featured Role (Music Theatre)

1990The Development SiteSydney Theatre Company
1990Rome Tremble - Crumbs from a Feast of CallasMaria CallasWharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company
1991MongrelsLydiaEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
1992Richard IIILady AnneLyric Theatre, Brisbane, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare
1992The Merchant of VenicePortiaLyric Theatre, Brisbane, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare
1992HamletVoltemand / 2nd PlayerLyric Theatre, Brisbane, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre with Bell Shakespeare
1995The MoonwalkersGinaStables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
1997Mortimer's MiscellanySydney Festival
1996Wolf LullabyAngelaStables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
1998Love for LoveMrs ForesightSydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1999Secret Bridesmaids' BusinessAngelaMalthouse Theatre with Company

Playbox Theatre Company, Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company

2000Sweet RoadJoSBW Independent Theatre, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre
2001The Laramie ProjectZackie Salmon / Reggie Flutey / Trish Stegar, Kelli Simpkins / Sherry Aenonson / Kerry Drake & othersBelvoir Street Theatre
2001Morning SacrificeGwynWharf Theatre, with Sydney Theatre Company
2002Spinning into ButterDean Sarah DanielsEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
2002Love LettersMelissa GardnerNIDA Parade Theatre
2009Abigail’s PartyAngelaEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
2010Animals Out of PaperIllana AndrewsEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
2011Fat SwanMotherArts Centre Melbourne, Seymour Centre
Nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress
2011An Officer and a GentlemanEstherSydney Lyric Theatre with Gordon Frost Organisation
2014Once in Royal David’s CityTeacher / Crowd / ChorusBelvoir Street Theatre
2016Good PeopleMargaretEnsemble Theatre, Sydney
2018The Harp in the SouthMiss Sheily / Sister Beatrix / Alf / Flo / Shirley / Mrs X / Mrs KilroySydney Theatre Company
2018Good Cook. Friendly. Clean.SandraStables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
2018A Cheery SoulMrs Lilie / Second Girl / Soprano VoiceSydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
2020Dance NationSofiaScott Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Festival, Belvoir Street Theatre
2021ClaudelMadame ClaudelTinderbox Productions
2021The Museum of Modern Love: Open Rehearsal and ReadingLydiaSeymour Centre, Sydney
2022The Museum of Modern LoveLydiaSeymour Centre, Sydney for Sydney Festival
2022The DebShellThe Rebel Theatre, Sydney
2022The Tenant of Wildfell HallRachel / Mrs Markham / AuntRoslyn Packer Theatre

[9]

References

  1. "Tara Morice". IMDb. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  2. Strictly Ballroom Star Enjoys Whirl of New Celebrity, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-03-07-9301140003-story,amp.html
  3. "Spotlight: Tara Morice". Racism, No Way. Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008.
  4. "Strictly Ballroom". AusStage.
  5. "BAFTA Awards 1992". BAFTA Awards Database. British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
  6. Enker, Debi (6 November 2008). "When Tara found her biggest fan". The Age.
  7. Thompson, Erica (4 November 2008). "Strictly Ballroom's Tara Morice forges bond with fan, 75". The Courier-Mail.
  8. https://theatregold1.mybigcommerce.com/the-venetian-twins/ m
  9. https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2731
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