External links
- Kerry Armstrong at IMDb
- Profile [ permanent dead link ], Marquee Management
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
Kerry Armstrong | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kerry Michelle Armstrong 12 September 1958 |
| Education | St Leonard’s College [1] HB Studio [2] |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouses | Alexander Bernstein (m. 1981)Mark Croft (m. 1996–2001) |
| Children | 3 |
Kerry Michelle Armstrong (born 12 September 1958) [3] is an Australian actress and author. She is one of only two actresses to win two Australian Film Institute Awards in the same year, winning Best Actress in a Leading Role for Lantana and Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama for SeaChange in 2001.
After early television roles in Australia including Prisoner (1979) and Skyways (1980), Armstrong moved to the United States in 1981, where she played Ophelia in Hamlet and Isabella in Measure for Measure at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and had a role in the soap opera Dynasty (1985–1986). She returned to Australia in 1987. Her other television roles include MDA (2002–2003) and Bed of Roses (2008–2011).
Kerry Michelle Armstrong was born in Melbourne, to parents Bev and Norm Armstrong and grew up in the beachside suburb of Beaumaris alongside sister Kim. [1]
At the age of eleven, Armstrong performed in a school production of The Little Prince , as the narrator. Soon after, her father's engineering career saw the family relocate to Barcelona for two years. [1] Back in Melbourne, Armstrong attended St Leonard's College, in Brighton, where her high school drama teacher considered her a standout amongst the other students. [1]
When she was 15, Armstrong attended a cattle call for theatre company J. C. Williamson's in Melbourne. British comedian Sid James was there and offered her a role in an Australian touring production of The Mating Season , believing her to be 21. Her parents forbade her to accept the role at first, but eventually relented, Armstrong travelling for nine months with the production. She continued her studies by correspondence, before returning to school in year 11. Then, in 1977, she left once more, to perform in a production of Doctor in Love . [1]
Armstrong's first appearance on television in the early 1970s was as a weather presenter on GTV-9 in Melbourne, succeeding Delvene Delaney in the position. When she applied for the role she was still a teenage schoolgirl, but led them to believe she was 22. [4] The first publicly aired word she ever spoke was "Goodnight!" [5]
Armstrong scored her first role in a television series in Marion [6] [7] before landing small roles in soap operas The Sullivans , [6] and Skyways [8] and Bruce Beresford's award-winning 1977 film The Getting of Wisdom at the age of 16, [6] [7] alongside Sigrid Thornton. She landed her big break in prison drama Prisoner , playing Lynne Walker in the first 44 episodes. [6] [5] In 1981, she co-hosted the Network Ten series Together Tonight, with Greg Evans. [9]
Armstrong moved to the United States in 1981, where she studied under Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen at the HB Studio [2] in New York City on an acting scholarship. [10] [11] [12] She graduated as a full-time student. [13]
While studying, Armstrong worked as maitre d’ at Central Park restaurant Tavern on the Green before scoring acting work. With the studio's Playwrights Foundation, she played Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Ophelia in Hamlet , and Isabella in Measure for Measure at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC. [12] She also starred in Hamlet alongside Anthony Hopkins [7] and as Christine in Tom Stoppard's Dalliance at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. [14]
On television, Armstrong landed an ongoing role in long-running daytime soap opera One Life to Live , [10] [15] She appeared in several episodes of Dynasty [10] as Elena, Duchess of Branagh. [16] and guest starred in the 1984 Murder, She Wrote episode "Death Takes a Curtain Call". [17]
Alongside other actors including John Cusack, Tim Robbins and Helen Hunt, Armstrong was a founding member of The Actors' Gang, [10] [15] an experimental theatre company that continues to tour internationally with adaptations of the classics more than 30 years later. [6] In 1986, Armstrong, Cusack and Robbins auditioned for Saturday Night Live , but only Armstrong was offered a part, which she subsequently declined. [10] The same year, she was offered a three-picture deal with Universal Studios, but it clashed with her stage role in Measure for Measure in Washington, which she ultimately chose. [1] Confidence was also sometimes a barrier for Armstrong, costing her a role in 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction . [1]
In 1987, Armstrong returned to Australia upon the death of her grandmother. [10] [15] She appeared in the film Grievous Bodily Harm (1988) with Colin Friels. [7] She also resumed acting in Australian television series, including Police Rescue , [18] Ocean Girl , Halifax f.p. , Blue Heelers and award-winning 1990 miniseries Come in Spinner , in a lead role alongside Rebecca Gibney. [8] [7]
Armstrong was nominated for a 1991 AFI Award for Best Actress for her role in the drama film Hunting , in which she starred with Guy Pearce. [19] The film was released by Paramount in the US. In 1993, she had a regular role in sitcom All Together Now , as Beth Sumner. [20] From 1993 to 1994, she had a recurring role as Jady in Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left . [21] She also appeared in an episode of American action adventure series High Tide in 1994. [8]
Armstrong featured in 1997 US miniseries 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea opposite Bryan Brown and Michael Caine. [7] The same year, she was in drama film Amy with Ben Mendelsohn and Rachel Griffiths, followed by 1998 film Justice with Marcus Graham. [7]
In 1998, Armstrong was offered the role of Heather Jelly in the television series SeaChange , the ever-devoted but long-suffering wife of corrupt local mayor Bob (John Howard). [7] The role won her critical acclaim and garnered several awards.
When SeaChange ended in 2000, Armstrong almost walked away from acting, after she lost her confidence. However, that changed when film producer Jan Chapman had the script for 2001 film Lantana delivered to her door, convinced she was the right fit for the lead role of Sonja Zat. [22] The film, directed by Ray Lawrence, starred an ensemble cast including Anthony LaPaglia, Barbara Hershey, Geoffrey Rush, Glenn Robbins, and Vince Colosimo. [23] and Armstrong went on to win an Inside Film (IF) Award, an AFI Award [16] and a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for her performance. The same year she won another AFI Award, for the final season of SeaChange, making her the first actress to win the Best Performance by an Actress award in both the feature film and television categories in the same year. [6]
In 2002, Armstrong joined the cast of medico-legal drama MDA on ABC alongside Jason Donovan and Shane Bourne. However, she left the series at the end of its second season, with her character, Dr Ella Davis, leaving the firm that was the focus of the show. After MDA, Armstrong appeared in the films One Perfect Day (2004), [8] Oyster Farmer (2004) playing the role of Trish opposite Alex O'Loughlin (who went on to Hawaii Five-O fame) [5] and dance mockumentary Razzle Dazzle (2007), [8] as overbearing stage mother, Justine Morgan, [24] for which she received her fifth AFI Award nomination. [13] In 2006, she competed on season five of Dancing with the Stars in 2006. Armstrong and dance partner, Christopher Ryan, were the third couple eliminated from the show. [25]
In 2008, ABC TV screened six-part series Bed of Roses , with Armstrong in the lead role as Louisa Atherton. [26] [27] The same year, she starred in US film Reservations, as a woman battling breast cancer – a role written especially for her, after the producer had seen Armstrong in Lantana. [28] In 2010, Bed of Roses returned for a second season on the ABC, followed by a third and final season in 2011, with Armstrong resuming the role. [26] In the same year, she starred in the short film The Forgotten Men, alongside Jack Thompson and Gyton Grantley. [29]
In 2013, Armstrong made her directorial debut with the play The Woolgatherer at La Mama Theatre, [13] for the Melbourne Fringe Festival [30] which was met with rave reviews. She then directed a series of short plays for The Melbourne Storytelling Festival and eleven short films. [13]
After a five year hiatus from acting, 2016 saw Armstrong return to Australian screens in the series The Wrong Girl for Network Ten, [30] playing Mimi Woodward, divorced mother of protagonist Lily, played by Jessica Marais. [31] She also filmed the features Pawno (2016) and 2.22 (2017). [13]
In 2018, Armstrong appeared as a contestant on reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! , alongside AFL player Josh Gibson, tennis player Bernard Tomic, Australian Idol alum Shannon Noll, model Simone Holtznagel, 1980s US pop singer Tiffany, boxer Anthony Mundine, reality star Jackie Gilles, comedians Fiona O'Loughlin and Peter Rowsthorn. [32] politician David Oldfield and his wife The Real Housewives of Sydney star Lisa Oldfield. [33] Armstrong was the second celebrity eliminated (after Tiffany) and fourth overall celebrity to leave (after Tomic and Mundine quit), in the third week. [34]
From 2018 to 2020, Armstrong had a regular role on long-running soap opera Neighbours , [22] playing the villainous Alice Wells. [35] She also reprised her role of Heather Jelly on the reboot of SeaChange [22] in 2019. The following year, she appeared in feature film The Very Excellent Mr Dundee [8] alongside Paul Hogan and John Cleese. [36]
In 2021, Armstrong appeared in season 2 of ABC comedy series Frayed , as family matriarch Jean. [37] The same year, she also featured in award-winning eight-part comedy series Spreadsheet for streaming service Paramount+. [38] In 2022, she had a recurring guest role as Summer in mystery-drama series Darby and Joan , opposite Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi. [39]
In 2024, Armstrong was announced as part of the cast for the Stan Christmas movie Nugget Is Dead?: A Christmas Story. [40] She also performed opposite Colin Friels in a Sydney Theatre Company stage production of Australian play Into the Shimmering World. [41]
In January 2026, Armstrong is set to play a controlling mother in upcoming drama series Dear Life (formerly titled Love Divided By Eleven) on streaming service Stan, opposite Brooke Satchwell, Ryan Johnson and Deborah Mailman. [42]
During a hiatus from acting, Armstrong taught acting at Melbourne's 16th Street Acting Studio for three years from 2011 to 2013. She also taught a masterclass at New York's Herbert Bergof Studio, where she had previously trained as a young actor. [43] [13]
In 2026, Armstrong will teach a masterclass series in Accelerated Screen Performance at Film & Television Studio International in Melbourne, focusing on the Stanislavski Technique. [44]
Armstrong wrote a self-help book, The Circles, published on 1 November 2003. [45] She described the book as a practical exercise in empowering people. [46]
Her second book, Fool on the Hill, published in March 2006, [47] is about the nature of personality. [15]
A travel guide, Newcomer's Handbook for New York City was co-edited with Belden Merims in 1996. [48]
Armstrong has worked with several charitable organisations including Childwise, [15] Big hART, [49] and Cure for Life Foundation, which sponsors research into brain tumour treatments. [15] [50] In 2006, she represented Cure for Life in season five of Dancing with the Stars . [25] In 2018, while competing on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! , she represented children's cancer charity Camp Quality. [51]
Armstrong publicly opposed the War in Iraq, and in protest, sat on the steps of the Victorian Parliament in a purple bra to draw attention to her cause. [15]
In October 2008 Armstrong appeared as the face of a "myth-busting" advertising campaign for Coca-Cola Amatil, created by the agency Singleton Ogilvy & Mather. [52] Titled "Kerry Armstrong on Motherhood and Myth Busting", the print advertisement purported to correct "myths and conjecture" about Coca-Cola drink products, rejecting suggestions that Coca-Cola "rots your teeth", "makes you fat", and is "packed with caffeine". [53] In April 2009, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commissioner ruled that the Coca-Cola advertisements in which Armstrong appeared were misleading. [54]
After having previously sailed when she lived on boats in New York's Long Island, and also sailing at Merricks and Mornington yacht clubs in Victoria, Armstrong participated in the 75th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race as a rookie crew member on the Tasmanian 62-foot yacht 'Magic Miles' in 2019. [55] [56]
In 1981, Armstrong married Australian Crawl rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson from Australian Crawl [57] [10] when she was 23, after he proposed to her at bottom of a water slide in Surfers Paradise, Queensland. The ring was stolen, when she lived in New York and thieves broke into her apartment. [41]
Armstrong and Robinson co-wrote "Easy on Your Own", [58] a track on Australian Crawl's second album Sirocco and B-side to the single "Errol". [59] In 2003, Armstrong reflected, "I met Braddy at that time and he was the first person who absolutely, implicitly understood me and who loved me for every aspect of what I did and who I loved. I had a complete... a resting place finally." [60]
On the advice of her US agent and with Robinson's consent, she divorced and married a friend, Alexander Bernstein (son of Leonard Bernstein), in order to resolve visa issues and allow her to live and work in the United States. Armstrong only had a professional arrangement with Bernstein, but her long distance from Robinson dissolved their relationship, [10] and they divorced later that decade. Robinson died from cancer in 1996. [41]
In early 2018, she described the relationship with Robinson, "I think everyone should hold on to their first great love and be grateful... [but] I know there are no accidents because I have come out of it with these three absolutely gorgeous young men as sons." [61]
While in the US, Armstrong became romantically involved with American actor Tim Robbins, [10] meeting him at a casting session, before they founded The Actors' Gang together. [1] Robbins went on to marry Susan Sarandon. Armstrong described Robbins as "gorgeous, but way too bossy". [28]
In 1990, she married screenwriter/producer Mac Gudgeon [10] when their son was three months old. The marriage to Gudgeon ended, and in 1996 she married builder Mark Croft, with whom she has twin sons. [10] [15] Armstrong and Croft separated in 2001. [10]
In 2000, on her final day of filming for SeaChange, Armstrong's cottage in Eltham, Victoria, burnt down due to a faulty wall heater. She lost everything, except for three paintings her sons had created for her as children. [41] As of 2008, Armstrong lived with her three sons in the Yarra Valley. [10] By 2019, Armstrong had been living on the Mornington Peninsula for several years. [55]
Arnstrong's likeness was painted by artist Vicki Sullivan for 'Portraits: Sullivan & Bilbrough', an exhibition at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery in 2016. [62]
During an episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018, Armstrong revealed that fellow Australian actress Nicole Kidman did not handle it well when Armstrong won Best Actress (for Lantana ) over Kidman (for Moulin Rouge! ) at the 2001 Australian Film Institute Awards. After Russell Crowe, who was presenting the award, announced the winner, Kidman left the room, "visibly unimpressed". [63]
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Hunting | AFI Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| 2000 | SeaChange | Logie Awards | Outstanding Actress in TV Series | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Won | ||||
| AFI Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series | Won | [64] | ||
| Lantana | IF Awards | Best Female Ensemble Cast | Won | [65] [64] | |
| AFI Awards | Best Actress in a Feature Film | Won | [64] | ||
| Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actress | Won | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| London Critics Circle Film Awards | Actress of the Year | Nominated | |||
| N/A | Australian Government | Centenary Medal for significant service to the theatre, television, and film industries | Honoured | ||
| 2002 | MDA | AFI Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Oyster Farmer | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance | AFI Awards | Best Lead Actress | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Bed of Roses | Equity Ensemble Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Nominated | ||||
| 2016 | Pawno | AACTA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | [64] |
| 2017 | Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Getting of Wisdom | Kate | Feature film |
| 1985 | Key Exchange | The Beauty | Feature film US |
| 1988 | Grievous Bodily Harm | Annie | Feature film |
| 1991 | Hunting | Michelle Harris | Feature film |
| 1995 | The Good Looker | Documentary | |
| 1997 | Amy | Sarah Trendle | Feature film |
| 1998 | Denial | Mother | Short film |
| Justice | Annie Martin | Feature film | |
| Hephzibah | Narrator | Documentary film | |
| 1999 | Taken | Sophia | Short film |
| 2001 | Lantana | Sonja Zat | Feature film |
| 2004 | One Perfect Day | Carolyn Matisse | Feature film |
| Oyster Farmer | Trish | Feature film | |
| A Hard Place | (voice) | Short film | |
| 2005 | Virus | Lillium Doubleheart | Short film |
| Mind the Gap | Olivia Keeley | Short film | |
| 2006 | Wobbegong | Paula / Mum | Short film |
| Car Pool | Mrs. London | Short film | |
| 2007 | Razzle Dazzle | Justine Morgan | Feature film |
| 2008 | Reservations | Hellen | Feature film US |
| 2011 | The Forgotten Men | Mother | Short film |
| 2015 | Pawno | Jennifer Montgomery | Feature film |
| 2017 | 2:22 | Catherine | Feature film US |
| 2019 | Two Heads Creek | Mary | Feature film |
| 2020 | The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee | Ella | Feature film |
| 2024 | Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story | Tammy | Feature film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Marion | Elizabeth Andrews | Miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 1976 | The Sullivans | Winni | |
| 1978, 1979 | Cop Shop | Marlene Anderson / Angela Clark | 2 episodes (guest roles) |
| 1979 | Prisoner | Lynn Warner | Season 1, 44 episodes (regular role) |
| The Franky Doyle Story | Lynn Warner | TV film | |
| 1980 | Water Under the Bridge | Dora | Miniseries, episode: "1.8" |
| Skyways | Angela Murray | 49 episodes (regular role) | |
| Cornflakes for Tea | Cheryl | TV film | |
| 1981 | Together Tonight | Co-host | |
| 1984 | The Edge of Night | Tess McAdams | 24 episodes |
| Tales from the Darkside | Elaine Anderson Hall | Episode: "Slippage" | |
| Murder, She Wrote | Irina Katsa | Episode: "Death Takes a Curtain Call" | |
| 1985–1986 | Dynasty | Elena, Duchess of Branagh | 7 episodes (recurring role) |
| 1988 | Australians: Mary McKillop | Matron | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| Barlow and Chambers: A Long Way from Home (aka Dadah Is Death ) | Shawn Burton | Miniseries; 2 episodes | |
| 1989 | American Playhouse | Eve Lummis | 1 episode |
| 1989–1991 | Police Rescue | Des McClintock | Recurring role |
| 1990 | Come In Spinner | Deb Forrest | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1993 | All Together Now | Beth Sumner | 17 episodes (regular role) |
| 1993–1994 | Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left | Officer Jady | 13 episodes (regular role) |
| 1994 | High Tide | Valerie | Episode: "Beauty's Only Skin Deep" |
| 1994–1995 | Ocean Girl | Dr. Dianne Bates | Season 1–2, 26 episodes (lead role) |
| 1995 | Blue Heelers | Sandy Fielding | Episode: "Shadow Man" |
| 1996 | Halifax f.p. | Fiona Holmes | Episode: "Sweet Dreams" |
| 1997 | Heart Of Fire | Sue Tucker | TV film US |
| 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea | Lydia Rawlings | Miniseries, 2 episodes | |
| 1998–2000; 2019 | SeaChange | Heather Jelly | Seasons 1–4 (regular role) |
| 2000 | Eugénie Sandler P.I. | Sylvia | Episode: "1.4" |
| 2002 | Lost In Oz | Alex's Mother (uncredited) | TV film US |
| 2002–2003 | MDA | Dr. Louella 'Ella' Davis | Lead role |
| 2008–2011 | Bed of Roses | Louisa Atherton | Seasons 1–3 (lead role) |
| 2016–2017 | The Wrong Girl | Mimi Woodward | Lead role |
| 2018–2020 | Neighbours | Heather Schilling / Alice Wells | Recurring role |
| 2019–2021 | Frayed | Jean Cooper | Seasons 1–2, 12 episodes (support role) |
| 2020–2022 | Grey Nomads | Ella Rouche | Web series, 12 episodes |
| 2021 | Spreadsheet | Carol | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Joe vs. Carole | Congresswoman Vivian Ross | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| Darby and Joan | Summer | Miniseries, 2 episodes | |
| The Queen and Us | Narrator | TV special UK | |
| 2023 | The Banskia House Breakout | Narrator | |
| 2025 | Strife | Margaret | 2 episodes: "Whoman", "Moving On, Getting Over" |
| 2026 | Dear Life | Michelle Vandenburg | 5 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | This Is Your Life | Self | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Australian Story | Self | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Dancing with the Stars | Contestant | Season 5, 5 episodes |
| 2007 | 9am with David & Kim | Guest host | 1 episode |
| 2007–2010 | 20 to One | Self | 10 episodes |
| 2018 | Show Me the Movie! | Self | 1 episode |
| I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here | Contestant | Season 4 | |
| 2022 | This Is Your Life: Rebecca Gibney | Self | 1 episode |
| ABC 90 Celebrate! | Self | TV special | |
| 2023 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Self | 1 episode |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | MagicLands | Associate Producer | In development |
Source: [66]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Mating Season | Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's | ||
| 1977 | Doctor in Love | Kitten | Australian tour with J. C. Williamson's | [67] |
| 1981 | Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | Long Wharf Theatre New Haven, Connecticut with Playwrights Foundation | [12] [68] |
| Hamlet | Ophelia | Arena Stage, Washington DC with Playwrights Foundation | [12] | |
| Measure for Measure | Isabella | [12] | ||
| 1987 | Dalliance | Christine | Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut | [14] |
| 1988 | Waves of Change | Voice Over Artist | Castlemaine Swimming Pool with Handspan Theatre | |
| 1991 | Talley's Folly | Sally Talley | Fairfax Studio, Melbourne | [69] |
| 1992 | The Idiot | Yepanchin / Varya Ivolgin / Radomsky | Theatre Works, Melbourne | |
| 1993 | I'm Not Rappaport | Clara | Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC | [70] |
| 1994 | Song of Songs | Melbourne Athenaeum with Theatre Works | ||
| 2001 | Away | Octagon Theatre, Perth with Black Swan State Theatre Company | ||
| 2005 | Love Letters | Melissa Gardner | NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney | |
| Radio Holiday | Big hART / 10 Days on the Island | [3] | ||
| 2006 | Stickybricks | Northcott Public Housing Estate, Sydney with Big hART | ||
| 2007 | Drive in Holiday | Tasmanian tour with Big hART | ||
| The Glass Soldier | Maddy | Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC | [71] [3] | |
| Brave Men Run in Our Family | Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne | |||
| 2015 | Blue Angel | Astor Hotel, Hobart with Big hART | ||
| 2024 | Into the Shimmering World | Floss | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC | [3] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Knot @ Home | Producer | RMIT University, Melbourne, Capitol Theatre, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House with Big hART | |
| 2007 | Brave Men Run | Director | TML Enterprises | [3] |
| 2013 | The Woolgatherer | Director | La Mama, Melbourne | [14] [3] |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
