Helen Morse

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Helen Morse
Born (1947-01-24) 24 January 1947 (age 77)
OccupationActress
Years active1965–present

Helen Morse (born 24 January 1947) is an English-born Australian actress who has appeared in films, on television and on stage. [1] She won the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1976 film Caddie , and starred in the 1981 miniseries A Town Like Alice . Her other film appearances include Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Agatha (1979), Far East (1982) and The Eye of the Storm (2011).

Contents

Early life and education

Morse was born in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, England, in 1947. She was the oldest of four children; her parents were a doctor and nurse. [2] She moved to Australia in 1950 with her family. [3] She attended school at Presbyterian Ladies' College in Burwood, Victoria, and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1965, [3] and trained with Brian Syron in Sydney.

Career

Film & Television

Morse won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the 1976 film Caddie. Her notable screen performances also include roles in the film Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and the television miniseries A Town Like Alice .

Morse had roles on many television productions, including three episodes of The Doctor Blake Mysteries in 2014 (Series 2), 2015 (Series 3), and 2016 (Series 4).

Theatre

Since her early work with Jim Sharman in the 1960s and 70s – A Taste of Honey , Terror Australis, As You Like It , [4] Morse has worked in over ninety theatre productions.

Morse has worked with many companies including Melbourne Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre, The Independent, Nimrod Theatre Company, Marian Street Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Hunter Valley Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Harvest Theatre Company (South Australia) and the State Theatre Company of South Australia.

In 2002 and again in 2008, Morse played the role of Theodora Goodman in Adam Cook's adaptation of Patrick White's The Aunt's Story. [5] Her 2004 performance as Nancy in Bryony Lavery's Frozen for the Melbourne Theatre Company earned her a Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play nomination. She has since been nominated for productions of John by Annie Baker (Melbourne Theatre Company), and Memorial by Alice Oswald (Brink Productions). In 2020, she won a Green Room Award for her performance in 33 Variations by Moisés Kaufman (Cameron Lukey and Neil Gooding Productions).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1968The Return of the BoomerangFilm short
1970 Adam's Woman MaggieFeature film
1974 Petersen Jane / Charles' mistressFeature film
1974 Stone AmandaFeature film
1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock Mlle. de PoitiersFeature film
1976 Caddie Caddie MarshFeature film
1978Tapak Dewata JavaFilm short
1979 Agatha EvelynFeature film
1979The First ChristmasVoiceFilm short
1982 Far East Jo ReevesFeature film
1984Iris (aka Out of Time)Iris / SammieFeature film
1997The BridgeFilm short
2000LostMrs. HarrisFilm short
2011 The Eye of the Storm LotteFeature film
2015 Downriver MaryFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1966 Twelfth Night Olivia Teleplay
1966 The Runaway JennyTeleplay
1966; 1967 Australian Playhouse Beatrice / Patty HuttonTV series, 2 episodes: "No Dogs On Diamond Street" / "Sailor's Trousers"
1967 The Queen's Bishop Teleplay
1967–72 Homicide Stella Lee / Joanne Edwards / Pamela ChandlerTV series, 3 episodes
1967 You Can't See 'Round Corners KarenTV series, 1 episode
1967 Contrabandits Angela CarrolTV series, 1 episode
1968The Great Barrier ReefNarratorFilm documentary
1968 This Day Tonight Herself on stage set 'Terra Australis' with Garry McDonald & Peter RowleyABC TV series, 1 episode
1969Love and War – IntersectionTeleplay
1969–74 Division 4 Mrs. Kirby / Angela Hughes / Penny Horton / Christine Marriott / Tina Findlay / Angela McGregorTV series, 6 episodes
1969 Riptide Joanna DeckerTV series, 1 episode
1969 The Pressure Pak Show GuestTV series, 1 episode
1970A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's CourtVoiceAnimated TV movie
1970 Barrier Reef Joan NorrisTV series, 1 episode
1971The Legend Of Robin HoodVoiceAnimated TV movie
1971 Spyforce Joan / NurseTV series, 2 episodes: "The Escape"
1972 The Spoiler TV series, 1 episode
1972Travels of Marco PoloPrincess Cocacin (voice)Animated TV movie
1972 Crisis MargieTV pilot
1972The Resistible Rise of Arturo UiDockdaisyTeleplay
1972 Matlock Police Susan WilliamsTV series, 1 episode
1972QuartetTV series, 1 episode: "The Last Great Journey"
1972The Kenneth Connor ShowVarious charactersTV series, 4 episodes
1973; 1974 Ryan Shirley Green / Goldie TaylorTV series, 2 episodes
1974Things that Go Bump in the NightKalie InghamTV series, 1 episode
1974 Marion Marion RichardsTV miniseries, 4 episodes
1974This Love AffairTV series, 1 episode 11: "A Family Christmas"
1974 A Touch of Reverence TV miniseries
1975IvanhoeVoiceAnimated TV movie
1976 Luke's Kingdom KateTV miniseries, 13 episodes
1976 Power Without Glory TV miniseries
1976Obsession – Kill Kaplan!Teleplay
1979 The Sullivans TV series
1980; 1982 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1981 A Town Like Alice Jean PagetTV miniseries, 3 episodes
1982 Logie Awards of 1982 HerselfTV special
1982 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - HerselfTV series, 1 episode
1982 Silent Reach Antonia RussellTV miniseries, 2 episodes
1982 Parkinson in AustraliaGuest (with Bryan Brown)TV series, 1 episode
1983Australian Movies to the WorldHerselfTV special
1985 Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse Beryl Stapleton (voice)Animated TV movie
1985 The Adventures of Robin Hood Maid Marion (voice)Animated TV movie
1991In Sydney TodayGuestTV series, 1 episode
1992 Bony unknownTV series, 1 episode
1993ReviewGuest presenterTV series, 1 episode
1995; 1997 Good Morning Australia GuestTV series, 2 episodes
1997Night of the BogongsNarratorTV documentary
1999Stone ForeverHerselfTV special
2000PozièresHerselfTV movie documentary
2002Caddie on LocationHerselfFilm documentary
2003Love Letters from a WarNarratorTV movie
2004A Dream within a Dream: The Making of 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'HerselfFilm documentary
2008The Prime Minister is MissingNarratorTV documentary
2010 City Homicide Penelope McVeighTV series, 1 episode
2010Mary McKillop: Soul of the Sunburnt CountryMary McKillop (voice)Video documentary
2012 The Mystery of a Hansom Cab Mother GuttersnipeTV movie
2014, 2016 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Agnes ClasbyTV series, 3 episodes
2014 Picnic at Hanging Rock: Everything Begins and Ends HerselfFilm documentary
2016 Molly GrandmotherTV miniseries, 2 episodes
2016 Barracuda Margot TaylorTV miniseries, 2 episodes

Theatre

As actor

YearTitleRoleVenue / Company
1964Extracts from ShakespeareCelia in As You Like it and Jaquenetta in Love's Labour's Lost UNSW
1964 Our Town Mrs Gibbs UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1964Two Programs of One Act Plays: Love and How to Cure It Linda UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1964Two Programs of Short Plays: The Chinese Wall / Hamlet Mee Lan the Chinese princess / OpheliaUniversity of NSW, Old Tote Theatre
1965Uncle BenHetty UNSW
1965A Series of Dance Pieces: Ballad of the Drover's WifeDance group UNSW
1965 Othello UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1965 Down in the Valley / Leonard Teale & Andy SundstromJenny Parsons UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1965 The Plough and the Stars Bessie Burgess UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1965 A Taste of Honey Cell Block Theatre, Darlinghurst
1965The Business of Good GovernmentAssembly Hall, Sydney
1967 The Imaginary Invalid UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1967A Lily In Little India Independent Theatre
1967 The School for Scandal UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1968 Terror Australis Jane Street Theatre
1968 Private Lives Hunter Theatre, The Junction, Palace Theatre, Sydney
1968 Present Laughter Hunter Theatre, The Junction, Palace Theatre, Sydney
1969 Pygmalion UNSW Parade Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre
1969 The Merchant of Venice UNSW Parade Theatre
1970 The Seagull Scott Theatre, Adelaide
1970 What the Butler Saw Phillip Street Theatre
1971 As You Like It Celia UNSW Parade Theatre
1971 The Man of Mode UNSW Parade Theatre
1971 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui UNSW Parade Theatre, Canberra Theatre
1971 The Dutch Courtesan UNSW Parade Theatre
1971The National Health or Nurse Norton's Affair UNSW Parade Theatre
1971 Lasseter UNSW Parade Theatre
1971 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui UNSW Parade Theatre
1972Rooted Nimrod Theatre Company
1972-73Tom Russell Street Theatre
1976The WolfVilma UNSW Parade Theatre
1977 The Time Is Not Yet Ripe Doris Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre
1978A Visit with the FamilyKit Nimrod Theatre Company
1979RainSadie Thompson Ensemble Theatre
1979Not IMouth Nimrod Theatre Company
1979Vicki Madison Clocks OutVicki Madison Nimrod Theatre Company
1980 Cyrano de Bergerac Roxanne Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre
1982Duet for OneStephanie Abrahams His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Playhouse Adelaide, Marian Street Theatre, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Playhouse Canberra, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Melbourne Athenaeum, Theatre Royal, Sydney
1985 Private Lives Playhouse, Newcastle
1985 Blithe Spirit Civic Playhouse, Newcastle
1985Pride and PrejudiceQueensland
1986A Happy and Holy OccasionBrendaPlayhouse, Newcastle
1986-87 A Streetcar Named Desire Blanche DuBois His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Playhouse, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre Sydney
1987 Away Shanghai
1987 Twelfth Night Playhouse, Melbourne
1987The Rivers of ChinaKatherine Mansfield Wharf Theatre, Playhouse Melbourne
1988Europe by Michael Gow BarbaraAustralian national tour
1988 Hedda Gabler Hedda Playhouse, Melbourne
1989 The Cherry Orchard Carlotta Playhouse, Melbourne
1989-90 The Recruiting Officer Playhouse, Melbourne
1989-90 Our Country's Good Lizzie Morden Playhouse, Melbourne, Playhouse Adelaide
1989-90Mrs Klein Russell Street Theatre, Marian Street Theatre
1990 The Tempest Ariel Playhouse, Melbourne|
1990 Nothing Sacred Playhouse, Melbourne
1990 Away Coral Malthouse Theatre
1991 The Crucible Elizabeth Proctor Playhouse, Melbourne
1991 The Marriage of Figaro Playhouse, Melbourne
1991 On Our Selection Playhouse, Melbourne
1992 A Midsummer Night's Dream Playhouse Adelaide
1992 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Playhouse, Adelaide
1992-93 Death and the Maiden Wharf Theatre, Russell Street Theatre, Playhouse Perth, Space Theatre, Adelaide, Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1993 Under Milk Wood Playhouse, Adelaide
1994The Tin Soldier and The Paper Bag PrincessNarrator Lyric Theatre
1995 Arcadia Hannah Playhouse, Melbourne, Playhouse Adelaide, Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Canberra Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth
1995-96Good Works by Nick Enright Malthouse Theatre, Space Theatre, Adelaide, Wharf Theatre
1997 A Little Night Music Playhouse, Melbourne, Princess Theatre Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Sydney,
1998The Woman in the Window by Alma De Groen Fairfax Studio, Melbourne
2000Keene / Taylor Theatre Project Sydney Opera House
2001The Twilight SeriesEnsemble Collins Street Baptist Church
2001KaddishSpan Gallery, Melbourne with Keene/Taylor Theatre Projects
2001-02 The Aunt's Story Theodora Goodman Playhouse, Melbourne, Belvoir Street Theatre, Playhouse, South Bank
2003-04 Frozen NancyFairfax Studio, Melbourne, Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company / Melbourne Theatre Company
Nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play
2004Hats Off! to Sondheim National Theatre, Melbourne
2005 The Breath of Life Glen Street Theatre, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour, Ipswich Civic Hall, Sunshine Coast Events Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Dunstan Playhouse
2005Ivanov fortyfivedownstairs
2007Beckett Poetry and Prose Parade Theatre
2007 Homer's Iliad The Stork Hotel, Melbourne
2007The OdysseyThe Stork Hotel, Melbourne
2007Beyond Cuisine Fortyfivedownstairs
2008Architektin Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide
2008 The Aunt's Story Theodora Goodman
2009 The Year of Magical Thinking DidionThe New Dolphin Theatre, Crawley, Albany Town Hall Theatre
2010Duets for Lovers and Dreamers Fortyfivedownstairs
2011SundownerPhee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine
2012Signs of LifeWestern Australia tour & Sydney Opera House
2012The Curtain Southbank Theatre
2013SundownerNational tour
2013BrelSinger Space Theatre, Adelaide
2014 Once in Royal David's City Belvoir
2016 Wit Fortyfivedownstairs
2017John by Annie Baker Mertis Katherine GravenFairfax Studio, Melbourne with Melbourne Theatre Company
Nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play
2017 Angels in America Fortyfivedownstairs
2018Memorial by Alice Oswald Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide, Playhouse, South Bank, Barbican Centre, London with Brink Productions
Nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play
2019 33 Variations Dr Ladenburger Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
Won a Green Room Award
2020 Escaped Alone Belvoir
2022 Escaped Alone & What If If OnlyMrs Jarrett / Fs Southbank Theatre
The Funniest Man in the WorldKeene/Taylor Theatre Projects

As director

YearTitleRoleVenue / Company
2000National Playwrights Conference 2000 - The Workshop ProgramDirector State Theatre Company Rehearsal Room, Scott Theatre, Adelaide

[6]

Personal life

Morse was married from 1967 until 1976 to Australian actor and director Sandy Harbutt, who she met while starring in a stage production of A Taste of Honey in Newcastle. [7] They also starred together in Stone .

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References

  1. George Tosi, "Helen Morse and Richard Mason", Cinema Papers, August 1982, pp. 311–315.
  2. Musgrove, Nan (27 August 1975). "Film role of the year for Helen Morse". The Australian Women's Weekly via Trove, National Library of Australia.
  3. 1 2 Moran, Albert; Keating, Chris (4 August 2009). The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television. Scarecrow Press. p. 264. ISBN   978-0-8108-7022-2 . Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  4. "On the Couch with Helen Morse". Arts Review. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  5. Bryce Hallett The Aunt's Story Review in The Sydney Morning Herald , 16 August 2002
  6. https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2365
  7. "Marriage comes before a career". Australian Women's Weekly. 12 June 1968 via Trove, National Library of Australia.