Frances O'Connor
{{short description|British-Australian actress, director (born 1967)}}
{{for-multi|the sideshow performer|Frances O'Connor (performer)|other people|Francis O'Connor (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Frances O'Connor
| image = Three Dollars (2005 film) – Frances O'Connor, December 2004 (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = O'Connor in Three Dollars, December 2004
| birth_name = Frances Ann O'ConnorBirths, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at Ancestry.com
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1967|06|12}}{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/today-history-24100059?singlePage=true|title=Today in History|work=ABC News|date=12 June 2014|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328074150/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/today-history-24100059?singlePage=true|url-status=live}}
| birth_place = Wantage, Berkshire, England, UK
| alma_mater = Curtin University
| notable_works = Mansfield Park
Bedazzled
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The Importance of Being Earnest
Timeline
| occupation = Actress, director, writer
| years_active = 1993–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Gerald Lepkowski|2011}}
| children = 1
| awards = AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Blessed (2009)
}}
Frances Ann O'Connor (born 12 June 1967) is a British-Australian actress and director. She appears in roles in the films Mansfield Park, Bedazzled, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Timeline. O'Connor won an AACTA Award for her performance in Blessed, and also earned two Golden Globe Award nominations for her performances in Madame Bovary and The Missing. In 2022, her debut feature as writer and director, Emily, was released.
Early life
O'Connor was born in Wantage, at the time part of Berkshire, England, to a pianist mother and nuclear physicist father;{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} her family moved to Perth, Western Australia, when she was two years old.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/06/17/1023864402304.html|title=The earnest gypsy|date=17 June 2002|website=The Age|access-date=8 July 2008|archive-date=5 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105114311/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/06/17/1023864402304.html|url-status=live}} She is the middle of five children, with one older brother, one older sister, and two younger sisters.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} O'Connor was raised Roman Catholic,{{cite web|url=http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=4476&s=Interviews|title=O'Connor Frances: Bedazzled|website=Urban Cinefile|access-date=8 February 2008|archive-date=3 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203032828/http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=4476&s=Interviews|url-status=live}} and attended the Mercedes College in Perth. She then went on to attend the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature from Curtin University in Western Australia.
Career
O'Connor made her film debut in Emma-Kate Croghan's critically acclaimed independent romantic comedy Love and Other Catastrophes (1996).{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/frances-oconnor/|title=Frances O'Connor; Movies and Biography|website=Yahoo! Movies|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232032/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/frances-oconnor/|url-status=live}} She received her first AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination for her performance in the film. In 1997, she had the leading role in Kiss or Kill,{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kiss_or_kill/|title=Kiss or Kill|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231611/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kiss_or_kill/|url-status=live}} and starred opposite Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in Thank God He Met Lizzie. In 1999, O'Connor starred as Fanny Price in the British romantic comedy-drama Mansfield Park. The film also received favourable reviews from critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1093843-mansfield_park/|title=Mansfield Park|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115144/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1093843-mansfield_park/|url-status=live}} The following year, O'Connor earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as Emma Bovary in the film Madame Bovary.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frances_oconnor/biography.php|title=Frances O'Connor Biography|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232601/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frances_oconnor/biography.php|url-status=live}}
In 2000, O'Connor began her Hollywood career with a role in the remake with Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley of the 1967 British film Bedazzled.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/apr/02/comment.akinojumu1|title=Australia's latest export, Frances O'Connor|last=Ojumu|first=Akin|date=2000-04-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-07-12|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712144102/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/apr/02/comment.akinojumu1|url-status=live}} The following year, she had a leading role in the Steven Spielberg science fiction drama A.I. Artificial Intelligence, earning her a nomination for a Saturn Award for Best Actress. In 2002, she starred alongside Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Judi Dench in the romantic comedy-drama The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Oliver Parker and based on Oscar Wilde's classic play. In 2003, O'Connor starred opposite Paul Walker in the science fiction film Timeline, which bombed at the box office.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=timeline.htm|title=Timeline (2003)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=2 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202014902/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=timeline.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v278220|title=Timeline (2003) – Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast|date=26 November 2003|website=AllMovie|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=22 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222141407/http://www.allmovie.com/movie/v278220|url-status=live}}
In 2004, O'Connor returned to independent films and starred in Book of Love opposite Simon Baker, and Iron Jawed Angels with Hilary Swank, Julia Ormond and Anjelica Huston. In 2008, she starred in the short-lived ABC comedy-drama series Cashmere Mafia alongside Lucy Liu, Miranda Otto and Bonnie Somerville. In 2009, she won an AACTA Award for Best Actress for her performance in Blessed. She later appeared in Jayne Mansfield's Car, Little Red Wagon and The Truth About Emanuel; and received two more AACTA Award for Best Actress nominations for Three Dollars (2005) and The Hunter (2011). In 2011, O'Connor was cast in the ABC drama pilot Hallelujah, created by Marc Cherry, but the show was not picked up to series.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2011/02/several-actors-join-broadcast-pilots-109261/|title=Several Actors Join Broadcast Pilots|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=25 February 2011|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211444/http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/several-actors-join-broadcast-pilots/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/news/a306334/frances-oconnor-boards-abc-pilot.html|title=Frances O'Connor boards ABC pilot|publisher=Digital Spy|date=28 February 2011|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235411/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/news/a306334/frances-oconnor-boards-abc-pilot.html|url-status=live}} From 2013 to 2014, she starred as Rose Selfridge in the British period drama Mr Selfridge.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-01-02/meet-the-cast-of-mr-selfridge|title=Meet the cast of Mr Selfridge|work=Radio Times|last=Lazarus|first=Suzanna|date=2 January 2013|access-date=16 September 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123423/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-01-02/meet-the-cast-of-mr-selfridge|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/03/28/playing-the-mrs-to-mr-selfridge|title=Playing the Mrs. to 'Mr. Selfridge'|date=28 March 2013|website=Usnews.com|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=31 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001923/http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/03/28/playing-the-mrs-to-mr-selfridge|url-status=live}}
In 2014, O'Connor was cast as the lead in the British drama The Missing.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a555852/james-nesbitt-frances-oconnor-to-star-in-bbc-ones-the-missing.html#~ponMriNCzd0L2B|title=James Nesbitt, Frances O'Connor to star in BBC One's The Missing|publisher=Digital Spy|last=Jeffery|first=Morgan|date=6 March 2014|access-date=16 September 2015|archive-date=22 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022062945/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a555852/james-nesbitt-frances-oconnor-to-star-in-bbc-ones-the-missing.html#~ponMriNCzd0L2B|url-status=live}} She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globe-awards-nominations-complete-756441?|title=Golden Globe Awards Nominations: The Complete List|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=12 November 2014|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=3 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103070329/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globe-awards-nominations-complete-756441|url-status=live}} She then appeared as Belle's mother Colette in the fourth season of the American series Once Upon a Time.{{cite web|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/09/04/once-upon-a-time-frances-oconnor-belles-mom/?hootPostID=895b38d17274465e2e97574e8a812bef|title='Once Upon a Time' casts Frances O'Connor as Belle's mom|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=9 April 2014|access-date=5 September 2014|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208092331/https://ew.com/article/2014/09/04/once-upon-a-time-frances-oconnor-belles-mom/?hootPostID=895b38d17274465e2e97574e8a812bef|url-status=live}} In 2016, O'Connor co-starred in the horror film The Conjuring 2, alongside Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/frances-oconnor-joins-conjuring-2-823424|title=Frances O'Connor Joins 'The Conjuring 2' (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=15 September 2015|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=30 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130224924/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/frances-oconnor-joins-conjuring-2-823424|url-status=live}} and in Cleverman, opposite Iain Glen.{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/2015/tv/news/iain-glen-frances-oconnors-cleverman-sundancetv-1201585176/|title=Iain Glen, Frances O'Connor's 'Cleverman' Series to Air on SundanceTV|work=Variety|last=Friedlander|first=Whitney|date=3 September 2015|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026220824/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/iain-glen-frances-oconnors-cleverman-sundancetv-1201585176/|url-status=live}}
In 2022, O'Connor made her directorial debut with Emily, a biographical drama she also wrote, about the life of English writer Emily Brontë (portrayed by Emma Mackey).
Personal life
O'Connor and her long-term partner, Gerald Lepkowski, had a son in 2005. The couple married in 2011 at O'Connor's mother's residence in Australia.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1995
| Bathing Boxes | 2nd Woman | Short film |
| 1996
| Mia | |
| rowspan="2" | 1997
| Nikki Davies | |
| Thank God He Met Lizzie
| Jenny Follett | |
| 1998
| Kate Haslett | |
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| A Margherita with Hot Salami | Diana | Short film |
| Mansfield Park
| |
| rowspan="2" | 2000
| Laura Owens | |
| Bedazzled
| Alison Gardner/Nicole Delarusso | |
| 2001
| A.I. Artificial Intelligence | Monica Swinton | |
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| The Importance of Being Earnest | Gwendolen Fairfax | |
| Windtalkers
| Rita Swelton | |
| 2003
| Timeline | Kate Ericson | |
| rowspan="2" | 2004
| |
| Book of Love
| Elaine Walker | |
| rowspan="3" | 2005
| Tanya Harnovey | |
| The Lazarus Child
| Alison Heywood | |
| Piccadilly Jim
| Ann Chester | |
| 2009
| Blessed | Rhonda | |
| 2011
| Lucy Armstrong | |
| 2012
| Camilla Bedford | |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Jaime Anderson | |
| Little Red Wagon
| Margaret Craig | |
| 2013
| Janice | |
| 2014
| Mercy | Rebecca McCoy | |
| 2016
| Peggy Hodgson | |
| 2020
| Go! | Christie Hooper | |
| 2022
| Emily | {{N/A}} | Writer, director |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes !Ref |
| 1993
| Marissa Green | 13 episodes | |
| 1994
| The Damnation of Harvey McHugh | Georgina | 1 episode: "Heaven Knows Mr. McHugh" | |
| rowspan="2" | 1995
| Rachel McAlister | Season 2, 2 episodes | |
| Halifax f.p.
| Frances | TV film series, episode 3: "The Feeding" | |
| rowspan="3" | 1996
| Gabe Greenway | 3 episodes | |
| G.P.
| Karen Papadopoulos | Episode: "Someone to Turn To" | |
| Shark Bay
| Dr. Jane | Regular role | |
| 1997
| Kristy | Episode: "I Get the Big Names" | |
| 2000
| TV film | |
| 2008
| Zoe Burden | 7 episodes | |
| 2009
| Nova | Emma Darwin | Documentary series, 1 episode: "Darwin's Darkest Hour" | |
| rowspan="2" | 2011
| Ice | Sarah Fitch | Miniseries, 2 episodes | |
| Hallelujah
| Ruth Turner | Unsold pilot, US | |
| 2013
| Vegas | Barbara Kent | Episode: "From This Day Forward" | |
| 2013–2014
| Rose Selfridge | 20 episodes | |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Emily Hughes | Miniseries, 8 episodes | |
| Once Upon a Time
| Colette | Episode: "Family Business" | |
| 2016
| Dr. Charlotte Cleary | 12 episodes | |
| 2017
| Nina | Unsold pilot | |
| 2018
| Hecuba | 7 episodes | |
| 2020
| The End | Dr. Kate Brennan | 10 episodes | |
| 2023
| Annabel | Episode: "Come As You Are" |
| 2024
| Meredith Nelson-Moore QC | 8 episodes |
| 2025
| {{TBA}} | Season 2, guest role | |
Stage
{{cite web|url= https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/250152 |title= Frances O'Connor |publisher= AusStage}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Association ! Category ! Work ! Result |
| 1996
| rowspan="2" | AACTA Awards | rowspan="2" | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Love and Other Catastrophes | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="4" | 1997
| rowspan="3" | Kiss or Kill | {{nom}} |
| Film Critics Circle of Australia
| Best Actress{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} | {{won}} |
| Montreal World Film Festival
| Best Actress{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} | {{won}} |
| AACTA Awards
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Thank God He Met Lizzie | {{nom}} |
| 1999
| Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Mansfield Park | {{nom}} |
| 2000
| Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | Madame Bovary | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2001
| rowspan="3" | A.I. Artificial Intelligence | {{nom}} |
| American Film Institute
| Featured Actor of the Year – Female – Movies | {{nom}} |
| 2002
| {{nom}} |
| 2005
| rowspan="2" | AACTA Awards | rowspan="2" | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Three Dollars | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2009
| rowspan="2" | Blessed | {{won}} |
| Film Critics Circle of Australia
| Best Actress{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2011
| Film Critics Circle of Australia | Best Actress{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} | rowspan="2" | The Hunter | {{won}} |
| AACTA Awards
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | {{nom}} |
| 2013
| Ashland Independent Film Festival | Best Acting Ensemble{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} | The Truth About Emanuel | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | rowspan="2" | The Missing | {{nom}} |
| Golden Nymph Awards
| Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} | {{won}} |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0640323}}
{{Commons category|Frances O'Connor}}
{{AACTA Award Best Actress in a Leading Role 2000–2019}}
{{EquityAward TVDramaCast}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oconnor, Frances}}
Category:Actresses from Berkshire
Category:Australian film actresses
Category:Australian people of Irish descent
Category:Australian Shakespearean actresses
Category:Australian television actresses
Category:Best Actress AACTA Award winners
Category:Curtin University alumni
Category:Edith Cowan University alumni
Category:British emigrants to Australia
Category:Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts alumni
Category:20th-century Australian actresses