Julia Morris
{{short description|Australian comedian}}
{{about|the Australian comedian and TV presenter|the Australian filmmaker|Julia Morris (filmmaker)}}
{{refimprove blp|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Julia Morris
| image = Julia Morris 2016 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Morris at the 2016 Logie Awards
| pseudonym =
| birth_name = Julia Carolyn Margaret Morris
| birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| death_date =
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| medium = Stand-up, television
| active = 1985–present
| genre =
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| spouse =
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| children = 2
| notable_work = {{plainlist|
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| signature =
| website = [http://www.juliamorris.com/ juliamorris.com]
| footnotes =
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
Julia Carolyn Margaret Morris is an Australian comedian, television presenter, and actress. She has worked extensively in Australian television and radio, touring the country with her solo comedy shows. She relocated to the United Kingdom in 2000, appearing on British television, then returned to Australia in 2007. She currently{{when|date=March 2025}} co-hosts Network 10's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia alongside Robert Irwin and also narrates Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia.
Early life and education
Julia Carolyn Margaret Morris{{cn|date=March 2025}} was educated at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, St Joseph's Catholic College, East Gosford, Santa Sabina College, Strathfield, and the Ensemble Theatre School.{{cn|date=March 2025}} She later attended acting school for two years in Los Angeles.{{cn|date=March 2025}}
Career
= Television =
File:Julia Morris arrives at the TV Week Logie Awards 58th Annual Crown Palladium (26871490746).jpg
Morris's first television appearance was in 1985, aged 17, as a contestant on the talent show New Faces. She performed "Holding Out for a Hero", a Jim Steinman song made famous by Bonnie Tyler, and tied for first place.{{cite web |author=Gadd, Michael | url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22174774-10388,00.html | title=It's time for the anti Straya Nidol |work=NEWS.com.au |date=2 August 2007 | access-date=19 August 2008}}
After several years in variety and stand-up, Morris's big break came when she joined the ensemble cast of the hit Australian sketch comedy series Full Frontal in 1995.{{cite web |author=Staff writer | url=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/jun/17/julia-morris-funny-lady/ | title=Julia Morris is a funny lady |work=Sunshine Coast Daily Online |date=17 June 2008 | access-date=19 August 2008}} This led to hosting roles on Great Aussie Bloopers and "The Morris Report" on the live variety series In Melbourne Tonight, as well as regular appearances on The Midday Show, Good Morning Australia, Beauty and the Beast and Who Dares Wins as well as the action series Gladiators.{{cite web | url=http://www.onyasoapbox.com/talent/show.php?id=34&name=Julia+Morris | title=Julia Morris |work=Onya Soapbox | access-date=19 August 2008}}
Morris relocated to the United Kingdom in 2000. As well as stand-up, she made appearances on the TV quiz QI, an episode of the sitcom Not Going Out playing a successful beautician, and in the sixth episode of season three of Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List, offering advice on the British audiences. Morris also had a stint presenting the BBC's Liquid News show in 2002.
Since her return to Australia in 2007, Morris has made appearances on Thank God You're Here, Good News Week, Spicks and Specks, Rove Live, The Singing Office, It Takes Two, Sleuth 101, Studio 10, The Project, The Living Room, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Hughesy, We Have a Problem. She won the third season of the reality singing series It Takes Two, in which she was partnered with opera singer David Hobson.{{cite web|author=John, Katelyn |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23584579-5005961,00.html |title=Julia Morris wins It Takes Two |work=The Herald Sun |date=22 April 2008 |access-date=19 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428042647/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C23584579-5005961%2C00.html |archive-date=28 April 2008 }} Her winnings were donated to the Emily Tapp Foundation, a charity dedicated to melanoma awareness and prevention.{{cite web |author=Staff writer | url=http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/who-magazine/484/comedian-julia-morris-has-laughed-her-way-through-to-win-it-takes-two/ | title=Comedian Julia Morris has laughed her way through to win It Takes Two! |work=Who Magazine |date=23 April 2008 | access-date=19 August 2008}} She has also appeared in a series of commercials for All-Bran cereal, which also featured fellow actress and comedian Helen Dallimore.
Morris was the winning contestant on the 2011 series of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia, beating teammate Jason Coleman, model Jesinta Campbell and AFL footballer Shane Crawford.
In 2012, Morris has starred as Gemma Crabb in the Nine Network's Melbourne-made drama series House Husbands. The show commenced a second season on 8 April 2013.
In April 2013, Morris was announced as the new host of television talent show Australia's Got Talent, which has switched from the Seven Network to the Nine Network.{{cite news |last1=Byrnes |first1=Holly |title=Julia Morris to host channel 9's Australia's Got Talent |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/television/julia-morris-to-host-channel-9s-australias-got-talent/news-story/62ab5067d0939e02043d39f81c463919 |access-date=31 July 2018 |work=Herald-Sun |date=14 April 2013}}
On 1 February 2015, Morris began co-hosting the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! with Chris Brown on Network 10.
In 2018, Morris hosted an updated version of dating show Blind Date on Network 10.
On 24 February 2019, she also began co-hosting Chris & Julia's Sunday Night Takeaway with Chris Brown on Network 10.
At the 61st TV Week Logie Awards in 2019, Morris was nominated for the Gold Logie for the two aforementioned shows as well as I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!. She was again nominated for the Gold Logie in 2022{{Cite web |title=2022 Gold Logie nominee: Julia Morris {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/06/2022-gold-logie-nominee-julia-morris.html |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=tvtonight.com.au |date=18 June 2022 |language=en-AU}} and then again in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-18 |title=Logies 2023: Julia Morris And Osher Günsberg Nominated For Gold |url=https://10play.com.au/10-play-trending/articles/logies-2023-julia-morris-and-osher-gunsberg-nominated-for-gold/tpa230618ckmoh |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=10 play |language=en-AU}}
In 2020, Morris appeared as "Kitten" on the second season of The Masked Singer Australia and was eliminated in the semi-final, placing 5th overall.{{cite web|last=Fowler|first=Isabella|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/television/live-masked-singer-2020-new-celebrity-unmasked/live-coverage/ed6fc7876ff253bd5d15bbc629aeb5c2|title=LIVE: Masked Singer 2020: Kitten unmasked as Julia Morris|date=1 September 2020|website=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=1 September 2020}}{{cite web|last=Whitehead|first=Mat|url=https://10play.com.au/the-masked-singer/articles/all-the-clues-from-episode-8-of-the-masked-singer-2020/tpa200901irhze|title=All The Clues From Episode 8 Of The Masked Singer 2020|date=1 September 2020|website=10 Play|publisher=Network Ten|access-date=2 September 2020}}
In early 2023, Morris appeared as a celebrity contestant on the Australian adaption of the British comedy panel game show Taskmaster, titled Taskmaster Australia. She competed alongside fellow entertainers Jimmy Rees, Danielle Walker, Luke McGregor and Nina Oyama.{{Cite news |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=2023-02-01 |title=Taskmaster comes to Australia: 'I am better than Greg Davies – make that the headline!' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/02/taskmaster-comes-to-australia-i-am-better-than-greg-davies-make-that-the-headline |access-date=2023-08-01 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Vivienne |date=2023-01-16 |title=Australian Version of 'Taskmaster' to Premiere on 10 in February |url=https://au.variety.com/2023/tv/news/taskmaster-australia-8240/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Variety Australia |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Rugendyke |first=Louise |date=2023-01-24 |title='They torture you': The TV show putting Aussie comedians through the wringer |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/they-torture-you-tom-cashman-and-nina-oyama-take-taskmaster-to-task-20230124-p5ceyp.html |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
In July 2023, Morris began narrating a brand new show on Network 10 called Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia.{{Cite web |last=McManus |first=Bridget |date=2023-07-05 |title='Dogfather' thought he'd seen it all. Then he came here |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/trainer-dubbed-the-dogfather-thought-he-d-seen-it-all-then-he-came-to-australia-20230704-p5dlp8.html |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=We Have A Date For Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia |url=https://10play.com.au/dogs-behaving-very-badly-australia/articles/we-have-a-date-for-dogs-behaving-very-badly-australia/tpa230622uxiap |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=10 play |language=en-AU}}
= Live performance =
Morris tours international comedy festivals, appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, South Africa's Vodacom Funny Festival, Montreal's Just For Laughs and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. She won a Herald Angel Award at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Time Out magazine's Comedy Performer of the Year Award in 2004. She is a former manager of Sydney's Comedy Store venue.
In 1999 Morris toured in the critically acclaimed Australian production of the Off-Broadway musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
Personal life
Morris married British comedian Dan Thomas{{cite web | url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/04/22/6676/comic_morris_is_australias_top_diva | title=Comic Morris is Australia's top diva |work=Chortle |date=22 April 2008 | access-date=20 August 2008}} in Las Vegas on 31 December 2005.{{cite web |author=Morris, Julia |url=http://www.juliamorris.co.uk/juliamorrisblog.html |title=Julia Morris Blog |work=JuliaMorris.co.uk |date=August 2006 |access-date=20 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220153731/http://www.juliamorris.co.uk/juliamorrisblog.html |archive-date=20 December 2007 |url-status=dead }} They divorced in 2022.{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Julia Morris reveals unexpected perk of getting divorced |work=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/marriage/julia-morris-reveals-unexpected-perk-of-getting-divorced/news-story/bcf1e9139a41da512cd8da90df099c40?amp |access-date=August 18, 2022}}
Filmography
=As actor=
| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Show ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |
| 1995–96
|Various characters | TV sketch show, 26 episodes (also writer) |
| 2006
|Ruth | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2012–17
|Gemma Crabb | TV series, 58 episodes |
| 2020
| The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee |Carol Knight | Feature film |
| 2022
|Keith | Animated film (Australian release) |
=As herself=
| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Show ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! colspan="2" style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |
| 1999–2002
| Panellist | TV talk show | |
| 2003
| QI | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2006–07
| Guest | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| 2007
| Guest | TV talk show, 1 episode | |
| 2007
| Guest | TV sketch show, 1 episode | |
| 2008
| Melbourne International Comedy Festival | Performer | TV special | |
| 2008
| Contestant | TV series, 11 episodes | |
| 2008–12
| Panellist | TV series, 14 episodes | |
| 2010
| Guest | TV series | |
| 2010
| Performer | TV special | |
| 2010
| Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
| 2011
| The Celebrity Apprentice Australia | Contestant - Winner | TV series, 8 episodes | |
| 2013
| Host | TV series | |
| 2015–present
| I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Co-host | TV series |Alongside Chris Brown (2015–2023) and Robert Irwin (2024-2025) |
| 2016, 2018
|Have You Been Paying Attention? | Guest quizmaster | TV series, 2 episodes | |
| 2018
| Guest | 1 episode | |
| 2018
| Host | TV series | |
| 2019
| Chris & Julia's Sunday Night Takeaway | Co-host | TV series | |
| 2020
| Contestant | TV series, Season 2 | |
| 2023
| Contestant | TV series, Season 1 | |
| 2023
|Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia |Narrator |TV series | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.juliamorris.com/ Official website]
- {{IMDb name|0606689}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2212196.stm BBC News article discussing the Liquid News presenter lineup, August 2002]
- [http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/jmorris.html Review at chortle.co.uk]
- [http://www.chortle.co.uk/edfest2003/juliamorris.html Review of 2003 Edinburgh Festival show Will You Kids Get Out Of That Pool Please!]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20040928023524/http://www.brightoncomedyfestival.com/ladyjuliamorris.asp Review of 2004 Brighton Comedy Festival show Lady Julia Morris Live]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080306084111/http://au.yahoo.com/it-takes-two/couples/bio/julia-morris/ Julia Morris biography] – It Takes Two website
{{Authority control}}
{{HelpmannAward ComedyPerformer 2007-2020}}
{{The Apprentice Australia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Julia}}
Category:Australian women comedians
Category:Australian women television presenters
Category:Australian expatriates in England
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Australian people of Welsh descent
Category:The Apprentice Australia winners
Category:Australia's Got Talent