Julia Morris

Infobox Comedian
name = Julia Morris


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birth_date = 1968
birth_place = Australia
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medium = Stand-up, television
nationality = Australian
active = 1985-present
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spouse = Dan Thomas (2005-present)
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website = http://www.juliamorris.co.uk/
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Julia Morris (born 1968) is an Australian writer, comedian, actress, television presenter and television producer who has worked extensively in Australian and British television and radio. She has toured widely with her solo stand-up comedy shows. In Australia, she is best known as one of the stars of the popular sketch series "Full Frontal". She relocated to the United Kingdom in 2000, where she appeared widely on British television before returning with her family to Australia in 2007.

Personal life

Morris married British comedian Dan Thomas in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve, 2005. [cite web |author=Morris, Julia l | url=http://www.juliamorris.co.uk/juliamorrisblog.html | title=Julia Morris Blog |work=JuliaMorris.co.uk |date=August 2006 | accessdate=2008-08-20] The couple have one daughter, Ruby Charlotte Thomas, and are expecting another. [cite web |author=Staff writer l | 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=2008-04-22 | accessdate=2008-08-20] In 2003, Morris acquired the title "Lady of the Manor of Gosforth" after her husband bought it for her online. Although it has no legal standing, Morris exploits its comic value in her stand-up show, referring to herself as "Lady Julia Morris".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=2008-06-17 | accessdate=2008-08-19]

Career

Television

Morris's first television appearance was in 1985 at the age of 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=2007-08-02 | accessdate=2008-08-19]

After several years of working in variety and stand-up comedy, Morris got her big break when she joined the ensemble cast of the hit Australian sketch comedy series "Full Frontal" in 1995. This led to hosting roles on "Great Aussie Bloopers" and "The Morris Report" in 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". and the action series "Gladiators".cite web |author= | url=http://www.onyasoapbox.com/talent/show.php?id=34&name=Julia+Morris | title=Julia Morris |work=Onya Soapbox |date= | accessdate=2008-08-19]

Morris relocated to the United Kingdom in 2000, where she has appeared on numerous British programs on both television and radio, including "Absolutely Fabulous", "The Kumars at No. 42", "QI", "Happiness" and "Liquid News". Since her return to Australia in 2007, she has made appearances on "Thank God You're Here", "Good News Week", "Spicks and Specks", "Rove Live", "The Singing Office" and "It Takes Two". 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=2008-04-22 | accessdate=2008-08-19] 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=2008-04-23 | accessdate=2008-08-19]

Live performance

Morris regularly tours international comedy festivals, having made appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 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 Edinburgh Fringe in 2001 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 she toured in the critically acclaimed Australian production of the Broadway musical "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change".

References

External links

* [http://www.juliamorris.co.uk Official Website]
*imdb name|0606689
* [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!"]
* [http://www.brightoncomedyfestival.com/ladyjuliamorris.asp Review of 2004 Brighton Comedy Festival show "Lady Julia Morris Live"]
* [http://au.yahoo.com/it-takes-two/couples/bio/julia-morris/ Julia Morris biography] - It Takes Two website