Kerry Armstrong

Infobox actor
name = Kerry Armstrong

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imagesize =
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birthname = Kerry Michelle Armstrong
birthdate = Birth date and age|df=yes|1958|9|12
birthplace = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
occupation = actress, author
yearsactive = 1974–present
spouse = Brad Robinson 1981
Alexander Bernstein 1981
Mac Gudgeon c. 1990
Mark Croft c. 1996
domesticpartner =
website =

Kerry Michelle Armstrong (born 12 September 1958 in Melbourne)cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035788 |title=Kerry Armstrong |publisher=Internet Movie Database |accessdate=2008-05-04] is an Australian actress on film, television, and stage.cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/the-world-is-her-oyster/2005/06/29/1119724691977.html |title=The world is her oyster |last=Hunter |first=Tim |publisher="The Age" |accessdate=2008-05-04] She is one of only two actors to win two Australian Film Institute Awards (AFI Awards) in the same year. Armstrong's 2001 awards were for Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Lantana", and Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama Series for "SeaChange".cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035788/awards |title=Kerry Armstrong — Awards |publisher=Internet Movie Database |accessdate=2008-05-04] cite web |url=http://au.tv.yahoo.com/dancing-with-the-stars/couples/kerry-armstrong/ |title=Kerry Armstrong — actress biography |publisher=au.tv.yahoo.com |accessdate=2008-05-04] During 1981–1987, Armstrong was based in the United States, where she acted on stage and on television, including a role on soap opera "Dynasty" in 1985–1986.cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/lows-and-a-higher-power/2005/07/01/1119724800857.html |last=Keenan |first=Catherine |title=Lows and a higher power |publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald |date=Date|2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-05-04] cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23659246-5006022,00.html |title=Kerry Armstrong finds that life's not a bed of roses |last=Devlyn |first=Darren |publisher="Herald Sun" |date=Date|2008-05-07 |accessdate=2008-05-09]

Biography

Early years

Armstrong was a frequent face on Australian television in the 1970s and early 1980s, in both acting and presenting roles. One of her first acting roles was on TV series "Marion" released in March 1974. [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0297587/fullcredits#cast |title="Marion" |publisher=IMDb |accessdate=2008-05-04] She appeared as a Channel Nine weather girl, and then tackled a dramatic acting role, appearing as a key original character Lynne Warner in Network Ten prison drama "Prisoner". Initially planned to last just 16 episodes, the series was continued and Armstrong appeared in the first 44 episodes. She then switched to another on-going role in drama series "Skyways" for 49 episodes. In 1981 she co-hosted the Network Ten series "Together Tonight" with Greg Evans.

In 1981 Armstrong married rock band Australian Crawl's rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson.cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2003/s932955.htm |title=Australian Story |publisher=ABC |year=2003 |month=February |accessdate=2008-05-04] Armstrong and Robinson co-wrote "Easy on Your Own"cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |title=Australasian Performing Right Association |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2008-04-08] a track on Australian Crawl's #1 album "Sirocco" and B-side to the single "Errol".cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop |url=http://www.informationbrasil.com.br/diversao/musica/biografias/AUSTRALIAN%20CRAWL.doc |format=doc |last=McFarlane |first=Ian |authorlink= Ian McFarlane |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=1999 |isbn=1-86448-768-2 |accessdate=2008-03-01]

United States and "Dynasty"

As was common among Australian actors of the time, Armstrong emigrated to the United States in 1981. There she studied at the Herbert Berghof acting school in New York City on an acting scholarship.cite web |url=http://www.juliemccrossin.com/armstrong.pdf |title="Back to basics" |publisher="Life etc" |last=McCrossin |first=Julie |authorlink=Julie McCrossin|format=pdf |accessdate=2008-05-04] In order to obtain residency, Armstrong and Robinson agreed she would have to marry a US citizen, so they separated and she married her friend Alexander Bernstein. Armstrong only had a professional arrangement with Bernstein, but her long-distance from Robinson dissolved their relationship. Whilst in the US, she starred in Tom Stoppard's "Dalliance", had an on-going role in daytime serial "One Life to Live", and became part of " 'The Actors' Gang' " along with John Cusack and Tim Robbins. After working in the group's plays, Armstrong appeared in seven episodes of "Dynasty" as Elena, Duchess of Branagh. Robbins and Armstrong became romantically involved; Cusack, Robbins and Armstrong auditioned for "Saturday Night Live" but only Armstrong was offered a part — she declined.

Australian return

In 1987, Armstrong returned to Australia upon the death of her grandmother. In the early 1990s, she resumed acting in Australian television series, including "Police Rescue", "Ocean Girl", "All Together Now" and "Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left". In 1991 Armstrong was nominated for an AFI award for Best Actress for her role in the film "Hunting" which was released by Paramount in the U.S.

Armstrong was offered a role in the cast of "SeaChange" in 1998, as Heather Jelly, the ever-devoted but long-suffering wife of corrupt local mayor Bob (John Howard). The role won her critical acclaim, mainstream attention and several awards. When "SeaChange" ended in 2000, Armstrong continued on with her theatre work and also led the cast of "Lantana", the award winning Ray Lawrence film also starring Anthony LaPaglia, Barbara Hershey, Geoffrey Rush, Glenn Robbins and Vince Colosimo. Not only did Armstrong win the Inside Film (IF) Award, Film Critics Circle of Australia Award and the AFI Award for her "Lantana" performance, but — the same year — she won another AFI, for final season of "SeaChange", making her the second actress to win two AFI awards in one year The first had been Sacha Horler for her 1998 Lead Role in "Praise" and 1999 Supporting Role in "Soft Fruit" awarded in 1999. [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0394759/awards |title=Sacha Horler — awards |publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2008-05-03]

In 2002 Armstrong joined the cast of medico-legal drama "MDA" on ABC alongside Jason Donovan and Shane Bourne. However, Armstrong left the series at the end of its second season. In the series her character, Dr. Ella Davis, left the firm that was the focus of the show. After "MDA", Armstrong acted in films "One Perfect Day", "The Oyster Farmer", "Virus", "Car Pool" and "Razzle Dazzle". On Date|2008-05-10 ABC-TV started screening a six-part series "Bed of Roses" with Armstrong in the lead role as Louisa Atherton. [cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/04/airdate-bed-of-roses.html |title=Airdate: "Bed of Roses" |publisher=TV Tonight |date=Date|2008-04-14 |last=Knox |first=David |accessdate=2008-05-04] cite web |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/bed_of_roses/index.html |title="Bed of Roses" |publisher=Australian television information archive |accessdate=2008-05-09] She has completed the film "Reservations" due for release in 2008.

Author

Armstrong wrote a self-help book, "The Circles", released on Date|2003-11-01. [cite book |url=http://books.buyaustralian.com/featuredbook1.asp?StoreUrl=buyaustralian&bookid=9781740661256&db=au |title=The Circles |publisher=Hardie Grant Books |last=Armstrong |first=Kerry |date=Date|2003-11-01 |isbn=9781740661256 |accessdate=2008-05-03] She described the book as being a practical exercise to empower people and map their heart. [cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/people/Transcripts/s983908.htm |title=Kerry Armstrong interview on "George Negus Tonight" |publisher=ABC-radio |date=Date|2003-11-05 |accessdate=2008-05-03] As of May 2008, the book's US publisher Beyond Words and Armstrong are negotiating book appearances for September 2008, including a mooted spot on "Oprah". Her second book "Fool on the Hill" was released in March 2006; [cite book |url=http://www.booktopia.com.au/fool-on-the-hill/prod9781740663373.html |title=Fool on the Hill |last=Armstrong |first=Kerry |publisher=Hardie Grant Books |month=March |year=2006 |isbn=9781740663373 |accessdate=2008-05-03] it was about the nature of personality. A travel guide, "Newcomer's Handbook for New York City" was co-edited with Belden Merims in 1996. [cite book |url=http://www.bookfinder.com/dir/i/Newcomers_Handbook_for_New_York_City/0912301325/ |title=Newcomer's Handbook for New York City |editor=Belden Merims (ed.) and Kerry Armstrong (ed.) |publisher=First Books Inc |month=February |year=1996 |edition=16th edition |isbn=0912301325 |accessdate=2008-05-03]

Public profile

Armstrong works with several charity organizationscite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/lows-and-a-higher-power/2005/07/01/1119724800857.html |last=Keenan |first=Catherine |title=Lows and a higher power |publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald |date=Date|2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-05-03] including Childwise, being a board member of Big hART and as spokesperson for the Cure for Life Foundation which sponsors research into brain tumour treatments. [cite web |url=http://www.cureforlife.org.au/Who_is_involved?/ |publisher=Cure for Life Foundation |title="Who is involved?" |accessdate=2008-05-03] She represented Cure for Life in Season Five of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006 with Christopher Ryan. They were the third couple voted off.

Armstrong has publicly opposed the War in Iraq; in one instance, she sat on the steps of the Victorian Parliament in a purple bra to draw attention to her cause.

On Date|2004-08-29, Armstrong gave an interview to the "Sunday Telegraph" in which she attacked singer Kylie Minogue and actress Nicole Kidman and their contemporaries for damaging the Australian and international entertainment industries by lowering standards. Armstrong expressed disdain at the fact that the industry —particularly the Academy Awards— gave praise to beauty rather than talent, expressing scorn at Minogue, Kidman, and others such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Halle Berry; while expressing admiration for actors such as Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett. However, in a July 2005 interview with "The Sydney Morning Herald", Armstrong claimed that she was misrepresented in that article.

Personal life

Armstrong has been married to: Brad Robinson (briefly in 1981), Alexander Bernstein (fl. 1981), Mac Gudgeon (married in 1990) and they have a son, Mark Croft (c. 1996, separated in 2001) and they have twin sons.In 2007, Armstrong was living with partner Greg Lucas, and her three sons, on a farm outside of Melbourne. As of 2008, she was described as a single mother with three sons living in the Yarra Valley.

Awards

* 1991 — Nominated — Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award — Best Actress — "Hunting"
* 2000 — Nominated — Logie Award — Outstanding Actress in TV Series — "SeaChange"
* 2001 — Winner — Logie Award — Outstanding Actress in TV Series — "SeaChange"
* 2001 — Winner — AFI Award — Best Actress (Television) — "SeaChange"
* 2001 — Winner — IF Award — Best Actress — "Lantana" (shared with co-stars Barbara Hershey, Leah Purcell, Rachael Blake and Daniella Farinacci
* 2001 — Winner — AFI Award — Best Actress — "Lantana"
* 2001 — Winner — Film Critics Circle of Australia Award — Best Actress — "Lantana"
* 2002 — Nominated — AFI Award — Best Actress (Television) — "MDA"

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0035788|name=Kerry Armstrong