Frances O'Connor

Frances Ann O'Connor (born 12 June 1967) is an Australian actress. She is best known for her roles in film and television, including Mansfield Park, Bedazzled (2000), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) and Wednesday (2025).

O'Connor won an AACTA Award for her performance in Blessed (2009) and also earned two Golden Globe Award nominations in Madame Bovary (2000) and The Missing (2014-2016). In 2022, she ventured into directing with her debut feature film Emily.

Early life O'Connor was born in Wantage, Berkshire, England, but moved with her family to Perth, Western Australia, when she was two years old. She is of Irish descent and was raised Roman Catholic. O'Connor attended Mercedes College in Perth before studying at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and Curtin University in the same city; earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the latter.

Career Not long after graduating from WAAPA in late 1992, O'Connor joined the supporting cast of television drama series Law of the Land as Marissa Green. She also appeared in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of The Dutch Courtesan in June 1993, followed by a production of Much Ado About Nothing with Hugo Weaving and Pamela Rabe in August 1993. 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, and starred opposite Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in Thank God He Met Lizzie. The following year, O'Connor earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as Emma Bovary in the film Madame Bovary.

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. 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.

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. From 2013 to 2014, she starred as Rose Selfridge in the British period drama Mr Selfridge.

In 2014, O'Connor was cast as the lead in the British drama The Missing. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in the series. She then appeared as Belle's mother Colette in the fourth season of the American series Once Upon a Time. In 2016, O'Connor co-starred in the horror film The Conjuring 2, alongside Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, and in Cleverman, opposite Iain Glen.

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.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 Bathing Boxes 2nd Woman Short film 1996 Love and Other Catastrophes Mia 1997 Kiss or Kill Nikki Davies Thank God He Met Lizzie Jenny Follett 1998 A Little Bit of Soul Kate Haslett 1999 A Margherita with Hot Salami Diana Short film Mansfield Park Fanny Price 2000 About Adam Laura Owens Bedazzled Alison Gardner/Nicole Delarusso 2001 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Monica Swinton 2002 The Importance of Being Earnest Gwendolen Fairfax Windtalkers Rita Swelton 2003 Timeline Kate Ericson 2004 Iron Jawed Angels Lucy Burns Book of Love Elaine Walker 2005 Three Dollars Tanya Harnovey The Lazarus Child Alison Heywood Piccadilly Jim Ann Chester 2009 Blessed Rhonda 2011 The Hunter Lucy Armstrong 2012 Jayne Mansfield's Car Camilla Bedford 2012 Best Man Down Jaime Anderson Little Red Wagon Margaret Craig 2013 The Truth About Emanuel Janice 2014 Mercy Rebecca McCoy 2016 The Conjuring 2 Peggy Hodgson 2020 Go! Christie Hooper 2022 Emily Writer, director 2025 The Conjuring: Last Rites Peggy Hodgson Cameo

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref 1993 Law of the Land Marissa Green Recurring role 1994 The Damnation of Harvey McHugh Georgina 1 episode: "Heaven Knows Mr. McHugh" 1995 The Man from Snowy River Rachel McAlister Season 2, 2 episodes Halifax f.p. Frances Television film series, episode 3: "The Feeding" 1996 Blue Heelers Gabe Greenway 3 episodes G.P. Karen Papadopoulos Episode: "Someone to Turn To" Shark Bay Dr. Jane Regular role 1997 Frontline Kristy Episode: "I Get the Big Names" 2000 Madame Bovary Emma Bovary Television film 2008 Cashmere Mafia Zoe Burden Recurring role 2009 Nova Emma Darwin Documentary series, 1 episode: "Darwin's Darkest Hour" 2011 Ice Sarah Fitch Miniseries, 2 episodes Hallelujah Ruth Turner Unsold pilot, US 2013 Vegas Barbara Kent Episode: "From This Day Forward" 2013–2014 Mr Selfridge Rose Selfridge Main role 2014 The Missing Emily Hughes Miniseries, Main role Once Upon a Time Colette Episode: "Family Business" 2016 Cleverman Dr. Charlotte Cleary Main role 2017 Locke & Key Nina Unsold pilot 2018 Troy: Fall of a City Hecuba Main role 2020 The End Dr. Kate Brennan Main role 2023 Erotic Stories Annabel Episode: "Come As You Are" 2024 The Twelve Meredith Nelson-Moore QC Recurring role 2025 Wednesday Francoise Galpin Season 2, recurring role TBAQueenstown TBA Main cast

Stage Year Title Role Notes 1991 The Skin of Our Teeth Brisbane Arts Theatre 1992 The Caucasian Chalk Circle WAAPA 1993 The Dutch Courtesan Crispinella Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC Much Ado About Nothing Ursula Playhouse, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Princess Theatre, Launceston with MTC 1994 The Grapes of Wrath Rose of Sharon Joad Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC The Lady from the Sea Bolette Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1995 Blabbermouth Batts Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC & Arena Theatre Company Lady Windermere's Fan Lady Windermere Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 1996 Kid Stakes Olive Playhouse, Melbourne, Gold Coast Arts Centre with MTC 1998 The Herbal Bed Susanna Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC 2001 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Maggie the Cat Lyric Theatre, London 2006 Tom & Viv Vivienne Haigh-Wood Almeida Theatre, London

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 1996 AACTA Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Love and Other Catastrophes 1997 Kiss or Kill Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Actress Montreal World Film Festival Best Actress AACTA Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Thank God He Met Lizzie 1999 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Mansfield Park 2000 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Madame Bovary 2001 Saturn Awards Best Actress A.I. Artificial Intelligence American Film Institute Featured Actor of the Year – Female – Movies 2002 Empire Awards Best Actress 2005 AACTA Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Three Dollars 2009 Blessed Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Actress 2011 Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Actress The Hunter AACTA Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role 2013 Ashland Independent Film Festival Best Acting Ensemble The Truth About Emanuel 2014 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film The Missing Golden Nymph Awards Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries