Helen Morse

Helen Morse (born 24 January 1947) is an English-born Australian actress who has appeared in films, on television and on stage. She won the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1976 film Caddie, and starred in the 1981 miniseries A Town Like Alice. Her other film appearances include Picnic at Hanging Rock, Agatha (1979), Far East (1982) and The Eye of the Storm (2011).

Early life and education Morse was born in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, England, in 1947. She was the oldest of four children; her parents were a doctor and nurse. She moved to Australia in 1950 with her family. She attended school at Presbyterian Ladies' College in Burwood, Victoria, and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1965, Morse has worked in over ninety theatre productions.

Morse has worked with many companies including Melbourne Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre, The Independent, Nimrod Theatre Company, Marian Street Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Hunter Valley Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Harvest Theatre Company (South Australia) and the State Theatre Company of South Australia.

In 2002 and again in 2008, Morse played the role of Theodora Goodman in Adam Cook's adaptation of Patrick White's The Aunt's Story. Her 2004 performance as Nancy in Bryony Lavery's Frozen for the Melbourne Theatre Company earned her a Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play nomination. She has since been nominated for productions of John by Annie Baker (Melbourne Theatre Company), and Memorial by Alice Oswald (Brink Productions). In 2020, she won a Green Room Award for her performance in 33 Variations by Moisés Kaufman (Cameron Lukey and Neil Gooding Productions).

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 1968 The Return of the Boomerang Film short 1970 Adam's Woman Maggie Feature film1974 Petersen Jane / Charles' mistress Feature film Stone Amanda Feature film 1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock Mlle. de Poitiers Feature film 1976 Caddie Caddie Marsh Feature film 1978 Tapak Dewata Java Film short1979 Agatha Evelyn Feature film The First Christmas Voice Film short 1982 Far East Jo Reeves Feature film 1984 Iris (aka Out of Time) Iris / Sammie Feature film 1997 The Bridge Film short 2000 Lost Mrs. Harris Film short 2011 The Eye of the Storm Lotte Feature film 2015 Downriver Mary Feature film

Television

Theatre

As actor

As director Year Title Role Venue / Company 2000 National Playwrights Conference 2000 - The Workshop Program Director State Theatre Company Rehearsal Room, Adelaide, Scott Theatre, Adelaide

Personal life Morse was married from 1967 until 1976 to Australian actor and director Sandy Harbutt, who she met while starring in a stage production of A Taste of Honey in Newcastle. They also starred together in Stone.