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Frances O'Connor

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For the sideshow performer, see Frances O'Connor (performer). For other people, see Francis O'Connor (disambiguation).

Frances O'Connor
O'Connor in Three Dollars, December 2004
Born
Frances Ann O'Connor[1]

(1967-06-12) 12 June 1967 (age 57)[2]
Wantage, Berkshire, England, UK
Alma materCurtin University
Occupation(s)Actress, director, writer
Years active1993–present
Notable workMansfield Park
Bedazzled
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The Importance of Being Earnest
Timeline
Spouse
​
(m. 2011)​
Children1
AwardsAACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Blessed (2009)

Frances Ann O'Connor (born 12 June 1967) is a British-Australian actress and director. She appears in roles in the films Mansfield Park, Bedazzled, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Timeline. O'Connor won an AACTA Award for her performance in Blessed, and also earned two Golden Globe Award nominations for her performances in Madame Bovary and The Missing. In 2022, her debut feature as writer and director, Emily, was released.

Early life

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O'Connor was born in Wantage, at the time part of Berkshire, England, to a pianist mother and nuclear physicist father;[citation needed] her family moved to Perth, Western Australia, when she was two years old.[3] She is the middle of five children, with one older brother, one older sister, and two younger sisters.[citation needed] O'Connor was raised Roman Catholic,[4] and attended the Mercedes College in Perth. She then went on to attend the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature from Curtin University in Western Australia.

Career

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O'Connor made her film debut in Emma-Kate Croghan's critically acclaimed independent romantic comedy Love and Other Catastrophes (1996).[5] 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,[6] and starred opposite Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in Thank God He Met Lizzie.[5] In 1999, O'Connor starred as Fanny Price in the British romantic comedy-drama Mansfield Park. The film also received favourable reviews from critics.[7] The following year, O'Connor earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as Emma Bovary in the film Madame Bovary.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10][11]

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.[8] In 2009, she won an AACTA Award for Best Actress for her performance in Blessed. She later appeared in Jayne Mansfield's Car, Little Red Wagon and The Truth About Emanuel; and received two more AACTA Award for Best Actress nominations for Three Dollars (2005) and The Hunter (2011). In 2011, O'Connor was cast in the ABC drama pilot Hallelujah, created by Marc Cherry, but the show was not picked up to series.[12][13] From 2013 to 2014, she starred as Rose Selfridge in the British period drama Mr Selfridge.[14][15]

In 2014, O'Connor was cast as the lead in the British drama The Missing.[16] She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in the series.[17] She then appeared as Belle's mother Colette in the fourth season of the American series Once Upon a Time.[18] In 2016, O'Connor co-starred in the horror film The Conjuring 2, alongside Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson,[19] and in Cleverman, opposite Iain Glen.[20]

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

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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.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Bathing Boxes 2nd Woman Short film
1996 Love and Other Catastrophes Mia
1997 Kiss or Kill Nikki Davies
1997 Thank God He Met Lizzie Jenny Follett
1998 A Little Bit of Soul Kate Haslett
1999 A Margherita with Hot Salami Diana Short film
1999 Mansfield Park Fanny Price
2000 About Adam Laura Owens
2000 Bedazzled Alison Gardner/Nicole Delarusso
2001 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Monica Swinton
2002 The Importance of Being Earnest Gwendolen Fairfax
2002 Windtalkers Rita Swelton
2003 Timeline Kate Ericson
2004 Iron Jawed Angels Lucy Burns
2004 Book of Love Elaine Walker
2005 Three Dollars Tanya Harnovey
2005 The Lazarus Child Alison Heywood
2005 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
2012 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

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1993 Law of the Land Marissa Green 13 episodes
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
1995 Halifax f.p. Frances TV film series, episode 3: "The Feeding"
1996 Blue Heelers Gabe Greenway 3 episodes
1996 G.P. Karen Papadopoulos Episode: "Someone to Turn To"
1996 Shark Bay Dr. Jane Regular role
1997 Frontline Kristy Episode: "I Get the Big Names"
2000 Madame Bovary Emma Bovary TV film
2008 Cashmere Mafia Zoe Burden 7 episodes
2009 Nova Emma Darwin Documentary series, 1 episode: "Darwin's Darkest Hour"
2011 Ice Sarah Fitch Miniseries, 2 episodes
2011 Hallelujah Ruth Turner Unsold pilot, US
2013 Vegas Barbara Kent Episode: "From This Day Forward"
2013–2014 Mr Selfridge Rose Selfridge 20 episodes
2014 The Missing Emily Hughes Miniseries, 8 episodes
2014 Once Upon a Time Colette Episode: "Family Business"
2016 Cleverman Dr. Charlotte Cleary 12 episodes
2017 Locke & Key Nina Unsold pilot
2018 Troy: Fall of a City Hecuba 7 episodes
2020 The End Dr. Kate Brennan 10 episodes
2023 Erotic Stories Annabel Episode: "Come As You Are" [21]
2024 The Twelve Meredith Nelson-Moore QC 8 episodes [22]
2025 Wednesday TBA Season 2, guest role

Stage

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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
1993 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
1994 The Lady from the Sea Bolette Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1995 Blabbermouth Batts Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC & Arena Theatre Company
1995 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[23]
2006 Tom & Viv Vivienne Haigh-Wood Almeida Theatre, London [24]

[25]

Awards and nominations

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

References

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  1. ^ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at Ancestry.com
  2. ^ "Today in History". ABC News. 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  3. ^ "The earnest gypsy". The Age. 17 June 2002. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  4. ^ "O'Connor Frances: Bedazzled". Urban Cinefile. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Frances O'Connor; Movies and Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Kiss or Kill". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Mansfield Park". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Frances O'Connor Biography". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  9. ^ Ojumu, Akin (2 April 2000). "Australia's latest export, Frances O'Connor". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Timeline (2003)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  11. ^ "Timeline (2003) – Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. 26 November 2003. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (25 February 2011). "Several Actors Join Broadcast Pilots". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Frances O'Connor boards ABC pilot". Digital Spy. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  14. ^ Lazarus, Suzanna (2 January 2013). "Meet the cast of Mr Selfridge". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Playing the Mrs. to 'Mr. Selfridge'". Usnews.com. 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  16. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (6 March 2014). "James Nesbitt, Frances O'Connor to star in BBC One's The Missing". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Golden Globe Awards Nominations: The Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  18. ^ "'Once Upon a Time' casts Frances O'Connor as Belle's mom". Entertainment Weekly. 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  19. ^ Kit, Borys (15 September 2015). "Frances O'Connor Joins 'The Conjuring 2' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  20. ^ Friedlander, Whitney (3 September 2015). "Iain Glen, Frances O'Connor's 'Cleverman' Series to Air on SundanceTV". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  21. ^ Knox, David (27 April 2023). "Production begins on Erotic Stories for SBS | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  22. ^ Knox, David (31 August 2023). "Production underway on The Twelve S2 | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  23. ^ "20 Questions With… Frances O'Connor". www.whatsonstage.com. 2 October 2006.
  24. ^ "20 Questions With… Frances O'Connor". www.whatsonstage.com. 2 October 2006.
  25. ^ "Frances O'Connor". AusStage.
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