The Walking Dead

Samantha Morton

Samantha Morton is a multi-award winning actor known for her illustrious film and television performances spanning more than two decades. She is a two-time Oscar nominee: In America, Best Actress in a Leading Role (2004); and Sweet and Lowdown, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (2000). Among her other honors include a BIFA Award for Best Actress in Movern Callar; and a BAFTA Television Nomination for Best Actress, an Emmy Nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her work in HBO’s Longford (2007). Morton also received a BIFA Nomination for Best Supporting Actress and BAFTA Nomination in the same category for her performance in Control; a BIFA Nomination for Best Actress for the thriller The Daisy Chain; an Independent Sprit Nomination for Best Supporting Actress for The Messenger; a SIFF Golden Space Needle Best Actress for Decoding Annie Parker; and a BIFA Douglas Hickox Award (Directorial Debut) for The Unloved. The TV movie drama went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama. In addition to portraying the primary antagonist Alpha in The Walking Dead, Morton is also well known for her other current lead role as Margaret Wells in the period drama Harlots, starring Lesley Manville and Jessica Brown Findlay. Later this year, Morton stars as Kirsty in Dominic Savage’s Channel 4 TV film I Am Kirsty, which Morton co-authored. Alongside Paul Kaye as Ryan, a menacing figure in her life, this is the story of a woman fighting to keep her family stable in a precarious world and the sacrifices she has to make to survive. Additional television credits include the mini-series Rillington Place, as well as lead in The Last Panthers. Highlights from Morton’s early TV career include her breakthrough role in Cracker; Diarmuid Lawrence’s Emma; the title role in Jane Eyre; and the BBC adaptation of Tom Jones. In film, Morton’s rise to international acclaim came in 1999, for her starring role in Dreaming of Joseph Lees, followed by her Academy Award Best Supporting Actress nominated performance in Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown. Morton’s more recent film appearances include the lead role in Tom Beard’s Two For Joy; Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, based on JK Rowling’s early novels; Liv Ullmann’s period romance Miss Julie; The Harvest; and Decoding Annie Parker.