Kerry Armstrong

Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Kerry Michelle Armstrong (born 12 September 1958)<ref name="Showcast Profile">Template:Cite web</ref> is an Australian actress and author. She is one of only two actresses to win two Australian Film Institute Awards in the same year, winning Best Actress in a Leading Role for Lantana and Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama for SeaChange in 2001.

After early television roles in Australia including Prisoner (1979) and Skyways (1980), Armstrong moved to the United States in 1981, where she played Ophelia in Hamlet and Isabella in Measure for Measure at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and had a role in the soap opera Dynasty (1985–86). She returned to Australia in 1987. Her other television roles include MDA (2002–03) and Bed of Roses (2008–11).

Early life and education

Kerry Michelle Armstrong was born in Melbourne, Victoria.

Career

Early years

Armstrong's first appearance on television in the early 1970s as a weather presenter. The first public word she ever spoke was "Goodnight!"<ref name="Oyster">Template:Cite news</ref> She then took on dramatic acting roles, including the Network Ten women's prison drama Prisoner, drama series Skyways, and soap opera The Sullivans.<ref name="Oyster"/>

In 1981 she co-hosted the Network Ten series Together Tonight with Greg Evans.

United States

Armstrong moved to the United States in 1981, where she studied under Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen at the HB Studio<ref>HB Studio Alumni</ref> in New York City on an acting scholarship.<ref name="Roses">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="LifeEtc">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="16ST">Profile Template:Webarchive, 16th St Actors Studio, Melbourne</ref> With the studio's Playwrights Foundation, she played Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Ophelia in Hamlet, and Isabella in Measure for Measure at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC.<ref name="16ST" />

In the US, she starred as Christine in Tom Stoppard's Dalliance at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut,<ref>"Theater; Stoppard's Dalliance in New Haven" by Alvin Klein, The New York Times, 12 April 1987</ref> had an ongoing role in daytime serial One Life to Live, and became part of The Actors' Gang along with John Cusack and Tim Robbins.<ref name="Roses" /><ref name="Lows">Template:Cite news</ref> John Cusack, Tim Robbins, and Armstrong auditioned for Saturday Night Live but only Armstrong was offered a part, which she declined.<ref name="Roses" />

Armstrong appeared in several episodes of Dynasty<ref name="Roses" /> as Elena, Duchess of Branagh.Template:WhenTemplate:Cn She also guest starred in the 1984 Murder, She Wrote episode "Death Takes a Curtain Call".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Australian return

In 1987, Armstrong returned to Australia upon the death of her grandmother.<ref name="Roses" /><ref name="Lows" /> In the early 1990s, she resumed acting in Australian television series, including Police Rescue, Ocean Girl, Come In Spinner, 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.

In 1998, Armstrong was offered the role of Heather Jelly in the television series SeaChange, the ever-devoted but long-suffering wife of corrupt local mayor Bob (John Howard). The role won her critical acclaim and garnered several awards.

When SeaChange ended in 2000, Armstrong continued on with her theatre work and also appeared in the film Lantana, directed by Ray Lawrence amd also starring Anthony LaPaglia, Barbara Hershey, Geoffrey Rush, Glenn Robbins, and Vince Colosimo. Armstrong won the Inside Film (IF) Award, Film Critics Circle of Australia Award, and the AFI Award for her Lantana performance.Template:Cn In the same year she won another AFI award, for the final season of SeaChange, making her the second actress to win two AFI awards in one year.

In 2002, Armstrong joined the cast of medico-legal drama MDA on ABC alongside Jason Donovan and Shane Bourne. However, she 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 appeared in films One Perfect Day, Oyster Farmer,<ref name="Oyster" /> Virus, Car Pool and Razzle Dazzle. On 10 May 2008 ABC TV started screening a six-part series called Bed of Roses, with Armstrong in the lead role as Louisa Atherton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AusTV">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2008 she appeared in the film Reservations.Template:Cn In 2010, Bed of Roses returned for a second season on the ABC, followed by a third and final season in 2011.Template:Cn In the same year she starred in the short film The Forgotten Men, alongside Jack Thompson and Gyton Grantley.

2016 saw Armstrong return to Australian screens in the series The Wrong Girl for Network Ten.

In 2024, Armstrong was announced as part of the cast for the Stan Christmas movie Nugget Is Dead?: A Christmas Story.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Writing

Armstrong wrote a self-help book, The Circles, published on 1 November 2003.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> She described the book as a practical exercise in empowering people.<ref>"Kerry Armstrong interview" Template:Webarchive on George Negus Tonight, ABC Radio, 5 November 2003. Accessed 3 May 2008.</ref>

Her second book, Fool on the Hill, published in March 2006,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is about the nature of personality.<ref name="Lows" />

A travel guide, Newcomer's Handbook for New York City was co-edited with Belden Merims in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Other activities

Armstrong has worked with several charitable organisations including Childwise,<ref name="Lows" /> Big hART,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Cure for Life Foundation, which sponsors research into brain tumour treatments.<ref name="Lows" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006, she represented Cure for Life in season five of Dancing with the Stars. Armstrong and dance partner, Christopher Ryan, were the third couple eliminated from the show.<ref name=dancing>Template:Cite news</ref>

Armstrong publicly opposed the War in Iraq, and in protest, sat on the steps of the Victorian Parliament in a purple bra to draw attention to her cause.<ref name="Lows" />

In October 2008 Armstrong appeared as the face of a "myth-busting" advertising campaign for Coca-Cola Amatil, created by the agency Singleton Ogilvy & Mather.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Titled "Kerry Armstrong on Motherhood and Myth Busting", the print advertisement purported to correct "myths and conjecture" about Coca-Cola drink products, rejecting suggestions that Coca-Cola "rots your teeth", "makes you fat", and is "packed with caffeine".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2009, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commissioner ruled that the Coca-Cola advertisements in which Armstrong appeared were misleading.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

In 1981, Armstrong was briefly married to Australian Crawl rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson.<ref name=abc>Template:Cite web</ref> Armstrong and Robinson co-wrote "Easy on Your Own",<ref name="APRA">Template:Cite web</ref> a track on Australian Crawl's second album Sirocco and B-side to the single "Errol".<ref name="McF">Template:Cite book</ref>

On the advice of her US agent and with Robinson's consent, she divorced and married a friend, Alexander Bernstein (son of Leonard Bernstein), in order to resolve visa issues and allow her to live and work in the United States.<ref name="Roses" /> Armstrong only had a professional arrangement with Bernstein, but her long distance from Robinson dissolved their relationship.<ref name="Roses" /> While in the US, Armstrong became romantically involved with actor Tim Robbins.<ref name="Roses" />

In 1990, she married writer-producer Mac Gudgeon<ref name="Roses" /> when their son was three months old. The marriage to Gudgeon ended, and in 1996 she married builder Mark Croft, with whom she has twin sons.<ref name="Roses" /><ref name="Lows" /> Armstrong and Croft separated in 2001.<ref name="Roses" /> As of 2008, she lived with her three sons in the Yarra Valley.<ref name="Roses" />

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 Daniela 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

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Template:Sortname	Kate	Feature film
1979	The Franky Doyle Story	Lynn Warner	TV film
1980	Cornflakes for Tea	Cherry	TV film
1985	Key Exchange	The Beauty	Feature film US
1988	Grievous Bodily Harm	Annie	Feature film
1991	Hunting	Michelle Harris	Feature film
1995	The Good Looker		Documentary
1997	Heart Of Fire	Sue Tucker	TV film US
1997	Amy	Sarah Trendle	Feature film
1998	Denial	Mother	Short film
1998	Justice	Annie Martin	Feature film
1999	Taken	Sophia	Short film
2001	Lantana	Sonja Zat	Feature film
2002	Lost In Oz	Alex's Mother (uncredited)	TV movie US
2004	One Perfect Day	Carolyn Matisse	Feature film
2004	Oyster Farmer	Trish	Feature film
2004	Template:Sortname	(voice)	Short film
2005	Virus	Lillium Doubleheart	Short film
2005	Mind the Gap	Olivia Keeley	Short film
2006	Wobbegong	Paula / Mum	Short film
2006	Car Pool	Mrs. London	Short film
2007	Razzle Dazzle	Justine Morgan	Feature film
2008	Reservations	Hellen	Feature film US
2011	Template:Sortname	Mother	Short film
2015	Pawno	Jennifer Montgomery	Feature film
2017	2:22	Catherine	Feature film US
2019	Two Heads Creek	Mary	Feature film
2020	The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee	Ella	Feature film
2024	Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story	Tammy	Feature film

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1974	Marion	Elizabeth Andrews	TV miniseries, 4 episodes
1976	Template:Sortname	Winni	TV series
1978, 1979	Cop Shop	Marlene Anderson / Angela Clark	TV series, 2 episodes (guest roles)
1979	Prisoner	Lynn Warner	TV series, season 1, 44 episodes (regular role)
1980	Water Under the Bridge	Dora	TV miniseries, 1 episode: "1.8"
1980	Skyways	Angela Murray	TV series, 49 episodes (regular role)
1981	Together Tonight	Co-host	TV series
1984	The Edge of Night	Tess McAdams	TV series, 24 episodes
1984	Tales from the Darkside	Elaine Anderson Hall	TV series, 1 episode: "Slippage"
1984	Murder, She Wrote	Irina Katsa	TV series, 1 episode: "Death Takes a Curtain Call"
1985-1986	Dynasty	Elena, Duchess of Branagh	TV series, 7 episodes (recurring role)
1988	Australians: Mary McKillop	Matron	TV miniseries, 1 episode
1988	Barlow and Chambers: A Long Way from Home (aka Dadah Is Death)	Shawn Burton	TV miniseries; 2 episodes
1989	American Playhouse	Eve Lummis	TV series, 1 episode
1989-1991	Police Rescue	Des McClintock	TV series (recurring role)
1990	Come In Spinner	Deb Forrest	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1993	All Together Now	Beth Sumner	TV series, 17 episodes (regular role)
1993-1994	Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left	Officer Jady	TV series, 13 episodes (regular role)
1994	High Tide	Valerie	TV series, 1 episode: "Beauty's Only Skin Deep"
1994-1995	Ocean Girl	Dr. Dianne Bates	TV series, season 1–2, 26 episodes (lead role)
1995	Blue Heelers	Sandy Fielding	TV series, 1 episode: "Shadow Man"
1996	Halifax f.p.	Fiona Holmes	TV film series, 1 episode: "Sweet Dreams"
1997	The Making of Special: '20,000 Leagues Under The Sea'	Lydia Rawlings	TV special
1997	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea	Lydia Rawlings	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1998-2000; 2019	SeaChange	Heather Jelly	TV series, seasons 1–4 (regular role)
2000	Eugénie Sandler P.I.	Sylvia	"1.4"
2002-2003	MDA	Dr. Louella Davis	TV series (lead role)
2008-11	Bed of Roses	Louisa Atherton	TV series, seasons 1–3 (lead role)
2016-17	The Wrong Girl	Mimi Woodword	TV series (lead role)
2018-20	Neighbours	Heather Schilling	TV series (recurring role)
2019	SeaChange	Heather Jelly	TV series, 13 episodes
2019-2021	Frayed	Jean	TV series, season 1-2, 12 episodes (support role)
2020-2022	Grey Nomads	Ella Rouche	TV series, 12 episodes
2021	Spreadsheet	Carol	TV series, 4 episodes
2022	Joe vs. Carole		TV miniseries, 1 episode
	Darby And Joan	Summer	TV miniseries, 2 episodes
	The Queen and Us	Narrator	TV special UK
2025	Strife	Margaret	TV series: 2 episodes (Whoman, Moving On, Getting Over)
2026	Dear Life	Michelle	TV series

Other appearances

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2022	This Is Your Life: Rebecca Gibney	Herself - Guest	TV series, 1 episode
	ABC 90 Celebrate!	Herself	TV special
2018	Show Me the Movie!	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here	Herself	TV series, 31 episodes
2006-2007	Dancing with the Stars	Herself - Audience member	TV series, 6 episodes
2007	9am with David & Kim	Guest host	TV series, 1 episode
2007-2010	20 to One	Herself	TV series, 10 episodes
2003	Australian Story	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	2003 Australian Film Institute Awards	Herself - Presenter	TV special
2004	George Negus Tonight	Herself - Guest	TV series, 1 episode
	The Making of 'One Perfect Day'	Herself	Video
	Oyster Farmer: Cast and Crew Interviews	Herself	Video
	Oyster Farmer: Deleted and Extended Scenes	Herself	Video
2001	Rove Live	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	The Big Schmooze	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	The 43rd Annual TV Week Logie Awards	Herself - Audience	TV special
1999; 2000	Denise	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
1999	Laws	Herself	TV series, 1 episode
	The Panel	Herself	TV series, 4 episodes
1989	The Bert Newton Show	Guest (with John Savage (Hunting)	TV series, 1 episode
1980	Hey Hey It's Saturday	Herself in comedy sketch	TV series, 1 episode

External links

• Template:IMDb name
• ProfileTemplate:Dead link, Marquee Management