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Kerry Armstrong

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Kerry Armstrong
Born
Kerry Michelle Armstrong

(1958-09-12) 12 September 1958 (age 66)[1]
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • Actress
  • author
Years active1974–present
Spouse(s)Brad Robinson (1981)[2]
Alexander Bernstein (1981)[3]
Mac Gudgeon (1990)[3]
Mark Croft (1996–2001)[3]
Children3

Kerry Michelle Armstrong (born 12 September 1958)[1] is an Australian actress and author.[4] 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.[5][6]

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).[3][7] She returned to Australia in 1987. Her other television roles include MDA (2002–03) and Bed of Roses (2008–11).

Career

Early years

Armstrong appeared in both acting and presenting roles on Australian television in the 1970s and early 1980. One of her first acting roles was on television series Marion, released in March 1974.[8] She appeared as a GTV-9 weather girl,[4] and then in a dramatic acting role, appearing as Lynn 'Wonky' Warner, an original character in Network Ten women's prison drama Prisoner. Initially planned to last 16 episodes, the series was continued and Armstrong appeared in the first 44 episodes. She then switched to another ongoing role in drama series Skyways for 49 episodes. In 1981 she co-hosted the Network Ten series Together Tonight with Greg Evans.

In 1981 Armstrong married rock band Australian Crawl's rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson.[2] Armstrong and Robinson co-wrote "Easy on Your Own",[9] a track on Australian Crawl's second album Sirocco and B-side to the single "Errol".[10]

United States and Dynasty

Armstrong moved to the United States in 1981, where she studied under Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen at the HB Studio[11] in New York City on an acting scholarship.[3][12][13] 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.[13] In order to obtain residency, Armstrong and Robinson agreed she would have to marry a US citizen, so they separated and she married her friend Alexander Bernstein.[3] Armstrong only had a professional arrangement with Bernstein, but her long distance from Robinson dissolved their relationship.[3] In the US, she starred as Christine in Tom Stoppard's Dalliance at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut,[14] 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.[3][7] After working in the group's plays, Armstrong appeared in seven episodes of Dynasty as Elena, Duchess of Branagh. Robbins and Armstrong became romantically involved. Cusack, Robbins and Armstrong auditioned for Saturday Night Live but only Armstrong was offered a part, which she declined.[3] She also guest starred in the 1984 Murder, She Wrote episode "Death Takes a Curtain Call".

Australian return

In 1987, Armstrong returned to Australia upon the death of her grandmother.[3][7] 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.[5]

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.[5] When SeaChange ended in 2000, Armstrong continued on with her theatre work and also appeared in Lantana, the award-winning Ray Lawrence film 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. 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.[5] The first had been Sacha Horler for her 1998 Lead Role in Praise and 1999 Supporting Role in Soft Fruit awarded in 1999.[15]

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,[4] Virus, Car Pool and Razzle Dazzle. On 10 May 2008 ABC-TV started screening a six-part series Bed of Roses with Armstrong in the lead role as Louisa Atherton.[16][17] In 2008 she appeared in the film Reservations. In 2010, Bed of Roses returned for a second season on the ABC followed by a third and final season in 2011. In the same year she starred in the short film, The Forgotten Men, alongside Jack Thompson and Gyton Grantley. 2016 sees Armstrong return to Australian screens in the series The Wrong Girl for Network Ten.

Author

Armstrong wrote a self-help book, The Circles, released on 1 November 2003.[18] She described the book as a practical exercise in empowering people.[19] In May 2008, Armstrong told the Herald Sun the book's US publisher, Beyond Words, had received a call from a large book club in the US which wanted 21,000 copies of the book.[3]

Her second book, Fool on the Hill, released in March 2006,[20] is about the nature of personality.[7] A travel guide, Newcomer's Handbook for New York City was co-edited with Belden Merims in 1996.[21]

Public profile

Armstrong has worked with several charitable organisations including Childwise,[7] Big hART,[22] and Cure for Life Foundation which sponsors research into brain tumour treatments.[7][23] In 2006, she represented Cure for Life in season five of Dancing with the Stars.[6] Armstrong and dance partner, Christopher Ryan, were the third couple eliminated from the show.[24]

Armstrong has 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.[7]

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.[25] Titled "Kerry Armstrong on Motherhood and Myth Busting", the print advertisement purported to correct "myths and conjecture" about Coca-Cola drink products. Claiming her three boys called her "Mum, the myth buster", Armstrong rejected suggestions that Coca-Cola "rots your teeth", "makes you fat" and is "packed with caffeine".[26]

In April 2009, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commissioner ruled that the Coca-Cola advertisements in which Armstrong appeared were misleading. The ACCC's chairman, Graeme Samuel, said, "Coke's messages were totally unacceptable, creating an impression which is likely to mislead that Coca-Cola cannot contribute to weight gain, obesity and tooth decay".[27]

Personal life

Armstrong was born in Melbourne in 1958. In 1981, Armstrong was briefly married to Australian Crawl's rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson.[2] Under the advice of her US agent and with Robinson's consent, she married friend, Alexander Bernstein, in order to resolve visa issues and allow her to work in the United States.[3] In 1990, when their son was three months old, she married writer-producer Mac Gudgeon.[3] The marriage to Gudgeon ended and in 1996 she married builder Mark Croft and they have twin sons.[3][7] Armstrong and Croft separated in 2001.[3] As of 2008, she lived with her three sons in the Yarra Valley.[3]

Awards

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1977 The Getting of Wisdom 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
1997 Heart Of Fire Sue Tucker TV film US
1997 Amy Sarah Trendle Feature film
1998 Denial Mother Short
1998 Justice Annie Martin Feature film
1999 Taken Sophia Film short
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 A Hard Place (voice) Short
2005 Virus Lillium Doubleheart Short
2005 Mind the Gap Olivia Keeley Short
2006 Wobbegong Paula / Mum Short
2006 Car Pool Mrs. London Short
2007 Razzle Dazzle Justine Morgan Feature film
2008 Reservations Hellen Feature film US
2011 The Forgotten Men Mother Film short
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

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Marion Elizabeth Andrews ABC TV miniseries, 4 episodes
1976 The Sullivans TV series,
1978, 79 Cop Shop Marlene Anderson / Angela Clark TV series, 2 episodes Guest roles
1979 Prisoner Lynn Warner TV series, 44 episodes Regular role (season 1)
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 Herself-Co-host TV series
1984 The Edge Of Night Tess McAdams TV series US, 24 episodes
1984 Tales from the Darkside Elaine Anderson Hall TV Series US, 1 episode "Slippage"
1984 Murder, She Wrote Irina Katsa TV series US, 1 episode "Death Takes a Curtain Call"
1985-86 Dynasty Elena, Duchess of Branagh TV series US, 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
1989 American Playhouse Eve Lummis TV series US, 1 episode
1989-91 Police Rescue Des McClintock Recurring role
1990 Come In Spinner Deb Forrest TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1993 All Together Now Beth Sumner TV series, 17 episodes Regular role
1993-94 Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left Officer Jady Tv series, 13 episodes Regular role
1993-2005 Good Morning Australia Herself TV series
1994 High Tide Valerie TV series, 1 episode "Beauty's Only Skin Deep"
1994-95 Ocean Girl Dr. Dianne Bates TV series, 26 episodes Lead role (seasons 1–2)
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 Regular role (seasons 1–4)
1999 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 1 episode
1999;2000 Denise Herself TV series, 1 episode
1999 Laws Herself TV series, 1 episode
1999 The Panel Herself TV series, 4 episodes
2000 Eugénie Sandler P.I. Sylvia "1.4"
2001 The Big Schmooze Herself TV series, 1 episode
2001 Rove Live Herself TV series, 1 episode
2002-2003 MDA Dr. Louella Davis Lead role
2003 Australian Story Herself TV series, 1 episode
2003 The 2003 Australian Film Institute Awards Herself - Presenter TV special
2004 George Negus Tonight Herself - Guest ABC TV series, 1 episode
2004 The Making Of 'One Perfect Day' Herself Video
2004 Oyster Farmer: Cast and Crew Interviews Herself Video
2004 Oyster Farmer: Deleted and Extended Scenes Herself Video
2006-2007 Dancing With The Stars Herself - Audience member TV series, 6 episodes
2007 9am with David & Kim Herself - Guest host TV series, 1 episode
2007-2010 20 To 1 Herself TV series, 10 episodes
2008-11 Bed of Roses Louisa Atherton Lead role (seasons 1–3)
2016-17 The Wrong Girl Mimi Woodword Lead role
2018 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here Herself TV series, 31 episodes
2018 Show Me the Movie! Herself 1 episode
2018-20 Neighbours Heather Schilling Recurring role
2019 Studio 10 Herself 1 episode
2019 Today Extra Herself 1 episode
2019 SeaChange Heather Jelly TV series, 13 episodes
2019-2021 Frayed Jean TV series, support role (season 1-2), 12 episodes
2020 News Breakfast Herself TV series, 1 episode
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
2022 ABC 90 Celebrate! Herself TV special
2022 Darby And Joan Summer TV miniseries, 1 episode
2022 The Queen And Us Herself - Narrator TV special UK
2022 This Is Your Life: Rebecca Gibney Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode

References

  1. ^ a b "Showcast".
  2. ^ a b c "Her Own Sweet Way". Australian Story. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Devlyn, Darren (7 May 2008). "Kerry Armstrong finds that life's not a bed of roses". Herald Sun. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Hunter, Tim (30 June 2005). "The world is her oyster". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d Awards for Kerry Armstrong at IMDb
  6. ^ a b "Kerry Armstrong – actress biography". au.tv.yahoo.com. Retrieved 4 May 2008. [dead link‍]
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Keenan, Catherine (2 July 2005). "Lows and a higher power". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  8. ^ Marion (1974) at IMDb
  9. ^ "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  10. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original (doc) on 8 September 2002. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
  11. ^ HB Studio Alumni
  12. ^ McCrossin, Julie. "Back to basics" (PDF). Life etc. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  13. ^ a b Profile Archived 25 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, 16th St Actors Studio, Melbourne
  14. ^ "Theater; Stoppard's Dalliance in New Haven" by Alvin Klein, The New York Times, 12 April 1987
  15. ^ Awards for Sacha Horler at IMDb
  16. ^ Knox, David (14 April 2008). "Airdate: Bed of Roses". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  17. ^ "Bed of Roses". Australian television information archive. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  18. ^ Armstrong, Kerry (1 November 2003). The Circles. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-125-6. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  19. ^ "Kerry Armstrong interview" Archived 4 September 2004 at the Wayback Machine on George Negus Tonight, ABC Radio, 5 November 2003. Accessed 3 May 2008.
  20. ^ Armstrong, Kerry (March 2006). Fool on the Hill. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-337-3. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  21. ^ Belden Merims; Kerry Armstrong, eds. (February 1996). Newcomer's Handbook for New York City (16th ed.). First Books Inc. ISBN 0-912301-32-5. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  22. ^ "Artists who have worked with Big hART". Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  23. ^ "Who is involved?". Cure for Life Foundation. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  24. ^ "Armstrong dances off". The Age. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  25. ^ Lee, Julian (4 April 2009). "Coke debacle bad for industry self-regulation". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  26. ^ "ACCC acts on Coca-Cola myth-busting". Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. 2 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 February 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  27. ^ Canning, Simon (2 April 2009). "ACCC slams Coca-Cola ads featuring Kerry Armstrong as misleading". The Australian. Archived from the original on 5 April 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
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