Tara Morice (born 23 June 1964) is an Australian actress, singer and dancer.
Background Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Morice also lived in Sydney, Alice Springs and Adelaide as a child, attending seven different schools. She is a fifth-generation Australian and is of English, Irish, Scottish, Latvian and French ancestry.Strictly Ballroom Star Enjoys Whirl of New Celebrity, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-03-07-9301140003-story,amp.html She appeared in a short film for the Tasmanian Film Corporation in 1980, The ABC of Unions. She made her stage debut at Australia's oldest theatre, the Theatre Royal in Hobart in The Diary of Anne Frank, aged 16. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Australian History and English from the Australian National University and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1987.
Career She has worked extensively on stage in Australia, including productions for the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare Company, Griffin Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Queensland Theatre Company, Malthouse and the Ensemble.
Tara played Fran in Strictly Ballroom when it premiered as a stage play in 1988, and she was a member of Baz Luhrmann's 'Six Years Old' Company.
For her work in musical theatre, she has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Fat Swan at the 2012 Helpmann Awards and a Victorian Green Room Award for The Venetian Twins.
Her first film appearance was as Fran in the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom (directed by Baz Luhrmann), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and an Australian Film Institute award. Morice also appeared on the film's soundtrack, singing a duet of Time After Time with Mark Williams.
Morice has also appeared in the feature films Metal Skin, Hotel Sorrento, Hildegarde, Moulin Rouge!, Candy, Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance, Oranges and Sunshine, Dance Academy: The Movie, Peter Rabbit 2 and The Moogai. Her many short films include the Oscar nominated Miracle Fish.
Her television work includes roles in Answered by Fire, After the Deluge, Salem's Lot and McLeod's Daughters. Morice had a starring role in the series of three Dogwoman telemovies with Magda Szubanski in 2000. She also plays Miss Raine in Series 1, 2 and 3 of Dance Academy for ABC/ZDF.
She wrote and directed the documentary My Biggest Fan, about her correspondence and friendship with an American great-grandmother, Mildred Levine, who wrote to her after seeing Strictly Ballroom. The film premiered at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, and was broadcast on the SBS network in Australia in 2008.
She re-recorded Time After Time for Baz Luhrmann's album Something for Everybody and sang on the Strictly Ballroom, Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance and My Biggest Fan soundtracks.
Tara played Shell in the premiere of the Australian musical The Deb at the Rebel Theatre in Sydney 2022. She then appeared in the feature film version directed by Rebel Wilson, the World Premiere of which was held at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
In 2024 Morice was named in the cast for Stan Australia feature film Nugget is Dead. Morice was also named in the extended cast for ABC series Return to Paradise.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1992Strictly BallroomFran Feature film1994Metal SkinSavina Feature film1995Hotel SorrentoPippa Moynihan Feature film1997Square OneMargot Feature film2000Dogwoman: Dead Dog WalkingPauline O'HalloranTV filmDogwoman: A Grrrl's Best FriendPauline O'HalloranTV film2001Dogwoman: The Legend of DogwomanPauline O'HalloranTV filmMoulin Rouge!Prostitute Feature filmMy Husband, My KillerMargaret InksterTV filmHildegardeKim Powell2003After the DelugeDianneTV film2004LootKaren DoakesTV film2005Second ChanceEdwindaTV film2006CandyAunt Katherine Feature film2007Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into DanceMarianne Mockumentary filmSeptemberJennifer Hamilton Feature film2008Close DistanceRivkaShort film2009Miracle FishMumShort film2010Oranges and SunshinePauline Feature film2013101 CupcakesAgnes HarveyShort film2014SmithstonMrs. SmithstonShort film2017Dance Academy: The MovieLucinda Raine Feature film2021Peter Rabbit 2Officiant Feature filmThe Butter SceneShort film2022The Home TeamGlenrose RoseShort film2023CarmenMarie Feature film2024Nugget is DeadJosephine 2024The MoogaiAnnetteFeature Film2025SandtrapAnne2026The DebShellFeature Film
Television Year Title Role Notes1991Police RescueJenny TV series, episode: "Mates"1997Big SkyLinda TV series, episode: "Blind Spot"1998Water RatsAnne Milner TV series, episode: "Diminished Responsibility"A Difficult WomanSusan TaylorTV miniseries1999WildsideRachel Duncan TV series, episode: "2.11"2000Something in the AirCandy Rogers TV series2000-03Grass RootsJulie Dunkley TV series2004Salem's LotJoyce PetrieTV miniseries2005Blue HeelersMelanie Anderson TV seriesMcLeod's DaughtersMichelle Hall-Smith TV series, episodes: "Out of Time", "Betwixt and Between"2006Answered by FireHelen WaldmanTV miniseries2010Home and AwayJoanna Scott TV series2010-13Dance AcademyMiss Raine TV series2013Special Guest TV series, episodes: "1.4", "1.5"Whitlam: The Power and the PassionMargaret Whitlam (Voice) TV miniseries, episode: "Part 2"2015WinterJudith Johansson TV series2016RakePauline TV series, 1 episode2023Ten Pound PomsWard Sister Mulligan TV series, 2 episodesWhile the Men are AwayEnid TV series, 4 episodes2024Return to Paradise Helen HaddonTV series, 1 episode
Stage Year Title Role Notes 1981 The Diary of Anne Frank Anne Frank Theatre Royal, Hobart 1985 The Cherry Orchard NIDA Theatre1986 Thark NIDA Theatre The Winter’s Tale Emilia / Dorcas NIDA Parade Theatre1987 Under a Weeping Sky NIDA Parade Theatre The Big Shiny Frock Show NIDA Parade Theatre A Journey Through Peer Gynt NIDA Parade Theatre, Canberra Theatre1988 1841 Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Festival, Sydney Opera House with STC Haircut Wharf Studio Theatre, Sydney with STC Strictly Ballroom Fran Wharf Studio Theatre with STC Angels Wharf Studio Theatre, Sydney with STC 1989 After Dinner Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company1990 The Venetian Twins Columbina Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane & University of Sydney with Queensland Theatre Company, Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC Nominated for a Green Room Award for Female Actor in a Featured Role (Music Theatre) The Development Site Sydney Theatre Company Rome Tremble – Crumbs from a Feast of Callas Maria Callas Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Sydney Theatre Company 1991 Mongrels Lydia Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1992 Richard III Lady Anne Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice Portia Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare Hamlet Voltemand / 2nd Player Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre with Bell Shakespeare 1995 The Moonwalkers Gina Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company 1996 Wolf Lullaby Angela Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company 1997 Mortimer's Miscellany Sydney Festival 1998 Love for Love Mrs Foresight Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company 1999 Secret Bridesmaids' Business Angela Malthouse Theatre with Company Playbox Theatre Company, Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 2000 Sweet Road Jo SBW Independent Theatre, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre2001 The Laramie Project Zackie Salmon / Reggie Flutey / Trish Stegar, Kelli Simpkins / Sherry Aenonson / Kerry Drake & others Belvoir Street Theatre Morning Sacrifice Gwyn Wharf Theatre,Sydney, with STC2002 Spinning into Butter Dean Sarah Daniels Ensemble Theatre, Sydney Love Letters Melissa Gardner NIDA Parade Theatre 2009 Abigail's Party Angela Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 2010 Animals Out of Paper Illana Andrews2011 Fat Swan Mother Arts Centre Melbourne, Seymour Centre, Sydney Nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress An Officer and a Gentleman Esther Sydney Lyric Theatre with Gordon Frost Organisation 2014 Once in Royal David's City Teacher / Crowd / Chorus Belvoir Street Theatre 2016 Good People Margaret Ensemble Theatre, Sydney2018 The Harp in the South Miss Sheily / Sister Beatrix / Alf / Flo / Shirley / Mrs X / Mrs Kilroy Sydney Theatre Company Good Cook. Friendly. Clean. Sandra Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company A Cheery Soul Mrs Lilie / Second Girl / Soprano Voice Sydney Opera House with STC 2020 Dance Nation Sofia Scott Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA for Adelaide Festival, Belvoir Street Theatre2021 Claudel Madame Claudel Tinderbox Productions The Museum of Modern Love: Open Rehearsal and Reading Lydia Seymour Centre, Sydney2022 The Museum of Modern Love Lydia Seymour Centre, Sydney for Sydney Festival The Deb Shell Rebel Theatre, Sydney The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Rachel/ Mrs Markham / Aunt Roslyn Packer Theatre 2025 Menopause The Musical Professional Woman State Theatre, Sydney
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