Samantha Morton is an English actress and filmmaker who first gained international acclaim with her role as Hattie, a mute laundress, in Woody Allen’s 1999 film Sweet and Lowdown.

That performance earned her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

She continued to impress audiences and critics alike with standout roles in films such as Minority Report in 2002 and In America in 2003—earning a second Oscar nomination.

In 2006, she won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Myra Hindley in Longford, and in 2009, she directed and co-wrote the semi‑autobiographical Channel 4 drama The Unloved, which won a BAFTA.

Early Life and Education

Samantha Morton (48 years old) was born on May 13, 1977, in Nottingham, England, the third of nine children. Her childhood was deeply affected by family instability: her parents (Peter Morton; Pamela Freebury Morton) divorced in 1979, and her father, a coal miner, struggled with alcoholism and violence, while her mother’s second marriage was abusive.

At age eight, Morton entered the foster care system and spent nine years moving between children’s homes and foster families. She attended West Bridgford Comprehensive School before leaving at 13 to train at the Central Junior Television Workshop, preparing for a career on screen.

Personal Life

Samantha Morton has three children. Her first daughter, Esmé Creed‑Miles, was born in February 2000 from a relationship with actor Charlie Creed‑Miles.

Since 2005, she has been in a relationship with filmmaker Harry Holm, son of actor Ian Holm. Together they have two younger children: Edie Holm (born January 4, 2008) and Theodore Holm (born 2014). Morton maintains a stable family life in Derbyshire and has never married.

Career

Samantha’s career began in her teens with television appearances in Soldier Soldier and Boon. She won early acclaim with roles in Emma (1996) and Jane Eyre (1997).

Her film debut came in This Is the Sea and Under the Skin (both 1997), with the latter earning her the Boston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress. In 1999, she received widespread recognition and her first Oscar nomination for her performance in Sweet and Lowdown.

She followed with roles in Minority Report (2002) and America (2003), earning a second Academy Award nomination. Her career continued with diverse work in Control (2007), Synecdoche, New York (2008), and The Messenger (2009).

In 2009, she made her directorial debut with The Unloved, winning a BAFTA. On television, she won a Golden Globe for Longford (2006), starred in Harlots (2017–2019), and appeared as Alpha in The Walking Dead (2019–2020). In 2024, she released her debut music album, Daffodils & Dirt, exploring her life story through song.

Awards

Academy Award nomination – Best Supporting Actress (Sweet and Lowdown, 2000)

Academy Award nomination – Best Actress (In America, 2004)

Golden Globe Award – Best Supporting Actress in a Television Movie (Longford, 2007)

BAFTA Television Award – Best Single Drama (The Unloved, 2010)

Primetime Emmy Award nomination – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Longford, 2007)

Boston Film Critics Society Award – Best Actress (Under the Skin, 1998)

Net worth

Samantha Morton’s net worth is estimated at approximately US $10 million, earned primarily through her acting roles in film and television, her work as a director, and her music project.

Filmography

Emma (1996)

This Is the Sea (1997)

Under the Skin (1997)

Sweet and Lowdown (1999)

Jesus’ Son (1999)

Dreaming of Joseph Lees (1999)

Pandaemonium (2000)

Minority Report (2002)

Morvern Callar (2002)

In America (2003)

Code 46 (2003)

Enduring Love (2004)

River Queen (2005)

The Libertine (2005)

Lassie (2005)

Expired (2007)

Control (2007)

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

Mister Lonely (2007)

Synecdoche, New York (2008)

The Messenger (2009)

John Carter (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

Decoding Annie Parker (2013)

Miss Julie (2014)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Harlots (2017–2019)

The Walking Dead (2019–2020)

The Whale (2022)

She Said (2022)

The Odyssey (expected 2026)

Discography

Daffodils & Dirt (2024)