Thursday, 05 December 2019
Internationally acclaimed actor Samantha Morton will be back in her home city of Nottingham on Tuesday 10 December when she will be awarded an honorary degree by The 糖心原创.
Morton, who learned her craft at the renowned Television Workshop in Nottingham, will be made a Doctor of Letters in front of hundreds of students graduating from the university’s Faculties of Art and Social Sciences, during the ceremony.
She will receive her honorary degree from the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West, before delivering an inspirational speech to the graduands.
Samantha was born in Clifton and has spoken openly about the nine years she spent in the care system in Nottinghamshire after being a ward of court when she was eight years old. She attended West Bridgford School and joined the Television Workshop at the age of 13.
She landed various role in British television including Soldier, Soldier; Peak Practice, Boon and Cracker, before coming to prominence as a regular cast member in the first two series of Kay Mellor’s gritty drama Band of Gold.
She found wider recognition and a new audience when she was cast opposite Tom Cruise in the Steven Spielberg-directed sci-fi thriller of 2002 Minority Report before adding a string of diverse roles to her resume including Morvern Callar, Synedoche New York, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Walking Dead.
Her talent has been recognised with accolades including Academy Award nominations for her performances in Sweet and Lowdown and In America, a Golden Globe Award for her role in Longford and a BAFTA for her semi-autobiographical directorial debut, the 2009 TV film The Unloved.
Throughout her career, Morton’s personal experiences have seen her lend her voice to victims of sexual abuse and she has supported the Fostering Network's annual campaign Foster Care Fortnight. Other activism has included being part of the Vodafone Foundation's World of Difference campaign, which gives people the opportunity to work for a charity of their choice and fronting a television advertising recruitment campaign for social workers in the UK.
This video shows Samantha receiving her honorary degree and her inspirational speech.
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.