For years, Julia Morris has endeavoured to entertain Australia by any means possible.
Stand-up comedy, acting, singing and hosting, she’s done it all.
And now, after more than 20 years in the industry, the 53-year-old is over the moon to be standing alongside some of Australia’s most talented performers as a Gold Logie Award nominee.
“I feel that, at this advanced point in my career, it’s very, very, very exciting,” Julia says of her nomination.
(Image: TV WEEK)Congratulations on your nomination. How did you feel when you found out you were nominated?
I was properly shocked.
We feel like it’s about time.
Yeah! Don’t you reckon it’s about time for everybody on television? I don’t know anyone in the industry who hasn’t worked super-hard for a long, long time. But it’s fantastic.
Over the years when other people have been nominated, I let the mantra “Let cash be your Logie” lead the way. And there was a time when I thought a nomination wasn’t going to happen for me, so I needed to seek my validation elsewhere.
I feel that, at this advanced point in my career, it’s very, very, very exciting.
“I’m a woman in my 50s in television, so we pray for work.”
(Image: TV WEEK)You’ve done all sorts in your career, but what do you think has been the most surprising turn you’ve taken?
I think it was Celebrity Apprentice. It was a great turning point. I was in my early 40s, living in Los Angeles at the time, chipping my way through the system.
I flew home for Celebrity Apprentice and when I realised I’d won, I said to my family, “I think it’s time to ride this wave.”
I didn’t know if there’d be a wave, but that was that. Then that started House Husbands, Australia’s Got Talent and then I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
Speaking of I’m A Celebrity, what do you think [co-host] Dr Chris Brown would say of your nomination?
“He’s my sweetiepie. I love him. There’s a tremendous mutual respect for each other’s work, and each other’s humour. It’s just been a wonderful meeting of the minds from the very start.
What would winning a Gold Logie mean to you?
It would mean another 12 months of work. I’m a woman in my 50s in television, so we pray for work.
I’m going to totally Betty White [the much-loved American actress who enjoyed a seven-decade career and worked into her 90s] that s–t and hang around the industry like a stalker beyond the deathbed.
But look, we have some pretty long-standing Australian TV legends in the crowd, so let it go where it’s going to go. Even to be a part of this group, I can’t believe it.
“There’s a tremendous mutual respect for each other’s work.”
(Image: Ten)How have you grown as a person and performer?
In the past 10 years, I feel like I’ve lost a lot of my desperation. Now, I’m genuinely just happy to still be working.
This is the first year I haven’t been thinking about when the nominations are – obviously, not for the past two years because we haven’t had the Logies [because of COVID lockdowns], but that’s what I would have been like.
I don’t know if that’s just from staying home and getting a grip on what’s important. Well, this is important. It’s the only celebration of our industry.
If people aren’t that into it, that’s fine, but I really value the Logies, because where else can we celebrate Australian television?
