The Walking Dead’s Samantha Morton honored with BIFA award

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 22: Samantha Morton visits the #IMDboat official portrait studio at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 on The IMDb Yacht on July 22, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Irvin Rivera/Getty Images for IMDb)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 22: Samantha Morton visits the #IMDboat official portrait studio at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 on The IMDb Yacht on July 22, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Irvin Rivera/Getty Images for IMDb) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Samantha Morton portrayed Alpha in The Walking Dead and ranks with the top villains the series had ever seen. Her skin-wearing group, the Whisperers, was a foe that comic fans couldn’t wait to see introduced to the series. Morton has had a diverse list of roles throughout her career, which has led to her receiving the honor of Richard Harris Award at the British Independent Film Award (BIFA).

On December 4, Morton was recognized for all she has contributed to British Film by being given The Richard Harris Award. This award is bestowed on those who have made significant contributions to British Film. Previous award winners include Riz Ahmed, Kristin Scott Thomas, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Daniel Day-Lewis, Helena Bonham Carter, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julie Walters, John Hurt, Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent, and Glenda Jackson.

Upon the announcement that she would be receiving The Richard Harris Award, Morton had this to say:

"I am moved beyond words that the British Independent Film Awards have chosen me to receive this year’s Richard Harris award. This means the world to me. Independent cinema is my true home, the reason for my art, and Richard Harris was my first teacher. It is a great privilege to join such an esteemed group of former honourees, each of them champions of the British screen, and to be able to continue shining a light on the immense wealth and diversity of talented filmmakers and artists we have on these islands."

Samantha Morton

Morton’s career began when she was 13 at  Nottingham’s Central Junior Television Workshop. She would star in Emma (1996) and Jane Eyre (1997). Her first BIFA nomination came for her performance in Under the Skin (1998). This performance caught the eye of Woody Allen, who would then cast her in Sweet and Lowdown. She received Academy Award and Golden Globe Best Actress nominations for this role. Throughout her career, Morton has been nominated for eight BIFAs.

Recently Morton starred in Lionsgate+The Serpent Queen, which has been renewed for a second season, and She Said, which is a dramatization of the New York Times expose of Harvey Weinstein.

Samuel D. Hunter, Darren Aronofsky, Samantha Morton, Brendan Fraser and Matthew Libatique (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for A24)
Samuel D. Hunter, Darren Aronofsky, Samantha Morton, Brendan Fraser and Matthew Libatique (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for A24) /

Morton is set to lead, alongside Ruby Stokes, in the new series The Burning Girls that will air on Paramount+. This thriller sees Morton and Stokes as Reverand Jack Brooks and her daughter Flo who move to Chapel Croft for a fresh start. But a dark history is revealed with ancient superstitions that cause mistrust of outsiders.

She can also be seen alongside Brendan Fraser in the movie The Whale. 

Congrats to Samantha Morton for her Richard Harris Award.

Samantha Morton (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Samantha Morton (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) /
Samantha Morton (Photo by David M. Benett/Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Samantha Morton (Photo by David M. Benett/Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images) /
Samantha Morton (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Samantha Morton (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) /

dark. Next. Did Rosita die in The Walking Dead series?

Follow Undead Walking on Twitter and sign up for the once-daily Undead Walking newsletter to avoid missing out on all things in The Walking Dead universe.