The actor Samantha Morton was born in Nottingham in 1977 and had a turbulent childhood, spending nine years in and out of foster care. At 13, she joined the Central Junior Television Workshop and in the late 90s broke through in the TV series Band of Gold and a searing performance in Under the Skin. She’s been nominated for an Oscar twice, for Sweet and Lowdown and In America, and won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Myra Hindley in Longford. For her directorial debut, The Unloved (2009), she won a Bafta. Earlier this year she released her first music with producer Richard Russell. Morton lives with the film-maker Harry Holm in East Sussex and has three children. Her BBC Radio 6 Music festive takeover will be broadcast on 6 Music and BBC Sounds on 27 December.
