Eliza Jane Morley[2] (née Taylor-Cotter; born 24 October 1989[3]), known professionally as Eliza Taylor, is an Australian actress. She is best known for her roles as Janae Timmins on the Australian soap opera drama Neighbours (2005–2008), as Clarke Griffin on the dystopian science fiction series The 100 (2014–2020), and as Hannah Carson in the NBC science fiction series Quantum Leap (2022–2024).
Eliza Taylor-Cotter | |
---|---|
Born | Eliza Jane Taylor-Cotter[1] 24 October 1989 |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2003–present |
Known for | |
Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Early life
editTaylor was born in Melbourne and has three siblings: two sisters and one brother. Her mother is an author and a graphic designer, and her stepfather was a stand-up comedian, while her biological father used to own cafés around Melbourne. She wanted to be a marine biologist growing up.[4]
Career
edit2003–2013: Career beginnings and Neighbours
editAfter a lead role in Pirate Islands, Taylor starred as Rosie Cartwright in The Sleepover Club in 2003. She transitioned to mature audience programs with a guest role on Blue Heelers in 2004.
Taylor got her big breakthrough in the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 2005. She secured the role of Janae Timmins after previously appearing in a guest role in 2003.[5] Taylor had originally auditioned for the role of Lana Crawford, however, actress Bridget Neval was eventually cast.[6] In 2007, Nell Feeney and Sianoa Smit-McPhee, who play Taylor's on-screen mother Janelle Timmins and sister Bree Timmins, were written out by executive producer Ric Pellizzeri, but it was confirmed that they wanted Taylor to remain in the serial as Janae.[7] Later that year, Taylor decided to quit the serial to pursue other projects such as pantomime and a further career in the US.[8] One of her reasons was that all of her on-screen family had been written out and new cast members gave the serial the feel of a different place, adding: "It just didn't feel like the family that I joined when I started three years ago".[9] Taylor finished filming her final studio scenes in 2007 and her final episode was screened on 8 February 2008. In 2007, she was nominated for Best Female at the Inside Soap Awards.
She portrayed Snow White in a Christmas pantomime of Snow White from 19 December 2007 to 6 January 2008 in Weymouth Pavilion, England.[9][10] In 2009, she was in an episode of All Saints and filmed a short drama-comedy movie called The Laundromat.[11] Taylor also filmed a role in the horror movie 6 Plots.[12] She later filmed the pilot of Winners & Losers.[13]
2014–2020: The 100
editOn 1 March 2013, it was announced that Taylor had been cast as lead character Clarke Griffin in the new post-apocalyptic science fiction drama series The 100 on The CW.[14][15] The series premiered on Wednesday, 19 March 2014 at 9:00 p.m.[16] Explaining how she got the part in the series, Taylor said:
"I didn't actually audition. I'd been living in LA for about a month and my credit card was stolen and all my money was taken – spent at Home Depot, which was great – and I was ready to pack my bags and go back to Australia because I didn't know how I was going to survive in LA any longer and then I got a call from my manager to say that an audition I'd done months ago for a film had been looked at by the producers of this TV show called The 100 and they wanted me to go in for a reading the next day. So I read the script that night and loved it and went in for the meeting the next day and got the role. Before I knew it I was on a plane to Vancouver to shoot the pilot and my whole life changed."[17]
In 2014, Taylor starred as Sarah in the thriller film The November Man.[18]
For her role in The 100, Taylor was nominated for Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy at the Teen Choice Awards from 2015 to 2018.
In 2017, Taylor starred as Kat Carter in a thriller-drama film Thumper.[19][20] The same year, she starred as Ellen Langford in the Netflix Christmas romantic comedy-drama film Christmas Inheritance.[21]
2021–present: Recent work
editIn 2021, Taylor directed two music videos: "Vices" by Sarah and the Sundays,[22] in which she also had an acting role,[23] and "Bad Posture" by Abby Anderson.[24][25]
In 2022, Taylor appeared in the guest role of Doctor Villka in The Orville episode "From Unknown Graves".[26][27]
In 2023, Taylor and Morley star together as Julie and Marcus in the sci-fi thriller I'll Be Watching. She is also an executive producer. The film was released on digital platforms.[28][29][30] The same year, Taylor is an executive producer and stars as Ruby Allen in the independent romantic comedy It Only Takes a Night.[31][32][33] The film was also released on digital platforms.
In October same year, Taylor is playing the role of Hannah Carson in Quantum Leap as a new series regular in season 2.[34][35][36]
Personal life
editOn 7 June 2019, Taylor announced on Twitter that she had married Bob Morley, her co-star on The 100.[37] Taylor and Morley were originally set to direct episodes for the seventh and final season of The 100. However, Taylor was unable to direct her episode due to suffering from a miscarriage.[38] On 20 March 2022, they announced the birth of their first child, a son.[39]
In 2024, on Tommy Didario's podcast 'I’ve Never Said This Before', in an interview along with her husband Bob, Eliza talked about her long dark year struggling with postpartum depression.[40]
Filmography
editFilm
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | 6 Plots | Amy Challis | |
2013 | Patrick | Nurse Panicale | |
2014 | The November Man | Sarah | |
2017 | Thumper | Kat Carter/Meredith | |
Christmas Inheritance | Ellen Langford | ||
2023 | I'll Be Watching | Julie | Executive producer |
It Only Takes a Night | Ruby Allen | Executive producer |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Pirate Islands | Sarah Redding | Main role |
Neighbours | Jacinta Martin | 2 episodes | |
The Sleepover Club | Rosie Cartwright | Main role (series 1) | |
2004 | Blue Heelers | Tatum O'Hara | Episode: "Cast the First Stone" |
2005–2008 | Neighbours | Janae Timmins | Main role |
2006 | Blue Water High | Heidi Lee | Episode #35; uncredited[citation needed] |
2008 | Rush | Madison | Episode: "Get Lucky" |
2009 | Packed to the Rafters | Kerry | Episode: "Losing the Touch" |
All Saints | Carly Spalding | Episode: "The Two of Us" | |
2010 | City Homicide | Melissa Standish | Episode: "Last Seen" |
Winners & Losers | Bridget Gross | Episode: Pilot | |
2012 | Howzat! Kerry Packer's War | Rhonda | 1 episode |
2013 | Mr & Mrs Murder | Sarah | Episode: "Little Boxes" |
Nikita | Reporter | Episode: "Wanted"; uncredited[citation needed] | |
2014–2020 | The 100 | Clarke Griffin | Main role; 98 episodes |
2019 | Josephine Lightbourne VIII | Main role; 7 episodes | |
2022 | The Orville | Doctor Villka | Episode: "From Unknown Graves" |
2023–2024 | Quantum Leap | Hannah Carson | Main role |
Director
editYear | Title | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Vices - Sarah & The Sundays | Music video | [22][23] |
Bad Posture - Abby Anderson | Music video | [24][25] |
Awards and nominations
editYear | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | Neighbours | Nominated | [41] |
2008 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Female | Neighbours | Nominated | [42] |
2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy | The 100 | Nominated | [43] |
MTV Fandom Awards | Ship of the Year (shared with Alycia Debnam-Carey) | The 100 | Nominated | [44] | |
2016 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy | The 100 | Nominated | [45] |
Choice TV: Chemistry (shared with Bob Morley) | Nominated | [46] | |||
MTV Fandom Awards | Ship of the Year (shared with Alycia Debnam-Carey) | The 100 | Nominated | [47] | |
2017 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress | The 100 | Nominated | [48] |
2018 | Nominated | [49] |
References
edit- ^ "Interview With Eliza Taylor-Cotter". Neighbours - The Perfect Blend. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ Morley, Bob (23 October 2019). "Mrs. Morley, you are the most adorable being on this planet! 30 years ago, something very special happened, and that was @MisElizaJane Happiest of birthdays! You are my goddess always and forever xx". Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Eliza Taylor". Showcast. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ "Neighbours: The Perfect Blend | Interview: Eliza Taylor-Cotter". perfectblend.net. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Houston, Melinda (27 April 2006). "Street of dreams". The Age. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ Rigden, Clare (2–8 April 2005). "Girl next door". TV Week (14). ACP Magazines: 8.
- ^ "'Neighbours' star unhappy with axings". Digital Spy. 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Four more 'Neighbours' departures announced". Digital Spy. 17 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Interview: Eliza Taylor-Cotter". Perfect Blend. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ "Best panto ever at the Pavilion (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ "Melbourne Film Festival". Made In Melbourne. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ "Film: 6 Plots". Uk.castingcallpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ http://au.hadnews.com/winners-losers-drama-testing-for-feedback.htm[dead link]
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (28 February 2013). "Australian Actress Eliza Taylor Tapped As The Lead Of CW Pilot 'The Hundred'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ "'Neighbours' star Eliza Taylor lands lead in US TV drama 'The Hundred' - US TV News". Digital Spy. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (12 December 2013). "The CW Sets Midseason Schedule & New Series Premiere Dates; 'The Tomorrow People' Moving to Monday" (Press release). Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013 – via TV by the Numbers.
- ^ "Eliza Taylor | THE 100". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Why Sarah From The November Man Looks So Familiar". Looper.com. Andrea Butler. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (25 April 2017). "'Thumper': Film Review - Tribeca 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Jusino, Teresa (17 November 2017). "The 100's Eliza Taylor Trades Genre for Contemporary Grit in New Film Thumper". themarysue.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Villeneuve, Nicole (13 December 2017). "Netflix is releasing another original Christmas movie following the success of 'A Christmas Prince' — and it sounds like another cheesy classic". Insider. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Sarah and the Sundays". Sarah and the Sundays.
- ^ a b Sims, Paige (October 2021). "Sarah and the Sundays team up with Eliza Taylor on "Vices"". Earmilk. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b "ABBY ANDERSON RELEASES POWERFUL NEW VIDEO FOR LATEST TRACK, "BAD POSTURE"". ebmediapr.com. ESSENTIAL BROADCAST MEDIA. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ a b Watts, Cindy (9 December 2021). "Abby Anderson Reveals Mormon Faith Led To Career Struggles Eating Disorder". yasahentertainment.com.
- ^ Snowden, Scott (19 July 2022). "'The Orville' Season 3 Episode 7 'From Unknown Graves'". Space.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Hogan, Nick (15 July 2022). "The Orville Season 3 Episode 7 Review: From Unknown Graves". telltaletv.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (4 February 2022). "'The 100' Stars Eliza Taylor & Bob Morley Set For Sci-Fi Thriller 'I'll Be Watching' — EFM". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Foertsch, Rachel (2 April 2023). "Eliza Taylor Faces Off Against Home Invader In I'll Be Watching Trailer". Screen Rant. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Eliza Taylor Stars in The Nail Biting Thriller I'll Be Watching Acquired by Uncorkd Entertainment". andersonvision.com. Troy Anderson. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (21 April 2021). "Australian Independent Films 'It Only Takes a Night' and 'The Cost' Head Into Production". Variety.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "The Screen Guide-It Only Takes a Night". Screen Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (3 November 2022). "Myriad Pictures adds comedy 'It Only Takes A Night' to AFM roster (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "'Quantum Leap' Adds Peter Gadiot and Eliza Taylor as Series Regulars for Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.com. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Quantum Leap Adds 2 New Series Regulars: First Look at Season 2". nbc.com. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Quantum Leap Season 2 Adds The 100 Alum Eliza Taylor and Yellowjackets' Peter Gadiot — See First Look". TVLine. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "'The 100' Stars Eliza Taylor and Bob Morley Announce They're Married!". Entertainment Tonight. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- ^ Coley, Samantha (5 February 2020). "Everything We Learned at Unity Days 2020, Including Teasers for 'The 100' Season 7". Tell-Tale TV. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ Powers, Catie (21 March 2022). "Home and Away alum Bob Morley and Neighbours star Eliza Taylor welcome their first child". TV Week. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Etienne, Vanessa (8 July 2024). "'Bob Morley Reveals 'Brutal' Body Dysmorphia, Past Eating Disorder: 'It's Unrelenting' (Exclusive)". People Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. 3 July 2007. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2008 – Nominations". MSN TV Blog: A Slice of Soap. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2015 Winners: Full List". Variety. 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "The Hunger Games Wins 'Fandom of the Year' at Comic Con". MTV. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "First Wave of "Teen Choice 2016" Nominees Announced and #1 Voted Surfboard Revealed" (Press release). Fox. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "Vote Now for Wave 2 Teen Choice Nominees!". Teen Choice Awards. Fox. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016.
- ^ Avery, Dan (24 July 2016). ""Ship Of The Year" Announced At 2016 MTV Fandom Awards". NewNowNext. Logo TV. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ Ceron, Ella (20 June 2017). "The Pretty Little Liars Were ALL Nominated for the Same EXACT Award". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Zach (12 August 2018). "Teen Choice Awards 2018 Winners: The Complete List". E! Online. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.