Tara Morice
An Australian triple-threat whose breakout role as a shy ballroom dancer captured the nation's heart and sparked a cultural phenomenon.
Born 1964 (age 62)·Australian actress·Birthday: June 23·Baby Boomers
Biography
Tara Morice is the embodiment of a performer who prepared for decades for a single, perfect role. Trained at the prestigious Australian Ballet School, she spent years working in theatre, television, and film, honing her skills as an actress, singer, and dancer. Then came 'Strictly Ballroom'. As Fran, the plain, beginner dancer with raw talent and a resilient heart, Morice delivered a performance of such genuine vulnerability and strength that it became the soul of Baz Luhrmann's breakout film. Her rendition of 'Time After Time' in the film remains an iconic Australian cinematic moment. The role catapulted her to fame, but Morice chose a path of artistic diversity over Hollywood pursuit. She returned to the stage, starring in musicals like 'Chicago' and 'The Boy from Oz', and became a familiar face on Australian television dramas. Her career reflects a deep commitment to craft across disciplines, with Fran serving not as a peak, but as a testament to the talent she continued to develop in every role that followed.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Tara was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tara Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Tara's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Fran in Baz Luhrmann's cult classic film 'Strictly Ballroom', a role that defined a generation of Australian cinema.
- Received an AFI Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in 'Strictly Ballroom'.
- Played leading roles in major Australian stage productions including 'Chicago' (as Roxie Hart) and 'The Boy from Oz'.
Did You Know?
She performed her own singing in 'Strictly Ballroom', including the memorable 'Time After Time' scene.
Morice is a trained ballet dancer and attended the Australian Ballet School.
She is married to Australian actor and director Justin Smith.
“Fran was such an underdog, and I think everyone loves to see an underdog come good.”
