Julia Morris has undergone a transformation. If 2020 and 2021 were the wing-clipped years dominated by fear and uncertainty, diminished opportunity and domestic challenges, then 2022 was Julia’s year of resurgence and she’s risen as a fierce, fabulous and delightfully funny phoenix.
In 2023, she has three new shows on the go. She’s living life on her terms with joy and without restraint. And she’s doing it all as a single mother to daughters, Ruby, 16, and Sophie, 14, after her long-term marriage to Dan Thomas ended 18 months ago. If there was ever a role model of a strong, empowered, independent working mum, Lady JMo, as she’s affectionately known, is it.
Taking The Reins
“I’m genuinely the happiest I’ve been in a long, long time,” Julia says. “There’s a certain sense of calm that’s come over me in these past few months and I’m feeling sensational. I’m just happy to wake up alive; to be a lot more organised, because I’ve gone from doing the work of one person to doing the work of two people. That’s been its own adventure. But, in feeling happy within myself, I can deal with anything. It’s not like last year when I would’ve been like, ‘Argh, God! How do I do this?’ I’ve gone from someone who couldn’t do any flat-pack furniture to someone who’ll force myself to read instructions and action them.”
It’s obvious that Julia’s new-found flat-pack prowess is about more than just furniture, but life itself. “I haven’t been the chef in my house for 20 years, so the kitchen has been added to my upskilling,” she says. “I was always the cleaner, not the cooker. But, in the past few months, I’ve deleted all the food delivery apps off of my phone. And you know what? The second you make your own pizza instead of having it delivered, it’s yummier.
“Same with making your own Bolognese sauce. I’m not a list keeper and I’m not that efficient with my time management, but that’s what makes me roll through the day now: sorting things out. This past year and a half, I’ve had to completely change the way I do things. Let me tell you, every old dog is up to learning new tricks if you can wrap your brain around it!”
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Feeling Empowered
One thing Julia does have her brain firmly around is living without limitations. “When you have a partner, it’s a world of compromise,” she muses. “Now I’m living this brand-new life that doesn’t include sharing it. I get up in the morning, no instructions. I go through the day, no instructions. I cook dinner, no instructions. This part of my life has been like, ‘I didn’t know I could do that!’”
Julia has transitioned into this new phase with a renewed sense of who she is, and the self-love she’s feeling is plain to see. She’s glowing from the inside out, looking svelte and it all comes down to happiness (and Pilates). “There’s no revenge body; I don’t feel any of that,” she says. “There was no big blow-up [with Dan]; it was more of a drift apart. I did work hard trying to offload the ‘COVID coat’ I put on, but when my marriage ended, I somehow managed to end up with the body of my dreams. Maybe that’s because I’m not hearing about it anymore. For me, it’s not about the size of your waist. It’s what’s inside your head. That’s what needs adjusting, not the measuring tape around your middle.”
Julia’s liberation has come replete with a spot of life spring-cleaning, too: setting boundaries, saying no and not succumbing to people-pleasing for the sake of it. “I’ve done a very big cleanse of my life, for sure,” she shares. “I’ve cut down everything that I don’t feel like doing. For instance, if I feel backed into a corner, if I have to do something, or if I’ve left something too late to not do it, I cancel it. I reject being shamed into things now. I reject having to do it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s all about the girls, the dog and me now – in that order.”
Back To Business
Julia’s career as Australia’s beloved ‘First Lady of comedy’ is as illustrious as ever. Having performed for almost 37 years, the award-winning stand-up comedian, actor, TV presenter and author will be back on screens (and stages) in 2023, bringing the laughs to legions of Aussies.
In April, Network Ten will air the ninth season of reality series I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, which will see Julia head back to Africa, this time with her daughters in tow (at least, for part of it). After a 15-month hiatus, it marks an exciting return for the show and a welcome reunion for Julia and her co-host Dr Chris Brown; their endearing banter is as much a reason to enjoy watching as the gag-worthy tasks endured by celebrity contestants.
Next up comes Network Ten comedy game show Taskmaster, adapted from the UK format of the same name. Hosted by Tom Gleeson, it’s a bit like The Apprentice for stand-up comics, says Julia. Think ridiculous tasks and brain-bamboozling challenges, all designed to put funny bones to the test. “When I shot the tasks [for Taskmaster], I threw myself into it,” she says. “I didn’t care if I looked old or large. I let go of all the things that would’ve been hang-ups in the past and I ended up having an absolute ball. It really ignited some big fire in me.”
Bringing The Laughs
In June and July, Julia is embarking on a national stand-up tour, 75 Years in the Business, her first one-woman show in four years. If you ever wanted to experience Lady JMo at her most brutally honest, funniest self, then this is the moment. “There’s nothing like a live performance,” Julia says. “All bets are off. It feels like a super-private exchange between you and your audience. I mean, comics are pretty honest anyway – that’s our stock and trade. We look at the tragedy of our lives and make jokes about it, in order to relate to the audience.
“It’s like when I was talking about menopause and perimenopause [during her previous tour],” Julia says. “I had so many people after that tour come up to me and say, ‘Oh, my God. Now my husband doesn’t think I’m nuts anymore because he just heard you explain it.’ Going through the menopause itself is its own nightmare. The storm starts and the cloud doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to shift. You don’t understand how you’ll ever get through to the other side, but you do and the sun comes out again. It’s just not a really hot sun, so you don’t have to deal with it.”
Having been menopause free for about four years, Julia says it was an experience that gave her more clarity about the importance of good health and the privilege of ageing. “I think, in your 50s, you finally take your head out of the sand,” she says. “You keep up your doctor appointments and make sure that, if there’s anything to be detected early, you get onto it. Because it suddenly matters. I see my psychologist, I drink more water, I do Pilates, I try to do all the good stuff. I don’t manage to succeed every day, but I just try again tomorrow.”
It’s evident that Julia’s sense of calm will see her soar in 2023 and beyond. She’s navigating the inevitable chaos of life with humour, warmth and a refreshing resilience, and has unflappable strength and composure. So, what’s the secret to her enduring tranquillity? “I think it’s being post-menopause,” Julia says. “I think it’s hurtling towards my mid-50s and no longer being told what to do and how to do it, and when to do it and why to do it. I’m a pretty strong bird. I always have been. But now I really am in charge of every waking moment of my life. And there’s something incredibly freeing about that.”
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