Carol Morley talks about the impact of her father's tragic death when she was just 11. She speaks of continual feelings of loss, abandonment, and not belonging—and why she then made such dangerous choices.
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Description
What do Florence Pugh, Monica Dolan, Toby Jones, Patricia Clarkson, and James Caan all have in common? Answer: Carol Morley.
Born and raised in Stockport, Manchester, the youngest of three, Carol’s world was shattered by the tragic loss of her father. Grief hit hard. At just 11, she turned to books and booze, juggling life as her eccentric mother’s carer while throwing herself into a full-blown identity crisis—experimenting, rebelling, searching.
By 16, she found a kind of refuge in Tony Wilson’s infamous Hacienda Club, where the music was loud, the nights were long, and self-medication was easy. Four years of wild living, booze, drugs, and reckless abandon pushed her to the edge—until a moment of clarity sent her fleeing to London.
What happened next? A First-Class degree from St Martin’s School of Art. A hard-fought climb into filmmaking. And an award-winning career working with some of the biggest names in the industry. Carol’s journey is one of chaos, creativity, and sheer determination.
Take a look at some of her work 👉 https://www.campfilms.co.uk/
Life Jackets
Lifejackets in this podcast refer to the personal tools and rituals that keep us afloat in the waves of life. Whether it’s a film, tv show, music, a favourite book, a crossword puzzle, or the steady presence of a dog, these are the things that keep us afloat. Everyone needs their own lifejackets—small but essential things that help us stay sane in an insane world.
- Films – Bugsy Malone – directed by Alan Parker, Vagabond…..(FR) – directed by Agnes Varda
- Book – Anne Tyler- Breathing Lessons, Dictionary of Phrases & Fables.
- Music – Ex Velver Underground singer, Nico and the song The Falconner, Nick Cave or Sunday morning classical concerts at The Wigmore Hall in London
- TV – ‘Homes Under the Hammer’, ‘Alma’s not normal’.
- Pets – Miss Marple and Mr Hudson (imaginary cats), Tiger and Howard (Devoto) RIP actual cats while Carol was growing up.
- Hobbies – Origami
- Exercise – Swimming!
- Gardening – An enthusiastic tender of potted plants surviving in the backyard.