Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Morton (Minority Report, In America) is opening up about her violent past. After her parents divorce when she was just a toddler, Morton spent several years in children’s homes. At the age of 14, she was staying in a group home when there was a riot. During the course of the riot, the building was set on fire. When the police arrived, Morton “picked up a knife and was accused of threatening to kill an older girl who had been bullying her for a long time”.

Morton was locked up for three days, and eventually the charge of attempted murder was downgraded to “making threats to kill”. Morton’s punishment was 18 weeks in what she calls an “attendance center”, which is sort of like juvenile detention mixed with school. She says she felt at the time (and still feels) embarrassment and remorse, but she says that the incident was the result of physical abuse:

Samantha Morton, the actress, has disclosed that she was charged with attempted murder and eventually convicted of making threats to kill at the age of 14.

Morton, 31, grew up in care where she was exposed to a tough and often violent environment. She has decided to speak put about her criminal conviction after directing her first film – about a girl growing up in a children’s homes.

Morton was in a home in Nottingham when the incident occurred.

In an interview with the Guardian, she explained that there had been a riot and the building had been set on fire.

It was when the police had arrived that Morton picked up a knife and was accused of threatening to kill an older girl who had been bullying her for a long time.

“I was physically abused and I retaliated”, she said. “The only person I hurt in the end was myself.

“I was locked in a cell for three days. It was terrible. I just sat there thinking, I don’t want this life – I’m not a petty criminal. I’m not a thug. I was so ashamed of myself.”

The charge of attempted murder was reduced to making threats to kill. Morton was convicted and sentenced to 18 weeks at an attendance centre. She said the experience turned her life around.

“I felt humbled, I felt remorse, I felt embarrassed.”

Morton plans to work with children in care in the future. She said: “What shocks me is that so many people leave care and become homeless, and when you’re homeless you get into crime, prostitution and drugs, and it is a vicious circle. That’s what we need to change”

From The Telegraph

Samantha Morton is absolutely right, it is a vicious circle. The statistics on foster kids and group home kids are devastating – increased rates of drug and alcohol abuse, imprisonment, and violence. Of all of the issues for celebrities to get involved with, the issue of fixing the broken foster/juvenile crime/child care system is one that desperately needs more involvement, more work, more awareness, more money. I knew Samantha Morton had a rough childhood, but I had no idea it was this difficult.

Samantha Morton is shown at am AMFAR benefit on 5/22/08. Credit: WENN.com