Sarah Murdoch (born Sarah O'Hare on 31 May 1972) is an Australian model and actress.

Career

Brought up in Sydney, Australia, Murdoch attended The McDonald College of the Performing Arts, a performing arts school in Sydney, where she studied ballet.¹ After being told by the ballet master, Allan Cross, that she was too tall and would never make it as a ballerina, she changed direction.

As a fashion model she appeared in campaigns for L'Oréal, Revlon, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent and Estée Lauder, as well as the 1999 and 2003 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues.²³ Her magazine covers includes Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, GQ and Harper's Bazaar in countries like Australia, Spain, United Kingdom and United States. She also appeared on an episode of popular sitcom, Friends

Today Show

Sarah filled in for Jessica Rowe on the Australian version of the popular morning news and interview show, Today. Rowe was taking four months maternity leave.⁴

On March 26, 2007, it was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that Murdoch would finish up her hosting duties on Today as of March 30, 2007.⁵ Nine News presenter Kellie Connolly replaced Sarah until May 2007, when Lisa Wilkinson took over as the new co-host on 'Today'.

Murdoch was a guest host on the October 4, 2007 episode of Today alongside Karl Stefanovic to raise awareness about Breast Cancer as she is a patron of the 1 Breast Cancer Foundation.

Australia's Next Top Model

Jodhi Meares, the ex-host of Australia's Next Top Model, has been officially replaced by Sarah Murdoch after Meares infamously blundered her way through the third season's live finale in 2007 and flat-out refused to appear in 2008's finale. In addition to hosting Top Model, Murdoch also inked a deal with Foxtel to create documentaries with her production company, Room 329 Productions.

Sarah Murdoch's Pride of Australia

Screened in November 2009, Sarah and her production company Room 329 Productions, along with Foxtel produced 4 episodes of Sarah Murdoch's Pride of Australia. With Sarah as host, they tell the inspiring stories of everyday Australians, exhibiting acts of great courage, love and determination when faced with adversity. The stories were taken from thousands of people nominated to News Limited papers across Australia. ⁶

Personal life

Murdoch is heavily engaged in assisting not-for-profit arts and charitable bodies, where her name and connections add gravitas and fund-raising capacity. She was appointed International Ambassador of the Australian Ballet Company in 2004 and joined The Australian Ballet Board of Directors in 2006. She is also ambassador of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and a member of its development board. The Institute was established in 1986 by her husband Lachlan's grandmother, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and is the largest child health research institute in Australia.

Murdoch is patron of Australia's National Breast Cancer Foundation,⁷ and addressed the National Press Club of Australia about the activities of the foundation on October 4, 2006 and again on December 24, 2008. The addresses were televised Australia-wide by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

In 1999, Murdoch married Lachlan Murdoch, son of Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The couple live in Sydney, Australia and have two sons, Kalan Alexander (born on November 9, 2004) and Aidan Patrick (born on May 6, 2006). They announced on October 8th, 2009 that they are currently expecting their third child, with hopes of a girl.

Murdoch is also a keen rugby league fan and supports Manly Sea Eagles.⁸

References

External links

• Sarah Murdoch at the Internet Movie Database
• Sarah Murdoch at Fashion Model Directory
• Australian National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Murdoch Children's Research Institute
• Sarah Murdoch Harper's BAZAAR photo shoot (May 2009)