'' My Brilliant Career '' is a 1979 Eastmancolor Australian period drama film starring Judy Davis , Sam Neill and Wendy Hughes and is directed by Gillian Armstrong . It was distributed by Analysis Film Releasing Corp. and is based on the novel of the same name by Miles Franklin . The film was released in Australia on 17 August 1979 , in the United States on 6 October 1979 at the New York Film Festival , and on 1 February 1980 in limited U.S. theaters . Davis won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 34th British Academy Film Awards in 1981
34th British Academy Film Awards
34th British Academy Film Awards
My Brilliant Career (film)