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Samantha Barks | |
|---|---|
 Barks in 2014 | |
| Born | Samantha Jane Barks (1990-10-02)2 October 1990 (age 34)[1] |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Samantha Jane Barks (born 2 October 1990) is aManx actress and singer who rose to fame after placing third in theBBCtalent show-themed television seriesI'd Do Anything in 2008.[2] She has released threestudio albums:Looking in Your Eyes (2007),Samantha Barks (2016), andInto the Unknown (2021).
Barks made her film debut asÉponine in theTom Hooper-directedLes Misérables in 2012.[3] Her performance in the film won her theEmpire Award for Best Female Newcomer and a sharedNational Board of Review Award with the film's cast.[4] She starred oppositeJonathan Bailey in theDisney Channel musical-comedyGroove High (2012–2013) and again, in the London revival of the musicalThe Last Five Years in 2016.[5] In 2018, she originated the role of Vivian Ward inPretty Woman: The Musical on Broadway. From 2021 to 2024, she has starred asElsa in theWest End production ofFrozen.[6]
Barks was born and raised inLaxey[7] on theIsle of Man. Her mother is fromMalahide, Ireland.[8] Barks attended Laxey Primary School andSt Ninian's High School, Douglas.[9]
When she was 16, Barks moved to London by herself to complete herA levels at theArts Educational School (ArtsEd) inChiswick. Her first non-industry job was working atRiver Island.[10] Barks danced from the age of three, training inballet,modern andtap with Dancers Barre, then Stagecoach Isle of Man, Theatrix, Stage One Drama School and the Manx Ballet Company.[11]
In April 2007, Barks released her debut album,Looking in Your Eyes, which sold around 600 copies. The album featured several songs which she co-wrote and was released on the independent label Brunswick Studios. She performed at thePeel Bay Festival in June 2007 supportingMatt Willis and theSugababes. In December 2007, Barks represented theIsle of Man in the Maltese International Song Competition where she won the main prize of €2000 and the title of Best Foreign Singer. She sang the song "Nothing Else" from her album and "Play On", a hit song in Malta.[12][13][14]
In 2008, Barks competed inI'd Do Anything in which she was one of the finalists in a search for a new, unknown lead to playNancy in aWest End revival of theBritishmusicalOliver!. She reached the final where she finished third.
On 29 April 2008, at the midpoint of the competition, Tourism Minister Adrian Earnshaw renamed theIsle of Man to be the "Isle of Sam" as a sign of support. Welcoming signs at Ronaldsway Airport and Douglas Sea Terminal were changed after a renaming ceremony.[15]
In week eight of the show, Barks performed "Defying Gravity" from the musicalWicked and in the week leading up to the show she received support from American actressIdina Menzel, who originated the role ofElphaba, theWicked Witch of the West inWicked.[16]
In week nine, Barks received the lowest number of public votes and so had to participate in the sing-off withRachel Tucker. They sang "Memory" from the musicalCats.Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Barks and eliminate Tucker saying, "Last night Cameron and I were both saying that we thought both of you would be fantastic Nancys and now here am I faced with this. But I've got to make a decision and I've got to think of where the show ultimately for Cameron is going to go and I think I have to go with you, Samantha."[17]
In the week leading up to the two part final on 31 May, the Nancy finalists posed for publicity pictures recreating some ofMadonna's iconic images. Each Nancy also had a "Master Class" withLiza Minnelli inLondon.
At the end of part one of the final, Barks was announced as finishing third with Andrew Lloyd Webber saying, "Do you know what, I did think this would happen. But you've done so well to have got this far, Samantha." Barks said, "It's been the most amazing experience of my life. Thanks to everyone and the panel for making it so incredible."[18]
| Performances inI'd Do Anything | ||
|---|---|---|
| Show | Song | Results |
| Week one | "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" | Safe |
| Week two | "See the Day" | Safe |
| Week three | "Somewhere" from the musicalWest Side Story | Safe |
| Week four | "Hurt" | Safe |
| Week five | "Since U Been Gone" | Safe |
| Week six | "Sway" | Safe |
| Week seven | "Survivor" | Safe |
| Week eight (quarter-final) | "Defying Gravity" from the musicalWicked | Safe |
| Week nine (semi-final) | "When You Believe" from the filmThe Prince of Egypt "Memory" from the musicalCats | Bottom two |
| Week ten (final) | "Anyone Who Had a Heart" | Third place |
In June 2008, one month afterI'd Do Anything ended, Barks sang theIsle of Man National Anthem "O Land Of Our Birth" on Senior Race day of theIsle of Man TT to begin the races.[19] Barks was then announced to play the lead role of Sally Bowles in the UK tour ofCabaret from 29 August 2008 to 11 July 2009.[20] Barks performed alongside herI’d Do Anything cast-mates Sarah Lark and Jodie Prenger at the Theatregoers Choice Awards in February 2009.[21] Toward the end of her run withCabaret, Barks put on her own concert,An Audience with Sam Barks, at the Villa Marina on the Isle of Man on 3 January 2009 to thank those that supported her during her time onI'd Do Anything and to thank those that have continued to support her.[22]
Barks launched the new Manx Ship, theCaly Manx, in Shanghai, China on 30 September 2009.[23] Barks, along withWendy Craig andJess Conrad, switched on the Christmas Lights in Windsor's town centre on 21 November 2009.[24] Barks officially launched BreastHealth UK's new clinic at the Spire Thames Valley Hospital inWexham on 27 November 2009.[25] She played the title role inAladdin during the Christmas Pantomime Season 2009/10 at theTheatre Royal, Windsor.[26]
Barks starred asÉponine in the London production ofLes Misérables at the Queen's Theatre from 21 June 2010 to 18 June 2011.[27] Barks was chosen to play Éponine in the25th Anniversary concert ofLes Misérables at theO2 Arena on 3 October 2010 byCameron Mackintosh, after he saw her play the role in her opening night at the Queens Theatre, in London's West End.
Also in 2010, Barks resumed her music career by releasing a song called "Let Go", which she co-wrote with Garry Lake. The single debuted in 2010, but received an official release in 2011 through the independent label Flour Records.[28] Barks promoted the song with a live performance onSB.TV.[29] Barks performed the song at Stuart Matthew Price andJames Yeoburn's benefit concert forDress Circle, the Dress Circle Benefit Gala, on 7 August 2011 atHer Majesty's Theatre and the song was later included on the tribute compilation albumStanding Ovation: A CD Tribute to Dress Circle which was released on 17 August 2011.[30][31]
Barks began 2011 with a starring role in the concertDirect From the West End. Run by a company called "Musical Ovation Ltd" set up byScott Garnham and Martin Neely, the concert was performed for three nights—23 January in York, 6 February in Oxford and 13 February 2011 in Windsor. The concert featured two hours of songs from popular West End musicals.[32] On 27 February 2011, Barks performed in the concert The Songs of Bobby Cronin at the New Players Theatre.[33]
On 20 March, Barks performed inStars of the West End Sing the Songs of Steven Luke Walker at Charing Cross Theatre.[34] Barks performed "On My Own" at theClassical Brits 2011 at TheRoyal Albert Hall on 12 May 2011.
Barks performed in a concert at the Battersea Barge in London on 21 August 2011, singing works by British composer/lyricistsLaurence Mark Wythe, Grant Olding, Dougal Irvine and Tim Sutton. She performed with fellow West End starsStephen Ashfield, Annalene Beechey and George Ure.[35] Barks performed the Grand Final anthem "Jerusalem" for the Engage Super League Grand Final atOld Trafford on 8 October 2011.[36]
Barks starred as Zoe, oppositeJonathan Bailey's character Tom, in theDisney Channel television seriesGroove High, a mixture of live-action and animation, which premiered on theDisney Channel UK 10 November 2012.[37] The first season lasted 26 episodes and has been sold to broadcasters across the world.[38] Barks recorded her voice for the series in April 2010, with live-action filming completed in Ireland a year and a half later in October 2011.[5]During an interview in January 2011 Samantha said this ofGroove High: "I play Zoe, one of the leads who is really sweet, but also a little feisty, she tells it like it is and doesn't take any rubbish from anybody. It's great because I also get to do a lot of singing for the show."[39]
Barks starred as Nancy in the UK tour ofOliver! from 10 December 2011 to 1 April 2012. Barks had planned to perform the entire tour, but temporarily left the tour on 1 April to filmLes Miserables. She was replaced on the tour byCat Simmons.[40][41]
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Barks reprised her role as Éponine and made her film debut in the2012 film adaptation ofLes Misérables. She learned the news from Cameron Mackintosh during anOliver! curtain call.[3] During filming forLes Misérables, Barks recorded the song "Defective" for the albumScott Alan Live which was released in December 2012.[42] In June 2012, just days after completingLes Misérables, Barks returned to the UK tour ofOliver! for two weeks at theEdinburgh Playhouse.[43] On 24 June 2012, Barks performed in aLittle Women charity concert at thePlayhouse Theatre in London.[44]
On 13 October 2012, Barks performed at the Indoor Garden Party concert in New York City'sGramercy Theatre. The concert was part of a concert series created byRussell Crowe andAlan Doyle.[45] Barks performed at another Indoor Garden Party concert at New York City'sJoe's Pub on 8 December.[46] In early November 2012, Barks briefly returned to theOliver! UK tour at theGrand Theatre, Leeds. Barks permanently returned to theOliver! UK tour on 12 December atBord Gáis Energy Theatre in Ireland and continued with the tour until 20 February 2013 at theBristol Hippodrome.[47] She left the show early in order to head to Los Angeles for rehearsals with fellowLes Mis co-stars for their cast performance at the Oscars on 24 February 2013. Her rendition of "On My Own" fromLes Miserables reached number 97 on theBillboard Hot 100, and number 43 in the UK, being her first entry on each chart.
On 11 February 2013, Barks won Best Breakthrough Performance at theElle Style Awards. Barks performed with her co-stars from the filmLes Miserables at the85th Academy Awards ceremony on 24 February 2013. Immediately after the Oscars, Barks flew to the Isle of Man to begin work on her second film,The Christmas Candle.[48][49] In March 2013, Barks took part in the television specialAndrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years for ITV, performing "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" in honor ofAndrew Lloyd Webber.[50] In June 2013, Barks performed at TheRecording Academy Honors.[51] The same month, Barks took part in the one-night only24 Hour Plays at the Broad Stage Theater inSanta Monica, California.[52]
Barks played the role of Velma Kelly in the 2013 production ofChicago at the Hollywood Bowl in July 2013. In late 2013, Barks starred as the romantic lead inBitter Harvest, a film released in 2017, and co-starringMax Irons andBarry Pepper.[53] In October 2013, Barks played the part of Jules in the private workshop production of a potential musical ofBend It Like Beckham with a score byHoward Goodall, lyrics byCharles Hart, and book byGurinder Chadha andPaul Mayeda Berges.[54]
Barks had a role inDracula Untold, which was released on 10 October 2014.[55] She portrayedBaba Yaga, an angelic woman who turns into an evil witch; however, her scenes were cut from the film.[56]
In 2014, Barks was cast in the ensemble dramaA Hundred Streets[57] and announced she would be returning toWest End theatre in the revival ofCity of Angels directed byJosie Rourke with musical direction byGareth Valentine and choreography byStephen Mear.[58]
In July 2015, Barks began rehearsing for the world premiere ofAmélie, A New Musical at theBerkeley Repertory Theatre in California. The show opened on 29 August and had its run extended to 18 October.[59]
In January 2016, it was announced that Barks was cast in the movie musicalStrike!.[60] Also, in February 2016, it was announced that she would star in the dramaInterlude in Prague.[61]
In 2016, Barks and herGroove High co-star Jonathan Bailey reunited as the leads in Off-West End production ofThe Last Five Years at St. James Theatre from 27 October to 3 December 2016. She joined director Jason Robert Brown again for a one-off concert of his musical,Honeymoon in Vegas, at theLondon Palladium on 12 March 2017, starring alongsideArthur Darvill.
Barks has continued her music career playing at various venues around the UK since her album release. Following her self-titled album release on 10 June 2016, she launched her first solo tour around the UK to promote and perform songs from her album at 13 venues. She performed live in concert at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton alongside guest singer Kerry Ellis on 20 May 2017.
Barks made her American solo concert debut with four dates at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City in July 2017.
In September 2017, it was announced that Barks would be playing the role of Vivian (played byJulia Roberts in the film) in the stage musicalPretty Woman.[62] The musical premiered at Chicago'sOriental Theatre in March 2018, before transferring toBroadway in July 2018.[63]Pretty Woman marked her Broadway debut.[62]
On 5 December 2019, Barks was cast asElsa in theWest End production ofFrozen, beginning in August 2021.[64]
Barks spent several weeks in March and April 2022 presenting theElaine Paige on Sunday radio show on BBC Radio 2.[65]
In December 2022, it was announced that Barks would be doing a solo concert at theTheatre Royal, Drury Lane in May 2023.[66]Orfeh,Bradley Jaden andThe Overtones will appear as special guests.[67]
In May 2023, it was announced that Barks would be a judge on the upcoming ITV competition showMamma Mia! I Have a Dream alongsideAlan Carr,Jessie Ware, andAmber Riley. The show will follow the search for two musical theatre performers to play the roles of Sophie and Sky inMamma Mia! in London’s West End for its 25th anniversary.[68]
In 2025, Barks participated in and won thesixth series ofThe Masked Singer as "Pufferfish".[69]
Barks is avegetarian.[70] On 1 February 2021, she became engaged to actor Alex Michael Stoll, whom she met while they were both in the Broadway production ofPretty Woman.[71] Their wedding took place inTuscany on 18 June 2022.[72] On 1 August 2023 Barks revealed via her Instagram profile that the couple were expecting their first child.[73] She gave birth to a son on 16 October.[74] She took maternity leave fromFrozen and returned on February 7, 2024.[73]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary | Éponine | ||
| 2012 | Les Misérables | |||
| 2013 | The Christmas Candle | Emily Barstow | ||
| Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart | Miss Acacia | English-language voice[75][76] | ||
| 2015 | A Hundred Streets | Lotte | ||
| The Canary | Emaline | Short film | ||
| 2017 | Bitter Harvest | Natalka | ||
| Interlude in Prague | Josefa Duchek | |||
| 2019 | For Love or Money | Connie | ||
| 2021 | First Date | Casey | ||
| 2022 | Tomorrow Morning | Catherine |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | I'd Do Anything | Herself | Contestant; third place | |
| 2012 | Groove High | Zoe Myer | Disney Channel series | |
| 2014 | Robot Chicken | Elizabeth James Selina Kyle Sabrina Duncan | Voice role; episode: "Legion of Super-Gyros" | |
| 2016 | Bear Grylls: Mission Survive | Herself | ||
| 2021 | All Star Musicals | Herself | Judge | |
| 2022 | Rob & Romesh Vs | Herself | Episode: West End | |
| 2023 | Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream | Judge |
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2009 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | — | UK National Tour |
| 2010–2011 | Les Misérables | Éponine | Queen's Theatre | West End |
| 2010 | The O2 | London | ||
| 2011–2013 | Oliver! | Nancy | — | UK National Tour |
| 2013 | Chicago | Velma Kelly | Hollywood Bowl | Los Angeles |
| 2014 | City of Angels | Mallory / Avril | Donmar Warehouse | Off-West End |
| 2015 | Amélie | Amélie | Berkeley Repertory Theatre | California |
| 2016 | The Last Five Years | Cathy Hiatt | The Other Palace | Off-West End |
| 2017 | Honeymoon in Vegas | Betsy Nolan | London Palladium | West End |
| 2018 | Pretty Woman: The Musical | Vivian Ward | Oriental Theatre | Chicago |
| 2018–2019 | Nederlander Theatre | Broadway | ||
| 2020 | Chess | Florence | Umeda Arts Theater | Tokyo International Forum |
| 2021–2024 | Frozen | Elsa | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane | West End |
| 2022 | Chess | Florence |
| Release date | Title | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Looking In Your Eyes[77] | Debut album | Brunswick Studios | |
| 2010 | "Strong Without You"[78] | Song from the albumMove with Every Line: The Music of Tim Prottey-Jones | My Protégé Records | |
| 2011 | "Let Go"[79] | Single | Flour Records | |
| "Tir Na N'og"[80] | Song fromAcoustic Overtures: The Songs of Dougal Irvine | Simon Greiff/SimG Records | ||
| 2012 | "Defective"[81] | Song from the albumScott Alan Live | Billy-Boo Records | |
| Les Misérables: Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack | Cast recording of the film | Universal Republic Records | ||
| 2013 | Les Misérables: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |||
| 2014 | "You Fixed My Broken Wings"[82] | Song from the albumLove on 42nd Street | DLC Records | |
| 2016 | "Love in a Place Like This" (with Marc Devigne)[83] | Single | Danny Schur Records | |
| Samantha Barks[84] | Second studio album | United Agents Records | ||
| 2021 | Into the Unknown[85] | Third studio album | Westway Music Ltd |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Cast Ensemble | Les Misérables | Won | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Performer | Nominated | |||
| EDA Female Focus Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Film Awards | Spotlight Award | Won | |||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Ensemble Acting | Nominated | |||
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble Performance | Nominated | ||||
| Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble - Motion Picture | Won | ||||
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards | Best Ensemble | Nominated | ||
| Elle Style Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | |||
| Empire Awards | Best Female Newcomer | Won | |||
| Glamour Awards | Pandora Breakthrough | Won | |||
| Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble Cast | Nominated | |||
| Breakthrough Performer | Nominated | ||||
| London Critics Circle Film Awards | Young British Performer of the Year | Nominated | |||
| National Board of Review Awards | Best Acting by an Ensemble | Won | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated | |||
| Online Film and Television Association Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance: Female | Nominated | |||
| Best Music, Adapted Song | "One Day More" inLes Misérables | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actress in a Musical | Frozen | Nominated |
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