About Samantha Barks

Samantha Barks (born 02 October 1990) is a professional actress and singer from the Isle of Man. Sam has been dancing since the age of 3, training in Ballet, Modern and Tap. She was also a member of the Manx Operatic Society, which provided her with a lot of performing experience Her previous work (all in the Isle of Man) includes playing Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, The Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Dancing in Coppelia, La Boutique Fantasque, La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Robinson Crusoe, Rizzo in Grease, a Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls, Cyndi Gibson in Back to the 80s and she understudied Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde. Sam represented the Isle of Man in the Maltese International Song Competition in 2007, where she won the main prize of €2000 and the title of Best Foreign Singer. She performed at the 2007 Peel Bay Festival, Isle of Man, supporting the Sugababes and Matt Willis, which also saw appearances by Robin Gibb and Madness. Sam had a singing role in the ITV1 TV movie, The Final Quest, directed by and starring David Jason. She moved to London at the tender age of 16 to pursue her dream as a performer, which would not have been possible without the amazing support of the late Mr Patrick Taylor, who dedicated his time and money to Sam, helping her make her dream reality. She started her training at Arts Educational School where she began to study Performing Arts A-Level Sam came into the public eye when she appeared on the BBC1 show 'I'd Do Anything', searching for an unknown talent to play Nancy in the new West End production of Oliver, where she eventually came 3rd, in 2008. During the competition she got to work with some amazing people including Idina Menzel and Liza Minelli, which has already helped her a lot in her career. The competition provided her with a fantastic opportunity to get a huge head start in the world of performing. She had to drop out of Arts Ed once she got too far in the competition. She then landed the lead role of Sally Bowles in the UK touring production of 'Cabaret' from 29th Aug 2008 until 11th July 2009, playing in 36 theatres all across the UK and in the Isle of Man. She did over 315 shows without missing a single one. Sam was then invited out to China to launch the new Manx Ship, the Caly Manx, in Shanghai on 30th September 09. She then went on to star as Aladdin in panto in Windsor from 9th Dec 2009 until 10th Jan 2010 doing 13 shows a week. Sam released a new song, called 'I Hate Playing Games' on http://www.reverbnation.com/GarryLake, which she co-wrote with Garry Lake. She is now going to be starring in a new Disney TV Series called 'Groove High' where she will be playing lead role, Zoe. Voice recording started in April 2010 in Ireland and filming is now scheduled for 15th-28th August 2010 also in Ireland. 'Groove High' is set to air on the Disney Channel in 2011. She is really excited about the fact of being made into a Disney character as she has always dreamed of it and she can't wait to start filming. Sam is currently making her West End debut playing Eponine in Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre in London. Her opening night was on the 21st June 2010 and she has a year contract with the show!! Sam is loving getting to play Eponine as it is a role she has always wanted to do. Les Miserables website: http://www.lesmis.com/ Sam's Les Mis profile: http://www.londonmusicalsonline.com/londonlesmis/lmperformer.php?PerfID=sambar She got the opportunity to sing with Frances Ruffelle (the original Eponine) on 11th June 2010! Sam has been chosen by Cameron Mackintosh to play Eponine in the 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 Arena on 3rd October 2010. There is now going to be 2 concerts as the evening show sold out so fast. Cameron gave Sam the news that she had been chosen after watching her as Eponine on her opening night in the West End at the Queen's Theatre. Cameron said "I am delighted to announce that we have now completed the principal casting for the 25th Anniversary concert at The O2. Our latest Eponine at the Queen's, Samantha Barks, who I first met as a hugely talented finalist in BBCTV's I'd Do Anyth...ing search for a Nancy, has proved to be such a success performing with Nick Jonas and Camilla Kerslake, that we just had to have her for the concert." 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 website: http://25.lesmis.com/ Video of when Cameron gave the news to Sam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgh2qI7vQc0