Samantha Barks

Infobox actor
name = Samantha Barks


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Samantha Barks
birthdate = Birth year and age|1990
birthplace = flagicon|IMN Laxey, Isle of Man
othername =
occupation = Actress, Singer
yearsactive = 2008–present
spouse =
children =
awards = I'd Do Anything, 3rd place

Samantha Barks (born in Laxey, Isle of Man)cite news |title=Super Sam Barks' star is rising |publisher=Isle of Man Newspapers |date=2008-05-19 |url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Super-Sam-Barks-star-is.4095167.jp |accessdate=2008-05-22 ] is a singer and actress who came third in the BBC talent show-themed television series "I'd Do Anything" in 2008.cite news |title=Nancy Contestants - Samantha |publisher=BBC |date=2008-03-22 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/contestants/nancy/samantha.shtml |accessdate=2008-05-10 ]

Background

Barks was born and brought up on the Isle of Man. She attended Laxey Primary School in LaxeyFact|date=May 2008 and St. Ninian's High School in Douglascite news |title=Sam Barks update |publisher=St. Ninian's High School |date=2008-04-30 |url=http://www.sch.im/snhs/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=1 |accessdate=2008-05-21 ] before moving to London to study A levels at the The Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd) in Chiswick.Fact|date=May 2008

Barks has won an international song competition in Malta, and performed at the 2007 Peel Bay Festival which also saw appearances by Matt Willis, Madness, Sugababes and The Who. In 2007, Barks released her debut album, "Looking in Your Eyes".Fact|date=June 2008

"I'd Do Anything"

In 2008 Barks competed in "I'd Do Anything" in which she was one of the finalists in a search for a new, unknown lead to play Nancy in a West End revival of the British musical "Oliver!". She reached the final where she finished third.

In week eight she performed "Defying Gravity" from the musical "Wicked" and in the week leading up to the show she was given support from American actress, Idina Menzel who achieved fame for her performances as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West in "Wicked".cite episode |title=I'd Do Anything |series=1 |airdate=2008-05-17 |season= |number=17 ]

In week nine, Barks received the lowest number of public votes and so had to participate in the sing-off with Rachel Tucker. They sang "Memory" from the musical "Cats". 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.cite news |title=Reviewing the Situation: Week Nine Result Rachel was the ninth Nancy to leave |publisher=BBC |date=2008-05-25 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/05/25/55135.shtml |accessdate=2008-05-25 ]

In the week leading up to the final shows on 31 May, the Nancy finalists posed for publicity pictures recreating some of Madonna's iconic images. Barks was dressed in hotpants copying the pose from the cover of the 2008 album, "Hard Candy".cite news |last=Roberts |first=Laura |title=The Nancies as you've never seen them before: I'd Do Anything trio pose as Madonna |publisher=The Daily Mail |date=2008-05-27 |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1022012/The-Nancies-youve-seen-Id-Do-Anything-trio-pose-Madonna.html |accessdate=2008-05-27 ] Each Nancy also had a "Master Class" with Liza Minnelli in London.

At the end of Show 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."cite news |title=Reviewing the Situation: Final, Samantha came third in the competition |publisher=BBC |date=2008-05-31 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/05/31/55311.shtml |accessdate=2008-05-31 ]

Performances on "I'd Do Anything"

After I'd Do Anything

Barks is scheduled to play Sally Bowles in the British tour of "Cabaret".fact|date=July 2008

Personal life

Barks has confirmed that she is friends with Ben James-Ellis (a former contestant on the Andrew Lloyd Webber talent show, "Any Dream Will Do") but denied tabloid rumours that they are dating. The two met when James-Ellis made a guest appearance on "I'd Do Anything".cite news |last=Kilkelly |first=Daniel |title=Nancy hopeful denies dating 'Dream' star |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2008-05-31 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a97173/nancy-hopeful-denies-dating-dream-star.html |accessdate=2008-06-01 ] In June 2008, she sang the Isle of Man National Anthem at the 2008 Isle of Man TT.fact|date=July 2008

References

External links

*imdb name|id=2977608|name=Samantha Barks
* [http://www.sambarks.co.uk Official site]
* [http://www.sch.im/snhs/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=1 Sam Barks plays Rizzo in school adaptation of Grease]
* [http://www.sch.im/laxey/Site/Welcome.html Laxey Primary School]
* [http://www.sch.im/snhs/ St. Ninian's High School]
* [http://www.artsed.co.uk/index.asp Arts Education Schools]