Samantha Barks

Samantha Jane Barks (born 2 October 1990) is a Manx actress and singer who rose to fame after placing third in the BBC talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything in 2008.

She has released three studio albums: Looking in Your Eyes (2007), Samantha Barks (2016), and Into the Unknown (2021), and made her film debut as Éponine in the Tom Hooper-directed Les Misérables in 2012.

Her performance in the film won her the Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer and a shared National Board of Review Award with the film's cast.

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 the Peel Bay Festival in June 2007 supporting Matt Willis and the Sugababes.

In December 2007, Barks represented the Isle 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.

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.

On 29 April 2008, at the midpoint of the competition, Tourism Minister Adrian Earnshaw renamed the Isle 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.

In week eight of the show, Barks performed "Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked and in the week leading up to the show she received support from American actress Idina Menzel, who originated the role of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked.

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."

In the week leading up to the two part final on 31 May, the Nancy finalists posed for publicity pictures recreating some of Madonna's iconic images.

Each Nancy also had a "Master Class" with Liza Minnelli in London.

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."

In June 2008, one month after I'd Do Anything ended, Barks sang the Isle of Man National Anthem "O Land Of Our Birth" on Senior Race day of the Isle of Man TT to begin the races.

Barks was then announced to play the lead role of Sally Bowles in the UK tour of Cabaret from 29 August 2008 to 11 July 2009.

Barks performed alongside her I’d Do Anything cast-mates Sarah Lark and Jodie Prenger at the Theatregoers Choice Awards in February 2009.

Toward the end of her run with Cabaret, 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 on I'd Do Anything and to thank those that have continued to support her.

Barks launched the new Manx Ship, the Caly Manx, in Shanghai, China on 30 September 2009.

Barks, along with Wendy Craig and Jess Conrad, switched on the Christmas Lights in Windsor's town centre on 21 November 2009.

Barks officially launched BreastHealth UK's new clinic at the Spire Thames Valley Hospital in Wexham on 27 November 2009.

She played the title role in Aladdin during the Christmas Pantomime Season 2009/10 at the Theatre Royal, Windsor.

Barks starred as Éponine in the London production of Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre from 21 June 2010 to 18 June 2011.

Barks was chosen to play Éponine in the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena on 3 October 2010 by Cameron 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.

Barks starred opposite Jonathan Bailey in the Disney Channel musical-comedy Groove High (2012–2013) and again, in the London revival of the musical The Last Five Years in 2016.

In 2018, she originated the role of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman: The Musical on Broadway.

Since 2021, she has played Elsa in the West End production of Frozen, though she took some time off for maternity leave.

Barks was born and raised in Laxey on the Isle of Man.

Her mother is from Malahide, Ireland.

Barks attended Laxey Primary School and St Ninian's High School, Douglas.

When she was 16, Barks moved to London by herself to complete her A levels at the Arts Educational School (ArtsEd) in Chiswick.

Her first non-industry job was working at River Island.

Barks danced from the age of three, training in ballet, modern and tap with Dancers Barre, then Stagecoach Isle of Man, Theatrix, Stage One Drama School and the Manx Ballet Company.