Biography
Samantha Barks is a Manx actress and singer. Born on 2 October 1990 in Laxey on the Isle of Man, she trained at the Arts Educational School in London after moving there at 16. She first came to prominence in 2008 when she placed third in the BBC talent series I'd Do Anything.
Barks played Éponine Thénardier in the West End production of Les Misérables and its 25th anniversary concert before making her film debut in the role in the 2012 adaptation directed by Tom Hooper. Her performance earned her the Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer and a shared National Board of Review Award for Best Cast. Other stage credits include originating Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman: The Musical on Broadway in 2018 and playing Elsa in the West End production of Frozen from 2021 to 2024.
