---
name: "Samuel Barnett"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/samuel-barnett"
fi1m_id: "samuel-barnett"
imdb_id: "nm1154650"
tmdb_id: 55471
wikidata_id: "Q736794"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 April 1980"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-01T23:37:44.976996+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Samuel Barnett

## Identity

Samuel Barnett

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/samuel-barnett
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** samuel-barnett
- **IMDb ID:** nm1154650
- **TMDB ID:** 55471
- **Wikidata ID:** Q736794
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Barnett_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q736794, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1154650/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55471

Actor. Born 25 April 1980 in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 April 1980, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 2006–present
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 77 (3), 2010s 79 (2), 2020s 61 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 72 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Mystery 2, Action & Adventure 1, Crime 1, History 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $51m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Barnett_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q736794, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1154650/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55471

## Coming up

- *National Theatre at Home: Pride* (2027-07-01), as Jonathan

## Biography

Samuel Barnett is an English actor. Born in Whitby, North Yorkshire, he trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

He originated the role of Posner in the original National Theatre production of Alan Bennett's *The History Boys* (2004) and reprised it in the 2006 film adaptation, as well as in Broadway and international productions. He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for the Broadway run and won a Drama Desk Award. His other stage work includes productions at the National Theatre such as *His Dark Materials*.

On screen, Barnett has appeared in films including *Mrs Henderson Presents* (2005), *Bright Star* (2009), *Jupiter Ascending* (2015) and *The Lady in the Van* (2015). His television roles include Renfield in *Penny Dreadful* (2014–2016) and the title character in *Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency* (2016–2017).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Lee* (2024), Fi1m 61, as Cecil Beaton — [page](https://film.one/film/lee.md)
- *Penny Dreadful* (2014), Fi1m 76, as Renfield — [page](https://film.one/tv/penny-dreadful.md)
- *Endeavour* (2013), Fi1m 82, as Anthony Donn — [page](https://film.one/tv/endeavour.md)
- *Bright Star* (2009), Fi1m 82, as Mr. Severn — [page](https://film.one/film/bright-star.md)
- *John Adams* (2008), Fi1m 81, as Thomas Adams — [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *The History Boys* (2006), Fi1m 67, as Posner — [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)

## Complete filmography (40)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *National Theatre at Home: Pride* (2027), as Jonathan
- *Savage House* (2026), as Mr. Blake, Tailor
- *The Gay Collection | Volume I | Presented by Shortz!* (2025), Actor
- *And Mrs.* (2024), as Alan
- *Lee* (2024), as Cecil Beaton — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/lee.md)
- *Yenor* (2023), as Bingo (voice)
- *Boys on Film 22: Love to Love You* (2022), as Matthews
- *National Theatre Live: Straight Line Crazy* (2022), as Ariel Porter
- *Murder in Provence* (2022), series, as Didier Laurent
- *Four Lives* (2022), series, as Ryan Edwards
- *The Amazing Mr. Blunden* (2021), as Mr. Smith
- *The Act* (2020), as Matthews
- *National Theatre Live: Allelujah!* (2018), as Colin
- *Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency* (2016), series, as Dirk Gently
- *The Lady in the Van* (2015), as Donald
- *National Theatre Live: The Beaux' Stratagem* (2015), as Aimwell
- *Not Safe for Work* (2015), series, as Nathanial
- *Jupiter Ascending* (2015), as Advocate Bob
- *Penny Dreadful* (2014), series, as Renfield — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/penny-dreadful.md)
- *Love Tomorrow* (2013), as Cal
- *Vicious* (2013), series, as Young Stuart
- *Endeavour* (2013), series, as Anthony Donn — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/endeavour.md)
- *Twelfth Night* (2012), as Sebastian
- *Dickens in London* (2012), as Young Dickens(Voice)
- *Twenty Twelve* (2011), series, as Daniel Stroud
- *Bright Star* (2009), as Mr. Severn — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/bright-star.md)
- *Desperate Romantics* (2009), series, as John Millais
- *Crooked House* (2008), series, as Billy
- *Beautiful People* (2008), series, as Adult Simon Doonan
- *John Adams* (2008), series, as Thomas Adams — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale* (2007), as Wilfred Owen
- *The History Boys* (2006), as Posner — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)
- *Mrs. Henderson Presents* (2005), as Paul
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Sergeant Tiddler
- *Strange* (2003), series, as Doddington
- *The Royal* (2003), series, as Joe Steeples
- *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries* (2002), series, as Brian Byrne
- *Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps* (2001), series, Actor
- *Coupling* (2000), series, as Sex Shop Assistant
- *American Experience* (1988), series, as Philip's Schoolmate

## Gallery

- ![Samuel Barnett](https://film.one/media/person/338572/gallery-3390a7c0cd4e.jpg) Samuel Barnett — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Samuel_Barnett_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Samuel_Barnett_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San ](https://film.one/media/person/338572/gallery-93aa7af17e39.jpg) Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Samuel_Barnett_%2836228841146%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Samuel_Barnett_%2836228841146%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San ](https://film.one/media/person/338572/gallery-5cb2e21537b3.jpg) Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Samuel_Barnett_%2836136639431%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Samuel_Barnett_%2836136639431%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San ](https://film.one/media/person/338572/gallery-de4eb97dec58.jpg) Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Samuel_Barnett_%2836269476895%29.jpg/1280px-Samuel_Barnett_%2836269476895%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Samuel Barnett](https://film.one/media/person/338572/gallery-301fa842f91d.jpg) Samuel Barnett — Image via TMDB
- ![Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San ](https://film.one/media/person/338572/gallery-cc98f4bcb83d.jpg) Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Samuel_Barnett_%2836102950022%29.jpg/1280px-Samuel_Barnett_%2836102950022%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San ](https://film.one/media/person/338572/gallery-28addbdbd135.jpg) Samuel Barnett speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", at the San Diego Convention Center in San  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Samuel_Barnett_%2836136635111%29.jpg/1280px-Samuel_Barnett_%2836136635111%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2014: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 2006: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/samuel-barnett