Samantha Barks
Encyclopedia
Samantha Barks is a professional singer and actress who came third in the BBC
talent show
-themed television series I'd Do Anything
in 2008.
. She attended Laxey Primary School in Laxey
and St Ninian's High School in Douglas
before moving to London
to study A levels at The Arts Educational Schools
(ArtsEd) in Chiswick
.
, Modern
and Tap
with Dancers Barre, then Stagecoach Isle of Man, Theatrix, Stage One and the Manx Ballet Company. She was also a member of the Manx Operatic Society, which provided her with a lot of performing experience.
Her previous work includes playing the role of Snow White
, aged 4, in a school production, and the following roles in amateur productions at the Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man
and The Villa Marina, Isle of Man: Aurora in Sleeping Beauty
, The Cheshire Cat
in Alice in Wonderland, The Scarecrow in a ballet version of The Wizard of Oz, Dancing in Coppélia
, 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 80's (a role which she reprised in August 2007 at the Gaiety Theatre), and she understudied Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde.
Samantha's film credits include Jimmy Spud, Chromophobia and she also had a singing role in the ITV1
TV movie, The Final Quest, directed by and starring David Jason
.
In April 2007, she released her debut album, Looking in Your Eyes at the Peel Centenary Centre, Isle of Man, which sold over 600 copies! She co-wrote 2 songs on her album and even wrote 1 of them herself. She has performed the songs with her band (including her sister, Kim) to many thousands of people (details below) and also when she sang during a Strictly Dancing
exhibition featuring Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett (from BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing), called Essentially Dancing.
Samantha represented the Isle of Man
in the Maltese International Song Competition in December 2007, where she won the main prize of €2000 and the title of Best Foreign Singer. She sang "Nothing Else" (Holland/Barks) from her album Looking In Your Eyes and "Play On", a hit song in Malta.
She also performed at the Peel Bay Festival in June 2007 supporting Matt Willis
and the Sugababes
, which also saw appearances by Madness
and The Who
.
revival of the British
musical
Oliver!
. She reached the final where she finished third. On the 29th of April, 2008, the Isle of Man
was renamed by the Tourism Minister Adrian Earnshaw 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 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.
In week nine, Samantha 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 Samantha and eliminate Rachel 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 final shows on 31 May, the Nancy finalists posed for publicity pictures recreating some of Madonna
's iconic images. Samantha was dressed in hotpants
copying the pose from the cover of the 2008 album, Hard Candy
. Each Nancy also had a "Master Class" with Liza Minnelli
in London
.
At the end of Show one of the final, Samantha 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." Samantha said, "'It's been the most amazing experience of my life. Thanks to everyone and the panel for making it so incredible."
'O Land Of Our Birth' on Senior Race day of the Isle of Man TT
to begin the races.
Samantha played the lead role of Sally Bowles in the UK tour of Cabaret
from 29 August 2008 to 11 July 2009.
She put on her own concert, 'An Audience with Sam Barks', at the Villa Marina, Isle of Man on 3rd Jan 2009 to thank everybody that supported her during her time on I'd Do Anything and to thank those that have continued to carry on their support for her.
Samantha performed alongside her I’d do anything buddies Sarah Lark and Jodie Prenger at the Theatregoers Choice Awards in Feb 2009.
She launched the new Manx Ship, the Caly Manx, in Shanghai, China on 30 September 2009.
Samantha, along with Wendy Craig and Jess Conrad (fellow cast members in Aladdin) switched on the Christmas Lights in Windsor's town centre on 21 November 2009.
She played the title role in Aladdin
during the Christmas Pantomime Season 2009/10.
Samantha officially launched BreastHealth UK's new clinic at the Spire Thames Valley Hospital in Wexham
on 27 November 2009.
She recently succeeded former I'd Do Anything contestant Nancy Sullivan and starred as Éponine
in the London production of Les Misérables
at the Queen's Theatre (since 21 June 2010) and she had a year contract with the show.
Samantha 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.
Barks played her final performance as Eponine on 19 June 2011 and was succeeded by Alexia Khadime
.
She has just released a new song called 'Let Go' which she co-wrote with Garry Lake.
Samantha is also in the middle of filming a new Disney TV series called 'Groove High' that will be aired on the Disney channel
in 2011.
Also in 2011, Samantha performed in a concert at the Battersea Barge in London, singing work by British composer/lyricists Laurence Mark Wythe
, Grant Olding, Dougal Irvine and Tim Sutton. She performed alongside fellow West End stars Stephen Ashfield
, Annalene Beechey and George Ure.
Barks will be starring as Nancy in the forthcoming UK tour of Oliver!
.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
-themed television series I'd Do Anything
I'd Do Anything (BBC TV series)
I'd Do Anything is a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. It premièred on 15 March 2008...
in 2008.
Background
Samantha was born and brought up on the Isle of ManIsle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. She attended Laxey Primary School in Laxey
Laxey
Laxey is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'.The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by...
and St Ninian's High School in Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
before moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study A levels at The Arts Educational Schools
The Arts Educational Schools
Arts Educational Schools, London is an independent co-educational school specialising in the performing arts and based in Chiswick, London in the United Kingdom...
(ArtsEd) in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
.
Training/experience
Samantha has been dancing since the age of 3, training in BalletBallet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, Modern
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
and Tap
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
with Dancers Barre, then Stagecoach Isle of Man, Theatrix, Stage One and the Manx Ballet Company. She was also a member of the Manx Operatic Society, which provided her with a lot of performing experience.
Her previous work includes playing the role of Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
, aged 4, in a school production, and the following roles in amateur productions at the Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man
Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man
The Gaiety Theatre is a theatre, on the Isle of Man. The theatre was built in 1899 to the designs of architect Frank Matcham, as an opera house and theatre. It was built on the site of the former Pavilion, an entertainment hall that had been constructed six years earlier.The theatre opened on 16...
and The Villa Marina, Isle of Man: Aurora in Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince...
, The Cheshire Cat
Cheshire Cat
The Cheshire Cat is a fictional cat popularised by Lewis Carroll's depiction of it in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Known for his distinctive mischievous grin, the Cheshire Cat has had a notable impact on popular culture.-Origins:...
in Alice in Wonderland, The Scarecrow in a ballet version of The Wizard of Oz, Dancing in Coppélia
Coppélia
Coppélia is a sentimental comic ballet with original choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon to a ballet libretto by Saint-Léon and Charles Nuitter and music by Léo Delibes. It was based upon two macabre stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, Der Sandmann , and Die Puppe...
, La Boutique fantasque
La Boutique fantasque
La Boutique fantasque or The Magic Toy Shop was a ballet conceived by Léonide Massine who wrote the choreography and the libretto. Ottorino Respighi wrote the music based on piano pieces by Gioachino Rossini. Its world premiere was at the Alhambra Theatre in London on 5 June 1919 and was performed...
, La Sylphide
La Sylphide
La Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
, The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
, Dick Whittington, Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
, Robinson Crusoe, Rizzo in Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
, a Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
, Cyndi Gibson in Back to the 80's (a role which she reprised in August 2007 at the Gaiety Theatre), and she understudied Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde.
Samantha's film credits include Jimmy Spud, Chromophobia and she also had a singing role in the ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
TV movie, The Final Quest, directed by and starring David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
.
In April 2007, she released her debut album, Looking in Your Eyes at the Peel Centenary Centre, Isle of Man, which sold over 600 copies! She co-wrote 2 songs on her album and even wrote 1 of them herself. She has performed the songs with her band (including her sister, Kim) to many thousands of people (details below) and also when she sang during a Strictly Dancing
Strictly Dancing
Strictly Dancing is an Australian television show that aired between 2004 and 2005 on ABC TV. Hosted by Paul McDermott, the show is a form of dance competition, with each episode featuring four dance couples from around Australia and New Zealand. The competition has three rounds, each consisting of...
exhibition featuring Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett (from BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing), called Essentially Dancing.
Samantha represented the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
in the Maltese International Song Competition in December 2007, where she won the main prize of €2000 and the title of Best Foreign Singer. She sang "Nothing Else" (Holland/Barks) from her album Looking In Your Eyes and "Play On", a hit song in Malta.
She also performed at the Peel Bay Festival in June 2007 supporting Matt Willis
Matt Willis
Matthew James Willis is an English singer-songwriter. He found fame as a founding member of the band Busted.- Early years :...
and the Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
, which also saw appearances by Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
.
I'd Do Anything
In 2008, Samantha 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 EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
revival of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
. She reached the final where she finished third. On the 29th of April, 2008, the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
was renamed by the Tourism Minister Adrian Earnshaw 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 she performed "Defying Gravity
Defying Gravity (song)
"Defying Gravity" is the signature song from the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz, originally recorded by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on November 10, 2003, and released on December 16, 2003...
" from the musical Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
and in the week leading up to the show she was given support from American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, Idina Menzel
Idina Menzel
Idina Kim Menzel is an American actress, singer and songwriter. She is widely known for originating the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked.-Early life:...
, who achieved fame for her performances as Elphaba
Elphaba
Elphaba Thropp is a fictional character in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, as well as in the Broadway and West End adaptations, Wicked. In the original L. Frank Baum book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West is unnamed and little...
, the Wicked Witch of the West
Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character and the most significant antagonist in L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
in Wicked.
In week nine, Samantha received the lowest number of public votes and so had to participate in the sing-off with Rachel Tucker
Rachel Tucker
Rachel Tucker is a Northern Irish singer and actress who competed as one of the finalists in the BBC talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything in 2008...
. They sang "Memory" from the musical Cats
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
. Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
chose to save Samantha and eliminate Rachel 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 final shows on 31 May, the Nancy finalists posed for publicity pictures recreating some of Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's iconic images. Samantha was dressed in hotpants
Shorts
Shorts are a bifurcated garment worn by both men and women over their pelvic area, circling the waist, and covering the upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to or even below the knee, but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened...
copying the pose from the cover of the 2008 album, Hard Candy
Hard Candy (Madonna album)
Hard Candy is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on April 19, 2008, by Warner Bros. Records. It was her final studio album with the record company, marking the end of a 25 year recording history. Madonna started working on the album in 2007, and collaborated...
. Each Nancy also had a "Master Class" with Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
At the end of Show one of the final, Samantha 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." Samantha said, "'It's been the most amazing experience of my life. Thanks to everyone and the panel for making it so incredible."
Performances on I'd Do Anything
| Show | Song | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Week one | "I Love Rock 'n' Roll I Love Rock 'n' Roll "I Love Rock 'n Roll" is a rock song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of Arrows, who recorded the first released version. The song was later made famous by the hit version recorded by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1981.... " |
Safe |
| Week two | "See the Day" | Safe |
| Week three | "Somewhere Somewhere (song) "Somewhere" is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story which was made into a film in 1961. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and takes a phrase from the slow movement of Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, which forms the start of the... " from the musical West Side Story West Side Story West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins... |
Safe |
| Week four | "Hurt Hurt (Christina Aguilera song) "Hurt" is a power ballad written by Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry and Mark Ronson for Aguilera's third studio album, Back to Basics . The song's lyrical content describes how one deals with the loss of a loved one, and it has received praise from pop music critics... " |
Safe |
| Week five | "Since U Been Gone Since U Been Gone "Since U Been Gone" is a song written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald for American singer Kelly Clarkson. The song was released as the second single from her second album, Breakaway in the US and Australia and was released as the first single in Europe... " |
Safe |
| Week six | "Sway Sway (song) "Sway" is the English version of "¿Quién será?", a 1953 mambo song by Mexican composer and bandleader Pablo Beltrán Ruiz. The most famous version is that of Dean Martin recorded in 1954. English lyrics are by Norman Gimbel... " |
Safe |
| Week seven | "Survivor" | Safe |
| Week eight (quarter-final) | "Defying Gravity Defying Gravity (song) "Defying Gravity" is the signature song from the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz, originally recorded by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on November 10, 2003, and released on December 16, 2003... " from the musical Wicked Wicked (musical) Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard... |
Safe |
| Week nine (semi-final) | "When You Believe When You Believe "When You Believe" is an Academy Award-winning song by American recording artists Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The song was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz for the 1998 DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt. A version of "When You Believe" was produced as a single with... " from the film The Prince of Egypt The Prince of Egypt The Prince of Egypt is a 1998 American animated musical drama film and the first traditionally animated film produced and released by DreamWorks Animation. The film is an adaptation of the Book of Exodus and follows the life of Moses from being a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny to lead the... |
Bottom Two |
| Week ten (final) | "Anyone Who Had a Heart" | Third Place |
Professional career
In June 2008, she sang the Isle of Man National AnthemIsle of Man National Anthem
The National Anthem of the Isle of Man, known in Manx as , was written and composed by William Henry Gill , with the Manx translation by John J. Kneen...
'O Land Of Our Birth' on Senior Race day of the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
to begin the races.
Samantha played the lead role of Sally Bowles in the UK tour of Cabaret
Cabaret (musical)
Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
from 29 August 2008 to 11 July 2009.
She put on her own concert, 'An Audience with Sam Barks', at the Villa Marina, Isle of Man on 3rd Jan 2009 to thank everybody that supported her during her time on I'd Do Anything and to thank those that have continued to carry on their support for her.
Samantha performed alongside her I’d do anything buddies Sarah Lark and Jodie Prenger at the Theatregoers Choice Awards in Feb 2009.
She launched the new Manx Ship, the Caly Manx, in Shanghai, China on 30 September 2009.
Samantha, along with Wendy Craig and Jess Conrad (fellow cast members in Aladdin) switched on the Christmas Lights in Windsor's town centre on 21 November 2009.
She played the title role in Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
during the Christmas Pantomime Season 2009/10.
Samantha officially launched BreastHealth UK's new clinic at the Spire Thames Valley Hospital in Wexham
Wexham
Wexham is a settlement and civil parish in the county of Buckinghamshire. It is on the borders of the unitary authority of Slough and the non-metropolitan county of Berkshire, in southern England....
on 27 November 2009.
She recently succeeded former I'd Do Anything contestant Nancy Sullivan and starred as Éponine
Éponine
Éponine Thénardier is a fictional character in the 1862 novelLes Misérables by Victor Hugo.- Éponine in the novel :As children, Éponine and her younger sister Azelma are described as pretty, well-dressed, charming and a delight to see. They are pampered and spoiled by their parents the Thénardiers...
in the London production of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
at the Queen's Theatre (since 21 June 2010) and she had a year contract with the show.
Samantha was chosen to play Éponine
Éponine
Éponine Thénardier is a fictional character in the 1862 novelLes Misérables by Victor Hugo.- Éponine in the novel :As children, Éponine and her younger sister Azelma are described as pretty, well-dressed, charming and a delight to see. They are pampered and spoiled by their parents the Thénardiers...
in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
at the O2 Arena
The O2 arena (London)
The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the centre of The O2, a large entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, England.With a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on the event, it is second largest...
on 3 October 2010 by Cameron Mackintosh
Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York...
after he saw her play the role in her opening night at the Queens Theatre in London's West End.
Barks played her final performance as Eponine on 19 June 2011 and was succeeded by Alexia Khadime
Alexia Khadime
Alexia Khadime is an English actress and mezzo-soprano, known for her roles in British musical theatre and television. Alexia's break came in 2004 when she was cast as Nala in the British rendition of the musical The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre, London...
.
She has just released a new song called 'Let Go' which she co-wrote with Garry Lake.
Samantha is also in the middle of filming a new Disney TV series called 'Groove High' that will be aired on the Disney channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
in 2011.
Also in 2011, Samantha performed in a concert at the Battersea Barge in London, singing work by British composer/lyricists Laurence Mark Wythe
Laurence Mark Wythe
Laurence Mark Wythe is an award winning English composer, lyricist and writer for West End and Off-Broadway musicals. He is principally known for the off-Broadway musical Tomorrow Morning and Through the Door seen in the West End at the Trafalgar Studios starring Julie Atherton...
, Grant Olding, Dougal Irvine and Tim Sutton. She performed alongside fellow West End stars Stephen Ashfield
Stephen Ashfield
Stephen Ashfield is a British actor. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and since graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music in London, he has enjoyed a successful stage career...
, Annalene Beechey and George Ure.
Barks will be starring as Nancy in the forthcoming UK tour of Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
.