Samantha Barks

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Samantha Barks

Born

Samantha Barks
1990

Laxey, Isle of Man

Occupation

Actor, Singer

Years active

2008–present

Awards won
Other Awards
I'd Do Anything, 3rd place

Samantha Barks (born in Laxey, Isle of Man)^[1] is a singer and actress who came third in the BBC talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything in 2008.^[2]

1 Background
2 I'd Do Anything
- 2.1 Performances on I'd Do Anything
3 Personal life
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Background

Barks was born and brought up on the Isle of Man. She attended Laxey Primary School in Laxey^{[citation needed]} and St. Ninian's High School in Douglas^[3] before moving to London to study A levels at the The Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd) in Chiswick.^{[citation needed]}

Barks has won an international song competition in Malta, and performed at the 2007 Peel Bay Festival which also saw appearances by Robin Gibb, Madness, Sugababes and Matt Willis.^[2] In 2007, Barks released her debut album, Looking in Your Eyes.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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."^[7]

[edit] Performances on I'd Do Anything

Show	Song
Week one	"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
Week two	"See the Day"
Week three	"Somewhere" from the musical West Side Story
Week four	"Hurt"
Week five	"Since U Been Gone"
Week six	"Sway"
Week seven	"Survivor"
Week eight (quarter-final)	"Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked
Week nine (semi-final)	"When You Believe" from the film The Prince of Egypt
Week ten (final)	"Anyone Who Had a Heart"

[edit] 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.^[8] In June 2008, she sang the Isle of Man National Anthem at the 2008 Isle of Man TT.^{[citation needed]}