| Xavier Samuel | |
|---|---|
Xavier Samuel attending the film premiere of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in London, 2010 |
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| Born | Xavier Samuel 10 December 1983 Hamilton, Australia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | (2003 present-) |
| Website | |
| http://www.xavier-samuel.com | |
Xavier Samuel (born December 10,1983) is an Australian actor. He has appeared in leading roles in the feature films September,[1][2][3] Further We Search,[4] and Newcastle,[5] and played Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third movie in Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Saga film series.
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Samuel was born in Hamilton, Victoria, the son of Maree and Clifford Samuel.[6] He grew up in Adelaide, South Australia and graduated from Rostrevor College in 2001. Xavier has younger brother, Benedict Samuel, who is a writer, producer and actor.[7] He also has an older sister Bridget Samuel who is a stage manager.
Despite completing his senior secondary years at Rostrevor College, Samuel undertook final year drama at Christian Brothers College under the tutelage of Amanda Portus. During the same year, he played the part of Tom Snout (the wall) in Rostrevor College’s production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as playing the part of Belvile in CBC’s production of Aphra Behn’s The Rover (The Banished Cavaliers).
Samuel attended Flinders University Drama Centre in 2005 where he studied under renowned acting teacher Professor Julie Holledge. He played Hamlet in the graduate production.
Samuel made his debut on an Australian TV show named McLeod's Daughters in 2003. He starred in the Australian horror movie Road Train as Marcus and also acted in the Australian movie Drowning with Elephant Princess star Miles Szanto, directed by Craig Boreham.[8] In 2009, he was cast as Brent in the Australian comedy/thriller movie The Loved Ones in the lead role opposite Robin McLeavy. Although it received several award nominations, the film was a financial failure.
In early 2010, Samuel was cast as Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. The film gave Samuel his first blockbuster film worldwide. Samuel received his first award nomination and win at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Samuel appeared in the 2011 film Anonymous.
Samuel is currently in production of three films - Bait, Sanctuary and A Few Best Men. He plays a lead role in A Few Best Men.
Samuel follows Australian Rules Football and is a supporter of the Adelaide Crows in the AFL. Since 2010 he has been dating Miss Europe 2005 titleholder, Iranian-born model, Shermine Shahrivar.[9]
| Year | Play | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Two Weeks with the Queen | Colin | Windmill Performing Arts |
| Osama the Hero | Unknown | The Old Fitzroy Theatre | |
| 2007 | Mercury Fur | Unknown | Griffin Theatre |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | McLeod's Daughters | Jason | TV episode |
| 2006 | 2:37 | Theo | Feature film |
| Angela's Decision | Will Turner | Feature film | |
| 2007 | September | Ed Anderson | Feature film |
| 2008 | Newcastle | Fergus | Feature film |
| Dream Life | Boyd | TV film | |
| 2009 | Drowning | Dan | Short film |
| The Loved Ones | Brent | Feature film | |
| 2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Riley Biers | Feature film Won - MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (shared with Robert Pattinson and Bryce Dallas Howard) Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated - Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Male Breakout Nominated - Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Movie Star Nominated - Scream Awards for Best Breakthrough Preformance Male |
| Road Train (a.k.a. Road Kill) | Marcus | Feature film | |
| 2011 | Anonymous | Henry Wriothesley | Feature film |
| Bait 3D | N/A | Feature film | |
| Sanctuary | Brother | Short film | |
| A Few Best Men | David | Feature film | |
| 2012 | Drift | Jimmy Fisher | Feature Film |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | MTV Movie Awards | "Best Fight" | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (with Robert Pattinson and Bryce Dallas Howard) | Won |
| "Best Breakout Star" | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Nominated |