Sam Barnard

Sam Barnard (born Chatham, England October 21, 1985) is an actor with Down's syndrome ^[1] who performed the role of Robert in ITV drama "The Suspicions of Mr Whicher The Murder in Angel Lane" (2013)^[2] and his contribution to the TV documentary series "The Undateables"(2012 and 2013).

Biography

Sam Barnard was born in Chatham, Kent, England. He has Down's syndrome but has never regarded it as a disability. He attended mainstream schools and studied at Canterbury College from the age of 16 to 18. Since leaving college Sam has pursued a number of interests, particularly as part of the Skillnet Group, a Community Interest Company, working alongside people with learning difficulties in Kent, England. For some years he volunteered at a residential home for elderly people, making tea, chatting to residents and helping with entertainment. He also has a job working part time as an administrative assistant for Kent County Council.

In 2006 Barnard replied to an email from a casting director about the lead role in a BBC drama. He was invited to an audition and after several recalls reached the last three of over 300 people seen. He didn't get the role. The casting director Jill Trevelick suggested that he had a talent for acting and provided contact details for an agent, Louise Dyson at Visable People. He contacted Louise who immediately took him on as a client. A few weeks later Sam started filming in a walk on role in "The Oxford Murders"^[3] (2008) starring John Hurt and Elijah Wood. In 2007 Sam was auditioned for a place on the prestigious "Staging Change" acting course for actors with a learning disability run by Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and Mind the Gap Theatre Company). He was offered a place on the course and completed it in 2008. He appeared (uncredited) in one episode of "EastEnders" (BBC) in 2007 and in 2008 his "street cred" soared following an appearance in the "Thorpe Park" episode of "The Inbetweeners" (Channel 4). In 2009 Sam appeared in and co-directed a short film "Crime Report" (ITV Fixers)and the anti bullying theme continued with his lead roles in the short films "Bully for You" (Voice UK/Ministry of Justice -2010 and "See My Ability" (Derbyshire County Council/Crown Prosecution Service -2011).In 2012 Sam co-directed (with Luke Sewell) a short film shot on Whitstable beach — featuring Rocky and the Natives performing Oyster Girl.^[4]

Barnard responded to an email to Skillnet in 2011 seeking contributors to a new TV documentary series about people with disabilities looking for love, and was chosen to participate. He featured in both the first and second series of the hit programme "The Undateables"^[5][6] (Channel 4 2012 and 2013). He is currently filming Series 3. He was a guest on live TV chat shows "Live With Kaye Adams" (Channel 5) and "This Morning"(ITV 2012). Sam was a member of the expert panel for "The Undateables" Masterclass at the Guardian International Television Festival in Edinburgh (2013).^[7] In 2012 he auditioned for and got the role of Robert in ITV's feature length film drama "The Suspicions of Mr Whicher -The Murder in Angel Lane" (ITV 2013),^[8] acting alongside Paddy Considine and Olivia Colman. Barnard is at present helping to set up a drama group for people with and without learning difficulties, as part of the Skillnet Group in Dover, England.

References

IMDb Sam Barnard Actor(11)http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5011028/resume?ref_=nm_ov_res Time Out - http\\www.timeout.com/london/tv-reviews/the-suspicions-of-mr-whicher-the-murder-in-angel-lane May 3, 2013 Disability Arts Online 10 May 2007 Minding the Gap http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/cast_conference