Samuel Barnett (actor)

Samuel Barnett
Born 25 April 1980
Whitby, North Yorkshire, England[1]
Occupation Actor
Years active 2001–present

Samuel Barnett (born 25 April 1980) is an English actor. He has performed on stage, film, television and radio, and achieved recognition for his work on the stage and film versions of The History Boys by Alan Bennett. His most recent television performance was in the BBC comedy Twenty Twelve.

Early life

Barnett is from London,[2] but was brought up in Whitby in North Yorkshire, England. He started performing at an early age, and studied acting at LAMDA.[3] Barnett's father is Jewish, and his paternal grandparents emigrated from Poland; his mother is a Quaker.[2][4][5] He has described himself as "non-denominational".[6] Barnett is one of five children.

Career

Barnett appeared in the original London stage production of Alan Bennett's play The History Boys, as well as in the New York, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong productions and radio and film versions of the play.[7][8][9][10] He had been involved in The History Boys from its very first reading.[11]

In 2009 he played John Everett Millais in the BBC series Desperate Romantics, and Joseph Severn in the film Bright Star.

He appeared at the National Theatre in Women Beware Women by Thomas Middleton which ran from 20 April – 4 July 2010. From July 2012, he appeared in an all-male-cast as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare's Richard III at the Globe Theatre in London alongside Mark Rylance in the title role, also playing the role of Sebastian in Twelfth Night. The production transferred to the Apollo Theatre in the West End, opening 2 November 2012 and running for a limited engagement.[12] Both Twelfth Night and Richard III transferred to Broadway in 2013 and played at the Belasco Theatre until February 2014. In the Broadway productions, Barnett is reprising his role as Elizabeth Woodville in Richard III and taking on the role of Viola (previously played by Johnny Flynn in London) in Twelfth Night.[13]

Recognition and awards

Barnett was nominated for Evening Standard Award as Most Promising Newcomer for his role in The Marriage of Figaro in 2002. He won Best Newcomer & Best Supporting Actor in a play at the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Awards for his work on the original West End production of The History Boys.[7] He was nominated for the 29th annual Olivier Award for Performance in a Supporting Role.[14] He won a 2006 Drama Desk Award and was nominated for a 2006 Tony Award for his work on the Broadway production.[15][16]

Barnett was nominated for the 2006 British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer (On Screen) for his work on the film version of The History Boys.[17]

In 2014, Barnett received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his work in Twelfth Night.

Selected credits

Theatre

Year Title Role Theatre
2002 The Accrington Pals[1] Reggie Minerva Theatre, Chichester
The Marriage of Figaro[1] Cherubino Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
2003-4 His Dark Materials Pantalaimon Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank
2004-6 The History Boys Posner Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank (2004–5)

Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2006)

St. James Theatre, Wellington (2006)

Sydney Theatre, Sydney (2006)

Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway (2006)

2005 When You Cure Me[1] Peter Bush Theatre, London
2007-08 Dealer's Choice Carl Menier Chocolate Factory and Trafalgar Studios, London
2010 The Whisky Taster[18] Barney Bush Theatre, London
The Man Man Finborough Theatre, London
Women Beware Women[19] Leantio Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank
2011 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Rosencrantz Chichester Festival Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket
66 Books St. Paul Bush Theatre, London
2012 The Way of the World Witwoud Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Richard III Elizabeth Woodville Shakespeare's Globe and Apollo Theatre, London
Twelfth Night Sebastian Shakespeare's Globe and Apollo Theatre, London
2013-14 Richard III Elizabeth Woodville Belasco Theatre, Broadway
Twelfth Night Viola Belasco Theatre, Broadway

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes
2001 Coupling sex shop assistant BBC Series 2 Episode 2 "My Dinner in Hell"
2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Brian Byrne BBC Series 1 Episode 1 "Well-Schooled in Murder"
2002-3 Strange Doddington BBC
2003 Doctors Charlie Ambrose BBC Series 5 Episode 153 "All an Illusion"
The Royal Joe Steeples ITV Series 3 Episode 5 "Poison"
2006 Alexander Hamilton Philip Hamilton's schoolmate PBS Series 19, Episode 15 "Alexander Hamilton"
2007 Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale Wilfred Owen BBC
John Adams Thomas Boylston Adams HBO
2008 Beautiful People Adult Simon Doonan / narrator BBC
Crooked House Billy BBC
2009 Desperate Romantics John Millais BBC
Beautiful People: Series 2 Adult Simon Doonan / narrator BBC
Agatha Christie's Marple[20] Sergeant Tiddler ITV The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
2011 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Leonard BBC
Shakespeare in Italy Romeo Montague BBC
2012 Twenty Twelve Danny BBC
2014 Cut Nathaniel Channel 4

Film

Year Title Role
2005 Mrs Henderson Presents Paul
2006 The History Boys Posner
2009 Bright Star Joseph Severn
2012 Love Tomorrow Cal
2015 Jupiter Ascending Advocate Bob

Radio

Year Title Role Station Notes
2004 Fighting for Words[21][22] Thomas Moynihan BBC Radio 4
2005 The History Boys[23] Posner BBC Radio 3
When You Cure Me[24] Peter BBC Radio 3
2007 Down and Out in Paris and London[25] George Orwell BBC Radio 4
2008 The Babington Plot[26] Thomas Salisbury BBC Radio 4
2009 The Quest Mordred BBC Radio 4
Joan of Arc, and How She Became a Saint[27] Dauphin of France BBC Radio 4
Turing's Test[28] Alan Turing Made In Manchester
2010 Spitfire Tony BBC Radio 4
Translations[29] Yolland BBC Radio 4
I, Claudius[30] Caligula
BBC Radio 4 A Tiny Bit Marvellous Oscar BBC Radio 4
2011 Wuthering Heights Edgar Linton/Linton Heathcliff BBC Radio 3
My Week With Marilyn Colin Clark (narrator) BBC Radio 4
2012 Dickens' London Charles Dickens BBC Radio 4
The Voysey Inheritance Edward Voysey BBC Radio 3
2013 Tosca's Kiss Rospo BBC Radio 3
Jill John Kemp BBC Radio 4
Denmark Hill Charles BBC Radio 4
Sometimes into the Arms of God[31] Cecil Beaton BBC Radio 4

Audio drama

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Beast of Orlok (Doctor Who: The 8th Doctor Adventures) Hans Big Finish

Soundtrack

Year Title Notes
2006 The History Boys performer: L'Accordéoniste, Bewitched, Bye Bye Blackbird

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "20 Questions With...Samuel Barnett". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tugend, Tom. "Working-class lads vie for Oxford in 'History Boys'". Retrieved 9 November 2006.
  3. ↑ "Samuel Barnett, Fresh Face: Broadway.com Buzz". Retrieved 18 October 2006.
  4. ↑ "'History' on His Side". Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  5. ↑ "Loose Lips". Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  6. ↑ "Samuel Barnett: first the Olympics, now for a run in the West End".
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "National Theatre : Productions : The History Boys 2004". Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  8. ↑ "The History Boys – Arts Reviews – Arts – Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  9. ↑ "John Smythe: theatre reviews: NZIAF-THE HISTORY BOYS: More is more". Retrieved 14 October 2006.
  10. ↑ "Genesis Foundation – Samuel Barnett (Class of 2001)". Retrieved 14 October 2006.
  11. ↑ Bennett, Alan; Hytner, Nicholas (2006). The History Boys The Film. London: Forelake Ltd. p. viii. ISBN 0-571-23173-X.
  12. ↑ "Twelfth Night Overview".
  13. ↑ Shakespeare on Broadway http://www.shakespearebroadway.com/ Shakespeare on Broadway. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ Wolf, Matt (23 January 2005). "Big musicals score lion's share of Olivier noms". Variety. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  15. ↑ "2006 – Drama Desk Awards – Press Releases". Archived from the original on 12 October 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  16. ↑ "The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards – Official Website by IBM". Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  17. ↑ "British Independent Film Awards Announce Nominations". 26 October 2006. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  18. ↑ "The Whisky Taster Reviews at the Bush Theatre". Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  19. ↑ "Productions: Women Beware Women". Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  20. ↑ "Stellar casting for new Marple film (ITV press release, 05.08.2009)". Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  21. ↑ "Fighting for Words radio listing". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  22. ↑ Daoust, Phil (28 January 2005). "Pick of the day". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  23. ↑ "BBC Radio 3 – Drama on 3 – The History Boys". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  24. ↑ "BBC Radio 3 – Drama on 3 – When You Cure Me". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  25. ↑ "BBC – Radio 4 – the Classic Serial". Retrieved 20 April 2007.
  26. ↑ "LocateTV – The Babington Plot". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  27. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – The Saturday Play – Joan of Arc, and How She Became a Saint". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  28. ↑ "The Independent Online". Retrieved October 2009.
  29. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – The Saturday Play – Translations". Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  30. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – I, Claudius". Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  31. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Afternoon Drama – James Lees-Milne". Retrieved 10 July 2013.

External links