Samuel Barnett (actor)

Last updated

Samuel Barnett
Samuel Barnett by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Barnett at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1980-04-25) 25 April 1980 (age 43)
Whitby, North Yorkshire, England
Alma mater London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present
PartnerAdam Penford

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 television performances include roles in the BBC comedy Twenty Twelve and in the Showtime drama Penny Dreadful . He played the lead role of Dirk Gently in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency , the 2016 BBC America adaptation of the book series by Douglas Adams.

Contents

Early life

Barnett was born in Whitby, North Yorkshire, on 25 April 1980. [1] He has four siblings. His mother comes from a Quaker background whilst his father was descended from Polish Jews. [2] He started performing at an early age before moving to London to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Career

Barnett appeared in the original London stage production of Alan Bennett's 2004 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. [3] [4] [5] [6] He had been involved in The History Boys from its very first reading. [7]

In 2009 Barnett 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 to 4 July 2010. From July 2012 he appeared in an all-male-cast as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare's Richard III at Shakespeare's Globe 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 on 2 November 2012 and running for a limited engagement. [8] 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 reprised his role as Elizabeth Woodville in Richard III and took on the role of Viola (previously played by Johnny Flynn in London) in Twelfth Night. [9] [10] In July 2018 Barnett reunited with History Boys playwright Alan Bennett and co-star Sacha Dhawan for Bennett's new play, Allelujah!, at the Bridge Theatre. [11]

In 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe, Barnett performed a one-man show Feeling Afraid as If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen written by Marcelo dos Santos. [12] In late 2023, Barnett performed this at the Bush Theatre in London. [13]

Recognition and awards

Barnett was nominated for the Evening Standard Theatre Award as Most Promising Newcomer for his role in The Marriage of Figaro in 2002. He won Best Newcomer and Best Supporting Actor in a play at the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Awards for his work on the original production of The History Boys. [3] He was nominated for the 29th annual Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role. [14] He won a Drama Desk Award and was nominated for a 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. [18]

In 2022 Barnett received the Stage Edinburgh Award for excellence in acting for his role in the solo-show Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen. [19]

Personal life

Barnett is gay and in a relationship with theatre director Adam Penford. [20] In 2020 his father died from COVID-19. [21] [22]

Credits

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue
2002 The Accrington Pals [1] Reggie Minerva Theatre, Chichester
The Marriage of Figaro [1] Cherubino Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
2003-04 His Dark Materials Pantalaimon Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank
2004-06 The History Boys PosnerLyttelton 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)
2005When You Cure Me [1] Peter Bush Theatre, London
2007-08 Dealer's Choice Carl Menier Chocolate Factory and Trafalgar Studios, London
2010The Whisky Taster [23] Barney Bush Theatre, London
The ManManFinborough Theatre, London
Women Beware Women [24] LeantioOlivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank
2011 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Rosencrantz Chichester Festival Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket
66 BooksSt. PaulBush Theatre, London
2012The Way of the WorldWitwoudCrucible 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
2015 The Beaux' Stratagem Aimwell Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank
2018 Allelujah! Colin Bridge Theatre,
2018 Kiss of the Spider Woman Molina Menier Chocolate Factory, London
2021Medium: A Magical Reckoning [25]
2022Straight Line CrazyAriel PorterBridge Theatre
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To HappenThe ComedianRoundabout Theatre @ Summerhall, Edinburgh Festival
2023Rock Follies [26] (Adaptation of the TV series.)Harry Chichester Festival Theatre
2024Ben and ImoBen Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes
2001 Coupling sex shop assistant BBC Series 2 Episode 2 "My Dinner in Hell"
2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Brian ByrneBBCSeries 1 Episode 1 "Well-Schooled in Murder"
2002-03 Strange DoddingtonBBC
2003 Doctors Charlie AmbroseBBCSeries 5 Episode 153 "All an Illusion"
The Royal Joe Steeples ITV Series 3 Episode 5 "Poison"
2006 American Experience 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 / narratorBBC
Crooked House BillyBBC
2009 Desperate Romantics John Millais BBC
Beautiful People: Series 2 Adult Simon Doonan / narratorBBC
Agatha Christie's Marple [27] Sergeant TiddlerITV"The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side"
2011 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps LeonardBBC
Shakespeare in Italy Romeo Montague BBC
2012 Twenty Twelve DannyBBC
2015 Vicious Young StuartITV
2015 Not Safe for Work NathanialChannel 4
2016 Endeavour Anthony DonnITV
2016 Penny Dreadful Renfield Showtime
2016-17 Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Dirk Gently BBC America
2021 Four Lives Ryan EdwardsBBC
2022Murder In ProvenceDidier LaurentITV
2022 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Delamain AI (voice) [28] Netflix

Film

YearTitleRole
2005 Mrs Henderson Presents Paul
2006 The History Boys Posner
2009 Bright Star Joseph Severn
2012Love TomorrowCal
2015 Jupiter Ascending Advocate Bob
2015 The Lady in the Van Out of work actor
2020The ActMatthews
2023 Lee Cecil Beaton

Radio

YearTitleRoleStationNotes
2004Fighting for Words [29] [30] Thomas Moynihan BBC Radio 4
2005The History Boys [31] Posner BBC Radio 3
When You Cure Me [32] PeterBBC Radio 3
2007 Down and Out in Paris and London [33] George Orwell BBC Radio 4
2008The Babington Plot [34] Thomas Salisbury BBC Radio 4
2009The QuestMordredBBC Radio 4
Joan of Arc, and How She Became a Saint [35] Dauphin of France BBC Radio 4
Turing's Test [36] Alan Turing Made in Manchester
2010SpitfireTonyBBC Radio 4
Translations [37] YollandBBC Radio 4
I, Claudius [38] Caligula BBC Radio 4
A Tiny Bit MarvellousOscarBBC Radio 4
2011Wuthering HeightsEdgar Linton/Linton HeathcliffBBC Radio 3
My Week With MarilynColin Clark (narrator)BBC Radio 4
2012Dickens' LondonCharles DickensBBC Radio 4
The Voysey InheritanceEdward VoyseyBBC Radio 3
2013Tosca's KissRospoBBC Radio 3
JillJohn KempBBC Radio 4
Denmark HillCharlesBBC Radio 4
Sometimes into the Arms of God [39] Cecil Beaton BBC Radio 4
2018 The Case of Charles Dexter Ward [40] Charles Dexter WardBBC Radio 4

Audio drama

YearTitleRoleCompany
2009 Doctor Who: The Beast of Orlok Hans Big Finish
2016 Doctor Who: Nightshade Robin Yeadon
2016– Torchwood Norton Folgate
2016The Confessions of Dorian GrayStaurt Knight
2017–18 Cicero Cicero
2017 Hamlet Laertes
2019Doctor Who: TartarusCicero

Soundtrack

YearTitleNotes
2006The History BoysPerformer: "L'Accordéoniste", "Bewitched", "Bye Bye Blackbird"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2020 Amnesia: Rebirth Richard FairchildVoice [41]
2020 Cyberpunk 2077 Delamain AIVoice [42]
2020 Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Gael'garVoice [43]
2022 Elden Ring Brother CorhynVoice [44]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Bennett</span> English playwright and actor (b. 1934)

Alan Bennett is an English playwright, author, actor and screenwriter. Over his entertainment career he has received numerous awards and honours including two BAFTA Awards, four Laurence Olivier Awards, and two Tony Awards. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for his film The Madness of King George (1994). In 2005 he received the Society of London Theatre Special Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel West</span> British actor, theatre director and narrator

Samuel Alexander Joseph West is an English actor, theatre director and narrator. He has directed on stage and radio, and worked as an actor in theatre, film, television, and radio. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Leonard Bast in the Merchant Ivory film adaptation of E. M. Forster's novel Howards End (1992), and was later nominated for the Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of the title role in Rupert's Land (1998). In 2010 he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for her his portrayal of Jeffrey Skilling in Lucy Prebble's Enron. He has appeared as reciter with orchestras and performed at the Last Night of the Proms in 2002. He has narrated several documentary series, including five for the BBC about the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Jacobi</span> English actor (born 1938)

Sir Derek George Jacobi is an English actor. Jacobi is known for his work at the Royal National Theatre and for his film and television roles. He has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Olivier Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award. He was given a knighthood for his services to theatre by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.

Sir Trevor Robert Nunn is an English theatre director. He has been the artistic director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He has directed dramas for the stage, like Macbeth, as well as opera and musicals, such as Cats (1981) and Les Misérables (1985).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patricia Routledge</span> English actress and singer

Dame Katherine Patricia Routledge is an English stage, television and film actress, and singer. She is best known for her comedy role as Hyacinth Bucket in the popular BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995).

<i>Twelfth Night</i> Play by William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare that is believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola falls in love with the Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her thinking she is a man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances de la Tour</span> English actress (born 1944)

Frances J. de Lautour, better known as Frances de la Tour, is an English actress. She is known for her role as Miss Ruth Jones in the television sitcom Rising Damp from 1974 until 1978. She is a Tony Award winner and three-time Olivier Award winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Griffiths</span> English actor (1947–2013)

Richard Thomas Griffiths was an English actor of film, television, and stage. He is known for his portrayals of Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films (2001–2010), Uncle Monty in Withnail and I (1987), and Henry Crabbe in Pie in the Sky (1994–1997). Over his career he received numerous accolades including a Tony Award and Olivier Award as well as a nomination for a BAFTA Award. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008.

Eamonn Roderique Walker is an English actor. On television, he began in the BBC sitcom In Sickness and in Health (1985–1987), the ITV crime dramas The Bill (1988–1989) and Supply & Demand (1998), and the HBO series Oz (1997–2003), for which he won a CableACE Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Rylance</span> British actor, playwright and theatre director (born 1960)

Sir David Mark Rylance Waters is an English actor, playwright, and theatre director. He is known for his roles on stage and screen having received numerous awards including an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Olivier Awards, and three Tony Awards. In 2016, he was included in the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people. In 2017 he was made a knight by Queen Elizabeth II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alun Armstrong</span> English actor

Alan Armstrong, known professionally as Alun Armstrong, is an English character actor. He grew up in County Durham in North East England, and first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar school. Since his career began in the early 1970s, he has played, in his words, "the full spectrum of characters from the grotesque to musicals... I always play very colourful characters, often a bit crazy, despotic, psychotic".

Clive Merrison is a British actor of film, television, stage and radio. He trained at Rose Bruford College. He is best known for his long running BBC Radio portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, having played the part in all 64 episodes of the 1989–1998 series of Sherlock Holmes dramatisations, and all 16 episodes of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (2002–2010).

<i>The History Boys</i> Play by British playwright Alan Bennett

The History Boys is a play by British playwright Alan Bennett. The play premiered at the Royal National Theatre in London on 18 May 2004. Its Broadway debut was on 23 April 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre where 185 performances were staged before it closed on 1 October 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Russell Beale</span> British actor (born 1961)

Sir Simon Russell Beale is an English actor. He has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". He has received two BAFTA Awards, three Olivier Awards, and a Tony Award. For his services to drama, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harriet Walter</span> British actress (born 1950)

Dame Harriet Mary Walter is a British actress. She has performed on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and received an Olivier Award, and nominations for a Tony Award, five Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2011, Walter was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Campbell Moore</span> British actor (born 1979)

Stephen Campbell Moore is a British actor. He is best known for his roles in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys and the film based on it. Since 2019, he has starred in the sci-fi television series War of the Worlds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Cooper</span> English actor (born 1978)

Dominic Cooper is an English actor known for his portrayal of comic book characters Jesse Custer on the AMC show Preacher (2016–2019) and young Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with appearances in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and the ABC series Agent Carter (2015–16), among other Marvel productions. Cooper played Sky in Mamma Mia! (2008) and its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Parker</span> English actor and singer

Jamie Parker is an English actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Harry Potter in the original cast for the West End play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, for which he received a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play and a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play. He also received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play as a member of the original Broadway version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacha Dhawan</span> British actor

Sacha Dhawan is a British actor. He began his career in the ITV series Out of Sight (1997–98), The Last Train (1999), and Weirdsister College (2001–02). He originated the role of Akthar in the play The History Boys (2004–06) and reprised his role in its film adaptation (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Anderson (actor)</span> English actor

Samuel Anderson is an English actor. He played Crowther in The History Boys, Danny Pink in the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who and Daniel in the Sky1 sitcom Trollied.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "20 Questions With...Samuel Barnett". Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  2. ↑ "Samuel Barnett: first the Olympics, now for a run in the West End - The Jewish Chronicle". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 "National Theatre : Productions : The History Boys 2004" . Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  4. ↑ "The History Boys – Arts Reviews – Arts – Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  5. ↑ "John Smythe: theatre reviews: NZIAF-The History Boys: More is more". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2006.
  6. ↑ "Genesis Foundation – Samuel Barnett (Class of 2001)" . Retrieved 14 October 2006.
  7. ↑ Bennett, Alan; Hytner, Nicholas (2006). The History Boys The Film . London: Forelake Ltd. p. viii. ISBN   0-571-23173-X.
  8. ↑ "Twelfth Night Overview". Archived from the original on 30 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Eberhard, Emmitt (8 February 2014). "Two Plays In Repertory On A Rotating Schedule See One, See Both!". Shakespeare on Broadway. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  10. ↑ Eberhard, Emmitt (8 February 2014). "CASTS". Shakespeare on Broadway. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  11. ↑ Billington, Michael (18 July 2018). "Allelujah! review – Alan Bennett's hospital drama is full of quiet anger". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Wiegand, Chris (16 August 2022). "Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen review – seriously funny". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen Tickets". London Theatre. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  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. ↑ "Tony Award Winners 2014 — Full List". Variety . 8 June 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  19. ↑ Wiegand, Chris (16 August 2022). "Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen review – seriously funny". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  20. ↑ Bernstein, Jacob (12 February 2014). "Samuel Barnett Discusses His Female Roles in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' and 'Richard III'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  21. ↑ "Culture in Lockdown: Samuel Barnett – 'I am grateful for the space lockdown gave me'". The Stage. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "'I want to do things I've never done': The History Boys' Samuel Barnett on his new one-man show". The Guardian . 16 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "The Whisky Taster Reviews at the Bush Theatre". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  24. ↑ "Productions: Women Beware Women". Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  25. ↑ "Samuel Barnett brings Medium - A Magical Reckoning to Riverside Studios". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  26. ↑ "Rock Follies". Chichester Festival Theatre. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  27. ↑ "Stellar casting for new Marple film (ITV press release, 05.08.2009)". Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  28. ↑ "Cyberpunk 2077 (Video Game 2020)". IMDb.
  29. ↑ "Fighting for Words radio listing" . Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  30. ↑ Daoust, Phil (28 January 2005). "Pick of the day". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  31. ↑ "BBC Radio 3 – Drama on 3 – The History Boys" . Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  32. ↑ "BBC Radio 3 – Drama on 3 – When You Cure Me" . Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  33. ↑ "BBC – Radio 4 – the Classic Serial" . Retrieved 20 April 2007.
  34. ↑ "LocateTV – The Babington Plot". Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  35. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – The Saturday Play – Joan of Arc, and How She Became a Saint" . Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  36. ↑ "Download "Turing's Test": an exclusive new radio play". The Independent Online. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  37. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – The Saturday Play – Translations" . Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  38. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – I, Claudius" . Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  39. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Afternoon Drama – James Lees-Milne" . Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" . Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  41. ↑ "Amnesia: Rebirth (Video Game 2020)". IMDb.
  42. ↑ "Cyberpunk 2077 (Video Game 2020)". IMDb.
  43. ↑ "Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Video Game 2020)". IMDb.
  44. ↑ "Elden Ring (Video Game 2022)". IMDb.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.