Samantha Barks

We'd like to extend a huge thank you to musical theatre superstar Samantha Barks for hosting a Q&A with Hammond students. To have someone who's successes have been of such magnitude speak to our students has been nothing short of inspirational. Thank you to Samantha for taking the time to chat to students in lockdown and events like this make us thankful to be part of such a generous and talented theatrical community!

Samantha Barks’ rise to fame began when she reached the finals of the BBC talent show I’d Do Anything in 2008. Having starred as ‘Éponine’ in the London production of Les Misérables in 2010, she was chosen to play the role in the 25th Anniversary Concert of the show at the 02 Arena. Whilst playing the role of ‘Nancy’ in the UK tour of Oliver!, she was announced as the role of ‘Éponine’ in the film adaptation of Les Misérables by Sir Cameron Mackintosh himself during a curtain call, a role for which she was critically acclaimed.

Since then she has performed some of the most iconic roles in theatre, including ‘Velma Kelly’ in Chicago, ‘Cathy’ in The Last Five Years and performing her own solo tour around the UK in 2016. She also played the role of ‘Vivian’ in the stage musical of Pretty Woman on Broadway before being announced as ‘Elsa’ in the original London West End production of Frozen, due to come to Theatre Royal Drury Lane in autumn 2020.

A huge thank you to John Young for organising!