Samantha Barks

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 1:11pm

Why does everyone recommend her for roles here?

having seen her as Nancy and Eponine I just don’t get it. She’s sweet but has no real substance.

what do Americans see that we don’t see here in UK.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 1:15pm

She has great charisma and just seems like a genuinely down to earth gal

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 1:16pm

She has great charisma and just seems like a genuinely down to earth gal

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 1:20pm

I agree with Gizomo.  She's just a pretty face and pretty voice and I have no clue why she has any career at all.  But there's quite a lot of successful theatre actors that I feel the same way about.  It seem looks are more important than talent to a lot of directors.  The only other person I can think of, in my opinion, whose unworthily been able to break into film is Matthew Morrison.  

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 1:21pm

Call_me_jorge said: "She has great charisma and just seems like a genuinely down to earth gal"

I don’t doubt she’s sweet and nice having followed her on I’d do anything. 

However, when I saw her as Nancy on the tour she gave a very weak performxance. 

I didn’t like her Eponine either 

 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 1:26pm

Broadway_Boy said: "I agree with Gizomo. She's just a pretty face and pretty voice and I have no clue why she has any career at all. But there's quite a lot of successful theatre actors that I feel the same way about. It seem looks are more important than talent to a lot of directors. The only other person I can think of, in my opinion, whose unworthily been able to break into film is Matthew Morrison."

100% Cam Mc and Webber want these PopStyle girls as leads, hi Leona and Nicole. It’s all box office. How are we ever to have another Lansbury, lu Pone oe Peters for example when they just want bland performers? 

I don’t mean to sound Harsh she has a place I just don’t feel it’s as a leading diva and I found just found it odd how often her name comes up on this forum.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 1:32pm

Aside from her being mentioned constantly on this board, I have NO clue where this actress came from.  Everyone swears she's the next big thing but no one aside from this board knows who the hell she is.  Yes, she was in the film adaptation of the musical LES MISERABLES and was in Hollywood Bowl's CHICAGO but aside from seeing her in these 2 things, I still have no idea why everyone toots this girl's horn.  No one knows who she is nor cares, really.  

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/22/17 at 2:16pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Aside from her being mentioned constantly on this board, I have NO clue where this actress came from. Everyone swears she's the next big thing but no one aside from this board knows who the hell she is. Yes, she was in the film adaptation of the musical LES MISERABLES and was in Hollywood Bowl's CHICAGO but aside from seeing her in these 2 things, I still have no idea why everyone toots this girl's horn. No one knows who she is nor cares, really."

She came to prominence in the UK on the BBC One Tv Show 'I'd Do Anything' a search for Nancy for the West End Revival. She didn't win but definitely was the favourite. Webber and McIntosh wanted a young Nancy but the public voted for Jodie Prenger, a fantastic Nancy booming belter voice, voluptuous and great acting chops. 

The public wanted a gutsy Nancy. Barks was only 17 and was eliminated in the 10th week reaching the top three. 

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 9:32am

She was great in the Jason Robert Brown directed "The Last Five Years" at the St James' Theatre last year. Probably the only Cathy I've ever felt who truely managed to engage you with the characters' innocent optomism. Most times the actess playing the role never manages to make the audience move past the "desperate/insecue" numbers that she unfortuanely has to set the character up with but Barks did - in spades. 

Nancy in Oliver is a bit of a thankless role. I don't think i'd judge anyone's talents on that.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 9:46am

ukpuppetboy said: "She was great in the Jason Robert Brown directed "The Last Five Years" at the St James' Theatre last year. Probably the only Cathy I've ever felt who truely managed to engage you with the characters' innocent optomism. Most times the actessplaying the role never managesto make the audience move past the "desperate/insecue" numbers that she unfortuanely has to set the character up with but Barks did -in spades.

Nancy inOliver is a bit of a thankless role. I don't think i'd judge anyone's talents on that."

Nancy is one of the all the time great roles for a woman. 

Nancy's character is the heart of that show and the character drives the audiences experience to a devastating end. 

I'd do anything, Fine life, As Long as he needs me and importantly the reprises of the last numbers. 

Barks does innocent optimism well, it's her, she's not an actress. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 9:59am

Well, she has a fanbase who roots for her to have as much success as possible. I should also point out that she tweeted almost a week ago that she has some news she can't wait to share. I wonder what her news could be.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 10:06am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Well, she has a fanbase who roots for her to have as much success as possible. I should also point out that she tweeted almost a week ago that she has some news she can't wait to share. I wonder what her news could be."

And that's fair enough people like all sorts. 

I had completely I'd seen her as Sally Bowles also. 

 

Updated On: 9/23/17 at 10:06 AM

[JennH]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 11:51am

I don't understand it either, I've never understood the hype, because it was a case of people jumping on the Les Mis and Barks train when the film came out, and therefore doing the "Samantha is the bets eponine evveeeaahhhh!", and I'm just like...really?? Had you HEARD of Lea Salonga who actually gave the role a different life?? 

But at least she's better than a certain Mr. Samonksy. He's someone who I have no earthy idea how and why he has a career, PERIOD. Anyone is better than him. I've seen him live twice and his Cable in the live South Pacific was ATROCIOUS.

[ohhiccup 2]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 12:00pm

Who we like as performers is always completely subjective. Those who love Samantha Barks may not like a performer who someone who doesn't like Samantha Barks adores (if that makes any sense haha). It's all down to personal preference. Some people will see something really special in a performer, while others won't. Doesn't mean they're a good or bad performer, they just work or don't work for you.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 12:35pm

Broadway_Boy said: "The only other person I can think of, in my opinion, whose unworthily been able to break into film is Matthew Morrison."

Morrison has been nominated for virtually every major industry award for acting that Broadway and American TV offers. 

Last time I checked. The Tony, Emmy and Golden Globes aren’t beauty pageants. 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 12:42pm

ohhiccup 2 said: "Who we like as performers is always completely subjective. Those who love Samantha Barks may not like a performer who someone who doesn't likeSamantha Barks adores (if that makes any sense haha). It's all down to personal preference. Some people will see something really special in a performer, while others won't. Doesn't mean they're a good or bad performer, they just work or don't work for you."

It is perhaps for a layperson. I am giving my educated opinion as a lecturer of Performance Studies. 

Also I have seen Barks live I believe three times. It's all well and good saying you're a fan, you like her etc etc 

I'm providing an analytical assessment of her performance it's not personal. 

[ohhiccup 2]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 1:14pm

I've only seen her live once, in Oliver! and I wasn't overly impressed so I'm not really a fan of hers. I was just trying to answer your question about why some people suggest her for roles on this board. They like her as a performer and think she would be suitable for certain roles and suggest her. Others don't like her as a performer and therefore don't suggest her in dream casting threads etc. 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 1:20pm

ohhiccup 2 said: "I've only seen her live once, in Oliver! and I wasn't overly impressed so I'm not reallya fan of hers. Iwas just trying to answer your question about why some people suggest her for roles on this board. They like her as a performer and think she would be suitable for certain roles and suggest her. Others don't like her as a performerand therefore don't suggest her in dream casting threads etc."

I think that's what I'm trying to get at, people are suggesting her for roles but i get the feeling that people haven't seen her live. 

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 2:45pm

I thought she did a great job in the Les Mis movie (as did Aaron Tveit and Hadley Fraser) but i wasn't nearly as excited about any of the other performances in that film (i know some others were and that is fine; different strokes, etc.).  

But for those who maybe had similar opinions to mine about that movie, it may be the case that there was just so much relief that a few of the roles were cast with musical theatre talent  mattering more than hollywood-fame.  So people who felt that way about the movie might feel more impressed by her (next to some of the other vocal performances that were there in the film alongside her) than they might have if they had seen her in a live musical with other musical theatre professionals playing the other roles.

 So if people in the UK have seen her live in lots of things, for them she might be just another middle-of-the-road musical theatre performer.  For someone in the US who only saw her in Les Mis, she might be part of the oasis of musical theatre competency in a desert of famous hollywood film performers whose best talent isn't their singing in a much-anticipated movie musical.  That feeling might be what spurs the attachment to her as a singer and performer. 

[steven22]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 2:55pm

Loved her in The Last Five Years! 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 5:34pm

Gizmo6 said: "ohhiccup 2 said: "I've only seen her live once, in Oliver! and I wasn't overly impressed so I'm not reallya fan of hers. Iwas just trying to answer your question about why some people suggest her for roles on this board. They like her as a performer and think she would be suitable for certain roles and suggest her. Others don't like her as a performerand therefore don't suggest her in dream casting threads etc."

I think that's what I'm trying to get at, people are suggesting her for roles but i get the feeling that people haven't seen her live."

Well according to what you've said you've seen her in, you saw her in 2-3 things very early in her career and haven't actually seen her in anything live in probably close to if not more than 5 years. As such an educated expert, is it possible someone can grow professionally from 21 or 22 to almost 27 and become a more skilled actress? I realize we're all laymen and you're the learned expert here, but isn't that possible and shouldn't such an expert as yourself when providing an analytical assessment of a young actress be basing it on having seen her in something recent to assess her current skill level rather than from much earlier in her career? I mean you are the learned expert so if you tell me that's not necessary that will be good enough for me cause what do I know, I'm only a layman.

Her name is mentioned by people here occasionally but I really didn't think any more so than 20-30 other actresses in her age group who are favorites of different people. But hey, you don't like her. I think we get it. I recommend you don't go see in anything else she does.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 5:43pm

I wasn't aware that people mentioned her very often here.  She's just another pretty girl who can belt.  She's just not very interesting to me.  When there's young singing actresses out there like Ashley Park, Annaleigh Ashford, Phillipa Soo, Betsy Wolfe, Jessie Mueller, etc who all have characteristics that make them unique and special, why cast someone like Barks who doesn't really have anything special about them?  I love seeing versatile actresses and I'm not sure that I would call Barks versatile.

[hork]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 5:43pm

adam.peterson44 said: "I thought she did a great job in the Les Mis movie (as did Aaron Tveit and Hadley Fraser) but i wasn't nearly as excited aboutany of the other performances in that film (i know some others were and that is fine; different strokes, etc.).

But for those who maybe had similar opinions to mine about that movie, it may be the case that there was just so much relief that a fewof the roles were cast with musical theatre talent mattering more thanhollywood-fame. So people who felt that way about the movie might feel more impressed by her (next to some of the other vocal performances that were there in the film alongside her) than they might have if they had seen her in a live musical with other musical theatre professionals playing the other roles.

So if people in the UK have seen her live in lots of things, for them she might be just another middle-of-the-road musical theatre performer. For someone in the US who only saw her in Les Mis, she might be part of the oasis of musical theatre competency in a desert of famous hollywood film performers whose best talent isn't their singing in a much-anticipated movie musical. That feelingmight be what spurs the attachment to her as a singer and performer."

This. Exactly this. I thought she and Tveit were by far the best things about that movie, but I'm not sure how much of that was just me grading on a curve.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 5:58pm

UncleCharlie said: "Gizmo6 said: "ohhiccup 2 said: "I've only seen her live once, in Oliver! and I wasn't overly impressed so I'm not reallya fan of hers. Iwas just trying to answer your question about why some people suggest her for roles on this board. They like her as a performer and think she would be suitable for certain roles and suggest her. Others don't like her as a performerand therefore don't suggest her in dream casting threads etc."

I think that's what I'm trying to get at, people are suggesting her for roles but i get the feeling that people haven't seen her live."

Well according to what you've said you've seen her in, you saw her in 2-3 things very early in her career and haven't actually seen her in anything live in probably close to if not more than 5 years. As such an educated expert, is it possible someone can grow professionally from 21 or 22 to almost 27 and become a more skilled actress? I realize we're all laymen and you're the learned expert here, but isn't that possible and shouldn't such an expert as yourself when providing an analytical assessment of a young actress be basing it on having seen her in something recent to assess her current skill level rather than from much earlier in her career? I mean you are the learned expert so if you tell me that's not necessary that will be good enough for me cause what do I know, I'm only a layman.

Her name is mentioned by people here occasionally but I really didn't think any more so than 20-30 other actresses in her age group who are favorites of different people. But hey, you don't like her. I think we get it. I recommend you don't go see in anything else she does."

There's no need to be bitchy, I said I'm sure she's lovely but from my experience she's not a rounded performer. I don't blame her I blame the men I already mentioned who get infatuated with pretty young things who they think they can sell a show with. Barks will not sell a show, I think that's been proven. 

I haven't seen her since as she's not that big over here anymore. She's a generic pretty young girl with a sweet voice and i feel the infatuation is the commercialisation/disneyfication/Mtv generation, call it what you will, of musical theatre. 

Go listen to Rufffalo, Lu Pone or my favourite Henshall as Eponine and come back to me. 

[Sunny11]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 6:16pm

Please, you started a thread to bitch about a successful actor.

So you think that only ugly people should be allowed to work on broadway ? It's impossible for somebody to be both good looking and talented ?

.