Samantha Barks

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

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.

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 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 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 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

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.

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 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.

Loved her in The Last Five Years!

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.

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.