Samuel West Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Samuel Alexander Joseph West is an English actor, voice actor, and theatre director. Born on June 19, 1966, his acting career cut across radio, television, and film acting, making an acting debut on stage in 1989,

West has appeared in numerous stage productions and movies. In addition to acting, he is a reciter and in 2002 performed at the Last Night of the Proms. In addition to acting, he has lent his voice to several documentaries.

Early Life

Samuel Alexander Joseph West was born on June 16, 1966, Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom. He was the first child of two by Prunella Scales and Timothy West. His grandfather was actor Lockwood West. West received early education at Alleyn’s School.

He later enrolled at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford to pursue English literature. While there, he served as the president of the Experimental Theatre Club.

Stage Career

Samuel West made a professional acting debut on stage at the Orange Tree Theatre. He played Michael in Cocteau’s Les Parents Terrible in February 1989. In 1993, he played Valentine in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia at the Royal National Theatre.

Samuel West also spent two seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company. During that period, he played the title roles in Hamlet and Richard II. West appeared alongside Toby Stephen in Betrayal at the Donmar Warehouse in 2007.

The following year, he played Harry in the revival of T.S Eliot’s Family Reunion. He appeared in several other stage works including Enron, 2009 as Jeffrey Skilling. Also, he appeared as Astroy in Uncle Vanya from 2012 to 2013.

Film

Samuel West made a film debut in Reunion, 1989 as Count Konradin von Lohenburg. He followed it with the role of Leonard Bast in the film adaption of E.M. Forster’s novel Howard End. The role earned him a nomination for BAFTA Award’s best-supporting actor in 1993.

He has since played several film roles including in Carrington, 1995, Jane Eyre, 1996, and Notting Hills in 1999. He appeared in the miniseries Die Nibelungen, 2994 (released in the US as Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King) in 2006. Other works include Hyde Park on Hudson, 2012, Suffragette, 2015, On Chesil Beach, 2019 and Darkest Hour, 2017.

Television

In addition to acting on stage and films, Samuel West has appeared in numerous television productions. He is, therefore, one of the familiar faces on television. It started with an appearance in episode 6 "The Invisible Queen" of Edward the Seventh in 1975. Subsequently, he has played roles in Walking the Dead, 2002, Nova, 2005, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and Midsomer Murders, 2007.

Others include Any Human Heart, 2010, and Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond, 2014. In 2015, he appeared in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses in 2017.

Director

Samuel West made a directorial debut at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester with the stage production of The Lady’s Not for Burning in 2002. In 2005, he replaced Michael Grandage as the artistic director of Sheffield Theatres, serving until 2007.

During his tenure, he revived The Romans in Britain. Also, he directed As You Like It for the commemoration of the RSC’s Complete Work Festival. After Sheffield, West moved to West End theatre where he directed the revival of Dealer’s Choice.

Acting with Parents

Samuel West has played several acting roles alongside his parents. He played alongside his mother in Stiff Upper Lips, and Howards End. Stage works with his father include A Number, and Henry IV, Part 1 and 2, Over Here, Iris. West, his father, and mother, appeared in Stravinsky’s The Soldiers Tale at the St Magnus Festival.

Personal Life

Samuel West married Laura Wade in 2007. The couple has two children.