Photo Flash: Meet Eponine! Samantha Barks Through the Years...

Cameron Mackintosh announced on stage at the Manchester Palace at the end of last evening's performance of Oliver! (in which Barks is currently playing Nancy) that she is set to play Eponine in the film version of Les Miserables - the role she played at the 25th anniversary concert and on stage in London. Here, we take a look back at Barks - on stage and off!

Samantha Barks trained at the Arts Educational school for a year before entering “I’d Do Anything”, the BBC search for the new ‘Nancy’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s “Oliver!” where she finished in the top three. Following “I’d Do Anything” she took part in the workshop for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Love Never Dies”.

Samantha made her stage debut as ‘Sally Bowles’ in the national tour of “Cabaret”, before taking the classic role of ‘Aladdin’ in “Aladdin” at the Theatre Royal Windsor. Last year Samantha made her West End debut in the role of ‘Eponine’ in “Les Misérables”, and played the role again in the “Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert” at The O2. Television credits include the lead role of ‘Zoe’ in the Disney TV series “Groove High”.

Cameron Mackintosh and Samantha Barks - Les Mis Film Eponine Announcement - Photo credit Phil Tragen

Liam Tamne and Samantha Barks at the 25th anniversary of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA after party at the Natural History Museum, London, Britain - 02 Oct 2011. Photo by Dan Wooller/Rex

Samantha Barks as Nancy in Oliver!

Alfie Boe and Samantha Barks at The Classical Brit Awards at The Royal Albert Hall, London, Britain - 12 May 2011. Photo by Brian Rasic/Rex

Iain Fletcher as Bill Sikes and Samantha Barks as Nancy in Oliver!

Samantha Barks at The Classical Brit Awards at The Royal Albert Hall, London, Britain - 12 May 2011 Photo by Brian Rasic/Rex

Cameron Mackintosh (Producer), Nick Jonas (Marius), Samantha Barks (Eponine), Matt Lucas (Thenardier) and Alfie Boe (Jean Valjean) at the LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary Concert After Party. Photo by Dan Wooller/Rex

Cameron Mackintosh (Producer), Nick Jonas (Marius), Samantha Barks (Eponine) and Michael Ball original (Marius) at the LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary Concert After Party. Photo by Dan Wooller/Rex

Samantha Barks (Eponine) and Frances Ruffelle (original Eponine) at the LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena in London, photo by Dan Wooller/Rex

Samantha Barks (Eponine) at the LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena, London, Britain - 03 Oct 2010. Photo by Dan Wooller/Rex

Joe Jonas, Samantha Barks (Eponine), Nick Jonas (Marius), Camilla Kerslake (Cosette) and Kevin Jonas backstage - Photo by Dan Wooller / Rex

Samantha Barks (Eponine) backstage after the curtain call of LES MISERABLES at the Queen's Theatre, London, Britain - 21 Jun 2010 Photo by Dan Wooller/Rex

Cameron Mackintosh (Producer), Joe Jonas, Camilla Kerslake (Cosette), Nick Jonas (Marius), Samantha Barks (Eponine) and Kevin Jonas backstage after the curtain call of LES MISERABLES at the Queen's Theatre in London celebrating Nick Jonas' first night in the show. Photo by Dan Wooller/Rex