Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
#1Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 5:54pm
So much for Taylor Swift.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BREAKING-NEWS-Samantha-Barks-To-Play-Eponine-In-LES-MISERABLES-Movie-20120131
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#2Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 5:56pm
You can see her singing "On My Own" here. Pretty fantastic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYWIVmTBECE
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#2Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 5:58pm
whew! the news is also on cameron mackintosh facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/sircameronmackintosh?sk=wall
Updated On: 1/31/12 at 05:58 PM
RockStarNYC
Understudy Joined: 11/27/11
#3Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 5:59pmShe was an incredible Eponine in the 02 concert. Glad to see an actual musical theater singer is in the role. Sorry, but I dreaded Swift's portrayal of Eponine.
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#4Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:00pm
If this had anything to with backlash coming from the internet than Hooper and Mackintosh are chickens. They need to grow up and grow backbones! Barks is talented, but this is WAY TOO SAFE of a choice!
Updated On: 1/31/12 at 06:00 PM
#5Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:01pmWorld peace at last.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
cordialcherry
Chorus Member Joined: 11/13/11
#6Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:01pmThank the good and merciful Lord above. I must say that Taylor Swift did not raise the bar very high- I'd be happy to hear that nearly anyone else was playing the role.
#7Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:03pmThank god some real talent is involved in the younger majority of this cast! She's a great singer, I'm excited to see the movie with her! Her Eponine was spot on in the O2 concert
#8Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:04pmDamn....I was really wanting to see what Swift did with the role.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
JP2
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
#9Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:05pmThis feels like a wonderful act of God.
bobbybaby85
Featured Actor Joined: 8/3/11
#10Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:05pm
Here's what I want to know... What item in her room did Lea Michele throw against the wall when she found out she didn't get cast over an unknown...
Losing to Taylor Swift is one thing... I mean, huge music star... but this chick... I wonder if she'll "storm the stage".
#11Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:11pmOutstanding choice. I saw Samantha at the O2 concert, and she was absolutely wonderful. Very pleased for her.
#12Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:13pmNow she could believably be SBC and HBC's daughter.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
Dubliner
Understudy Joined: 5/26/11
#13Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:17pm
Terrific news - now can we have Katie Hall's Cosette as well?
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#14Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:22pm
These men
laid these this morning:
Updated On: 2/1/12 at 06:22 PM
JP2
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
#15Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:31pm
Taylor Swift can't sing the role, and looked nothing like HBC and SBC. On the other hand Barks can, and does.
#16Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:39pmTo be fair they never actually confirmed Taylor. Seems to me they had her over, did some work with her and then realised she wasn't up to the job, gelling with Redmayne, whatever, and got rid. I don't doubt for a second that Cameron Mackintosh isn't fully aware of all the interweb backlash either. Does it really matter how they came to the decision, lets just be pleased they did. I'd have actually take Lea Michelle over Swift but great news for Samantha Barks, she's a known quantity for them and I'm sure she'll be fantastic.
#18Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:44pm
She's a little too squeaky-clean for me in that clip. She sings the song with a really nice voice, but I'm missing that "interesting" quality that Frances Ruffelle had in the original. She was the best thing in the show when I saw the OBC, IMO.
Banks is certainly capable in this concert clip, but I don't see anything unique about it at all. I hope she'll go way beyond this in the film.
Bad-quality clip but great interpretation - Frances Ruffelle
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Wildcard
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#19Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:46pmHow can Samantha be considered a "safe" choice? She is unknown in Hollywood. She was cast purely on talent unlike the previously rumored ingenue.
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#20Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 6:51pm
"How can Samantha be considered a "safe" choice? She is unknown in Hollywood. She was cast purely on talent unlike the previously rumored ingenue"
She's too safe of a choice acting and singing wise because she's already payed this role before. Jackman, Crowe, Hathaway, Seyfried, and Tveit have never been in this musical. Still no official confirmation on Bonham-Carter and Baren Cohen tough.
"I don't doubt for a second that Cameron Mackintosh isn't fully aware of all the interweb backlash either."
He probably laid more eggs today than Hooper.
Updated On: 2/1/12 at 06:51 PM
JP2
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
#22Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:00pm
I'm hoping she'll surprise me under Tom Hooper's direction and give a more "personal" and unique performance. I've no doubt she tested (and tested and tested) for the part before they cast her. She must have blown them away.
But going purely on the concert video of her Eponine "as is," I'd say no thank you. She's got "all the right moves" without going beyond a conventional interpretation.
Still, I can't see calling her a "safe" choice. People will definitely go in with a preconceived notion of what she'll do with the part, though.
Hopefully, in the movie (a new medium, new direction, new approach, etc.), she'll rise to the occasion and give us something more memorable.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 1/31/12 at 07:00 PM
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Wildcard
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#23Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:04pmFilm is the director's medium unlike on stage where the actress can have more control of her interpretation. He can choose the best parts of the different shots and edit them the way wants to. It is also more intimate so I'm hoping Tom Hooper can bring out the subtleties in her performance. At least he will be molding a medium that is good to begin with.
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#24Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film
Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:07pm
"But going purely on the concert of her Eponine "as is," I'd say no thank you. She's got "all the right moves" without going beyond a conventional interpretation."
She also played the role in the West End.
